Orde Wingate (1976– ) User Reviews

Excellent stage adaption of Wingate's life and career

[MightyPeacelover · 10/10 · 2 August 2006]

I wasn't sure how this play would turn out for me, being a passionate admirer of Wingate, and one who has spent years researching the man's life. I was somewhat surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie, considering the nitpicky tendency I had going in. Barry Foster in particular captured the essential blend of charisma, passion and conviction that characterized Wingate himself. All in all, there was only one notable digression from history, in that Wingate's aide in his Ethiopian campaign was the non-appearing Avraham Akavia. Also, the First Chindit Expedition was largely ignored, though time constraints likely played a role in that decision. Considering the play in its entirety (and play it is, despite some Burma scenes that differ somewhat from the bulk of it) it is a worthy depiction of Wingate, and a more than adequate memorial to the man of genius who did not appear to fulfil his destiny, per Winston Churchill. My fiancée enjoyed the film based on its writing, direction, scenery and inspired acting, so it is not only worth watching to those such as myself who revere Wingate and study him. I recommend it highly.

Too Stagey for a Film Production

[hjmsia49 · 5/10 · 27 November 2008]

The lasting impression I got from this film was that they must have had a very low budget. It was like a filmed stage play with the same sets being used over and over. The set designer seemed to be obsessed with squares and cubes. Desert battles and other scenes were staged in the strangest modernistic settings that lacked any credibility. Hanging ribbons hardly passed for the jungles of Burma. Interspersing black and white newsreels with colored sets only added to the confusion. Barry Foster's depiction of Wingate, while impressive, hardly created any admiration for the man. Viewing this film in our current era of radical religious terrorism, his Wingate comes off as a Christian fanatic whom many of his colleagues could easily dismiss as mad. It didn't help that Wingate was clean shaven and in color in Africa and then bearded in black and white in Burma? Wingate had his admirers, including Churchill, Wavell and his Japanese adversaries, but he deserves a more convincing biography then this flimsy depiction.