Hope and Glory (1987)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

John Boorman

Writer:

John Boorman (written by)

Release Date:

November 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Young Boy | Sex | Dance | Enlistment | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Croydon, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Trevor Howard was replaced by Ian Bannen.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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: That was a googly... I taught him how, and now he turns it against me!
Grandfather George: [laughing] The law of life, cruel isn't it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

God Save The King

World War II Through the Eyes of a Child.

Film-maker John Boorman's (Oscar nominated for writing and directing) semi-autobiographical account of growing up in London during the early-1940s is a wonderful sight to behold as a 9-year-old boy (Sebastian Rice-Edwards) looks at German blitz air-raids as fantastical and interesting occurrences rather than tragic happenings. But the youngster does know enough to realize that the country is in turmoil as his father (David Hayman) is out fighting in World War II, his mother (Sarah Miles) is noticeably distraught and his older sister (Sammi Davis) is having a love affair with a Canadian soldier (Jean-Marc Barr). As all this happens though Rice-Edwards and little sister Geraldine Muir just behave as if nothing was wrong. Their innocence and lack of total understanding allows them to enjoy their youth even though the world around them is in total chaos. Sometimes a lack of understanding can lead to happiness and wonder anyway. Also along for the ride is Hayman's brother (Derrick O'Connor), a man who has always secretly loved Miles (and vice versa), and Miles' eccentric father (scene-stealer Ian Bannen). Boorman grew up in London during the heated years of World War II and it is apparent that he remembers his childhood years not as a time of horror and despair, but as a time of love and lifetime discovery. This is definitely his finest picture (I never did get much out of "Deliverance" and he plummeted to new lows with "The Exorcist II: The Heretic") as he uses quietly effective characters and old-time movie-making principles to create a truly endearing motion picture masterpiece. 4.5 out of 5 stars.