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A Feast at Midnight More at IMDbPro »

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15 reviews in total

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9 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Sublime! Perfection!, 6 September 2003
Author: coolbluegreen

Why oh why is this delightful movie not available on Region 1 DVD or video? WHY??????? I long to own it. This movie is so wonderful! It was directed by Justin Hardy, son of *the* Robert Hardy, beloved by all Jane Austen fans for his roles as General Tilney and Sir John Middleton. Robert Hardy has a role in this masterpiece as well. This is a film about boys in an English boarding school. The outcasts of the school band together and create a secret cooking club, where they bake the most delicious, forbidden treats imaginable. The main character has a correspondence with his father, who has been in ill health, that is touching, humorous, and beautiful. This correspondence heartens and inspires the boy and helps lead to and support the creation of his secret cooking club. Oh, I just want to take a moment to BEG!! BEG, I tell you!! BEG the powers that be to release this film on REGION 1 DVD!! Please!!!!!!!! If you can watch this movie (it's available on PAL video) you should -- you must -- it will add such joy to your life!!

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
A Feast of a Film!, 21 November 2000

Author: sherlock-34 from Calgary, AB, Canada

Christopher Lee gives a splendid performance in one of the most charming films made in Great Britain in recent memory. A Feast at Midnight is one of those warm family entertainments that manages to delight both children and parents alike.

Young Magnus Gove (Freddie Findlay) is sent away to an austere boarding school that manages to serve the most unpalatable of meals. Even the Headmaster (Robert Hardy) can barely stomach the overly healthy menu. Magnus' father (Edward Fox in a short cameo) sends him a number of enticing recipes, which spur Magnus and his oddball group of friends to venture, in the dead of night, into that forbidden no-boys land of "The Kitchen". There they discover the true meaning of friendship as they concoct the most unlikely of meals. The interaction between the boys that make up "The Scoffers" club is priceless. All handled with just the right tone by director Justin Hardy (son of The Wicker Man's Robin Hardy), to avoid falling into the bottomless well of gushing sentimentality.

Christopher Lee handles the key role of Latin Master, V. E. Longfellow aka Raptor, with great aplomb. His stern features belie a warm and fun-filled heart as is evidenced by the exchange of low-key double entendre with Miss Plunder (Carol Macready) the housekeeper over her home-cooked meals. One of the most memorable moments is of course, the kitchen scene homage to Jurassic Park. I can't even begin to explain just how pleasing this scene is. There is no question that Mr. Lee's character lives up to and deserves the Raptor moniker! To check out a clip of the Raptor sequence, visit the [b]Multimedia[/b] page here at the site. There is also a very gentle homage to Hammer, as Raptor wakes in the night upon hearing a noise, his eyes pop open in a darkened room, in a way that is very reminiscent of a Transylvanian Count. Truly one of Mr. Lee's best and warmest performances. An excellent demonstration of why Christopher Lee is far more than simply a horror icon, but a multi-talented actor capable of a wide range of characterization! Enjoy...

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Charming and light, 9 July 1999

Author: Sara from Massachusetts

This movie is absolutely delicious, as light as one of Magnus' (the main character's) own confections. Nevertheless it has held my interest through many viewings and even brought me to tears near the end, every single time.

Not only is the acting of brilliant veterans Robert Hardy, Christopher Lee, Carol MacReady, and Edward Fox as perfect as you would expect, but the children put in brilliant, subtle performances as well, with Freddie Findlay showing true star promise. The lush Dover location and surprisingly poignant music also add dimensions of richness to a very simple, honest story.

The focal characters are realistically bad and good boys -- realistic because often the same boys are both bad and good under believable circumstances -- who learn about the real meaning of friendship, teamwork, and even honor through, well, cooking. Do have fattening and decadent snacks on hand when you watch, because what the boys whip up will certainly make you hungry.

Incidentally, this film also managed to charm my boyfriend and to hold his interest throughout, and since this is such a tiny little dessert of a film, and since said boyfriend generally goes for the gamut of action flicks from Jackie Chan to Akira Kurosawa, or 2-hour Chow Yun-Fat/John Woo bloodbaths, this is really saying something. Because of the way the film gets right into the world of children, while not abandoning entirely the world and motivations of adults, I would also certainly recommend it for children age 8 or 10 and up; but there are still enough jokes and subtleties for grown-ups only that it won't bore parents.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Wonderful movie, 1 February 2006

Author: aled-6 from Canada

I went to this kind of school and only wish we had had the opportunity to have this much fun. Of course the head was very strict in the movie as he was in my school and we would not have dared to break rules in that way. The sensual part was deftly handled and gave no cause for concern. This was in every way a family movie.

I enjoyed it immensely because I guess I am still a kid at heart and I love to cook. What a great relationship this kid had with his Dad and with the other boys in the school. Edward Fox was very believable as the English gentleman gourmet father of our hero, Magnus.

Kudos to the writer, the director and the boys who did all that fine acting especially Freddy Findlay. Definitely a film that can be watched more than once.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
A Delightful Movie!, 27 January 2002

Author: aragorn2001 from Los Angeles, CA

This is a "hidden gem" of a movie. It has all the elements of a fun and wonderful movie experience for idealists and cynics alike! The movie has good pacing and wonderful minor twists and turns on the plot that actually have you saying to yourself "hurray!"

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Food for the soul., 5 November 1999

Author: Dr.Gonzo-2 from Manhattan, Kansas

In this age of megabudgets, digital wizardry, and mindnumbingly bad plots, A Feast at Midnight stands out as a refreshing alternative.

The story is one that anyone can relate to whether or not you ever attended a British public school. Friendship, love, and the desire to break out of "establishment" boundaries make this film so much fun to watch for children and adults. It's also nice to see Christopher Lee playing a charming villain.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Culinary Dead Poet's Society!!!, 18 August 1999
Author: DaveLin from Los Angeles, California

Delightful comedic film about a bunch of playful boarding school boys who form a secret society based on . The film serves as a happy reminder of all those fulfilled adventures we all had as unexperienced children exploring the world. This film is entertaiment for adults and kids alike. Pwang!!!

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
What a find!, 10 November 2009

Author: Bryan Hargrave from Las Vegas

I saw this movie on a rainy afternoon when I was sick. Such a delight! Christopher Lee has top billing here, but the boys, particularly the Freddie Findlay as Magnus, make the movie. A secret society is started at an English boy's boarding school, but instead of making mischief, they make delicious delicacies! Not exactly a kid's movie, what with the not so subtle sexual tension between Raptor (Christopher Lee) and Mrs. Plunder (Carol MacReady). But it's a fun, if slightly naughty film. Samuel West is a standout as Chef, the taste challenged antagonist of the film. He steals any scene he's in. If you happen upon this title, enjoy being a member of "The Scoffers" if just for a little while!

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
A family feast at any time., 4 July 1999
Author: Sandy-2 from San Francisco

"A Feast at Midnight" is a family feast at any time. The story centers around Goff, a young boy sent to boarding school in England, whose favorite illegal pastime is cooking. Letters from his father offer paternal wisdom, recipes from L'Escoffier and encouragement for his deliciously naughty behaviour.

Goff (Aled Roberts) develops a small band of friends who sneak into the "No Boys Allowed" kitchen late at night, cooking up sophisticated desserts. Will they get caught by Chef, who is clearly frustrated by the Headmaster's desire to feed the school a healthy, low-fat and basically tasteless diet? Or will they get caught by the Major, a stern taskmaster whose daughter, Miss Charlotte (Lisa Faulkner) is employed in many servile capacities at the school?

The very scary Major is drolly portrayed by Christopher Lee, whose deep set eyes and basso profundo is know to viewers in an assortment of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes movies.(He also narrated "The Rocky Horror Picture Show.)Lee is the uncle of Harriet Walker, who coincidentally appeared with Headmaster Robert Hardy in "Sense and Sensibility". (Fanny Dashwood, Sir John Middleton.)

Goff's friendship with Miss Charlotte changes the nature of her relationship to the school and her father, and gives her the courage to declare her own independence.

The anal retentive Chef is superbly portrayed by Samuel West, who moviegoers will recognize as Julia Robert's co-star in "Notting Hill".

Director Justin Hardy and Cinematographer Tim Maurice-Jones use a wide-angle lens to emphasize Goff's sense of aloneness and feelings of being overwhelmed.There are a number of humorous visual and plot puns that film buffs will recognize, such as a play on "Oliver" in a dining hall scene.

Goff's relationship with his father, and his unique method of rebellion make this a film that stands out as an alternative to the usual violent fare aimed at children, yet it is sophisticated enough to be enjoyed by all.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
PERFECT, 3 August 2003

Author: kumasan from Asbury Park New Jersey

As good as A Christmas Story without the BB gun and all that snow. As good as Chocolat without the tooth ache. As good as Hear My Song without the Blarney. This is a great family movie, touching,well acted and great cast. 2 plums on thumbs up.

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