Hope and Glory (1987)

A semiautobiographical project by John Boorman about a nine year old boy called Bill as he grows up in London during the blitz of World War 2. For a young boy, this time in history was more... See full summary »

Director:

John Boorman

Writer:

John Boorman

Stars:

Sebastian Rice-Edwards, Geraldine Muir, Sarah Miles

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sebastian Rice-Edwards	...	Bill Rowan (as Sebastian Rice Edwards)
Geraldine Muir	...	Sue Rowan
Sarah Miles	...	Grace Rowan
David Hayman	...	Clive Rowan
Sammi Davis	...	Dawn Rowan
Derrick O'Connor	...	Mac
Susan Wooldridge	...	Molly
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Cpl. Bruce Carrey
Ian Bannen	...	Grandfather George
Annie Leon	...	Grandma
Jill Baker	...	Faith
Amelda Brown	...	Hope
Katrine Boorman	...	Charity
Colin Higgins	...	Clive's Pal
Shelagh Fraser	...	WVS Woman

Storyline

A semiautobiographical project by John Boorman about a nine year old boy called Bill as he grows up in London during the blitz of World War 2. For a young boy, this time in history was more of an adventure, a total upheaval of order, restrictions and discipline. The liberating effect of the war on the women left behind. And the joy when Hitler blows up your school.

---

Plot Keywords:

boy | school | sex | ruins | enlistment | 

---

Taglines:

The epic story of a world at war. And a boy at play.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Esperanza y gloria

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$10,021,120 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Nelson Entertainment, Goldcrest Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bill's aunts are called "Faith, Hope and Charity", which Grandfather George claims were named by Grandma after character traits he didn't have. This is a reference to the Bible, specifically 1 Corinthians 13:13: "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity". Bill's mother is called Grace, also a theological virtue.

---

Goofs

Not only is the string quartet not actually playing the music, but the Mozart serenade in G K.525 (Eine kleine Nachtmusik) is scored for five instruments, not four.

---

Quotes

Clive Rowen: Billy, before I go there's something I want to tell you. You're not quite old enough, but, well...
[he produces a cricket ball]
Clive Rowen: ...it's the googly. Your hand is too small to master it, but you can make a start.

---

Connections

Featured in The 60th Annual Academy Awards (1988)

---

Soundtracks

"God Save The King"
Traditional

User Reviews

Very well-done

WWII Britan is shown through the eyes of 8 year old Billy (Sebastian Rice Edwards). His father leaves to fight and he's left with his two sisters and mother. Based on director John Boorman's life. Sounds depressing but it's not. The kids back then treated the war as if it were a big game. They would go through bombed out houses looking for stuff to take---or break and made games with all the stuff they found.

There's really no story--it just follows Billy and his family through the course of the war and all the incidents that happened. The 1930-40s setting is captured perfectly and (I've heard) accurately portrays life in Britain at that time--through a child's eyes with a comic twist. The acting is all very good--especially Edwards, Sarah Miles (as the mother) and Sammi Davis (as a rebellious daughter).

This film is leisurely paced and some viewers might find it dull but others will find it absolutely fascinating--showing how an average British family made it through WWII. I give it a 9.