The Land Girls (1998)

Three young women from very different walks of life join the women's land army during World War II and are sent to work together on a farm in Dorset and the experience changes their lives forever.

Director:

David Leland

Writers:

Angela Huth (novel), Keith Dewhurst,

Stars:

Catherine McCormack, Rachel Weisz, Anna Friel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine McCormack	...	Stella
Rachel Weisz	...	Ag (Agapanthus)
Anna Friel	...	Prue (Prudence)
Steven Mackintosh	...	Joe Lawrence
Tom Georgeson	...	Mr. John Lawrence
Maureen O'Brien	...	Mrs. John Lawrence
Lucy Akhurst	...	Janet
Gerald Down	...	Ratty, Lawrence Farm Hand
Paul Bettany	...	Philip
Nick Mollo	...	Barry Hampton
Michael Mantas	...	Desmond
Nicholas Le Prevost	...	Agricultural Officer
Celia Bannerman	...	District Commissioner
Ann Bell	...	Philip's Mother
Nigel Planer	...	Gerald

Storyline

During World War II, the organisation "The Women's Land Army" recruited women to work on British farms while the men were off to war. Three such "land girls" of different social backgrounds - quiet Stella, young hairdresser Prue, and Cambridge graduate Ag - become best friends in spite of their different backgrounds.

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Plot Keywords:

farm | dorset | women's land army | friend | love | 

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Taglines:

The story of three young women and the events that would change their lives... The friendships that would stay with them forever... and the loves that would change their hearts.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality

Details

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amores en tiempos de guerra

Filming Locations:

Crowcombe Heathfield station, West Somerset Railway, Somerset, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£75,474 (UK) (4 September 1998)

Gross:

£1,044,180 (UK) (16 October 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Intermedia Films, Channel Four Films, Greenpoint Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Reverend Alan Bennett, seen conducting the christening near the end of the film, is the actual Rector of the church where the scene was filmed.

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Goofs

In the shot of the train approaching the farmer's son standing on the line, a British Railways insignia is visible on one of the coaches. This was not used until the railways were nationalised in 1948.

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Quotes

Stella: Where's Prue?
[Ag points towards the barn]
Stella: And where's Joe?
[Ag points towards the barn again]
Stella: I should have known.

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Soundtracks

"The Lambeth Walk"
Written by Noel Gay and Arthur Rose
© Cinephone Music Co. Ltd./Richard Armitage Ltd., London

User Reviews

Nice, somewhat educational personal movie, at times confusing.

I found the movie to be a well-acted warm, personal story of three women and the English farming family that they work for as members of the Ladies' Land Army during World War II. However, at times it makes chronological leaps without much warning and it may take a few minutes to figure out exactly what has happened and what the new season is or how much time has elapsed.

It was a very interesting insight into a period of England and the life-circumstances of the country in early World War II. At times though, I had a difficult time distinguishing the subtle English accents and found myself backing up to attempt to re-hear what had been said. Sometimes I still couldn't make sense of the accent, and I'm not referring to the usual colloquial British terms that are at times foreign to Americans, although the movie is full of those as well, which adds a very quaint touch.

All in all, it was a sort of feel-good movie that possibly could have had a little more punch in the ending. I was left with the feeling that it was a nice experience emotionally and educationally, but which falls a bit short of some movies of the genre, more so probably because of the production.