Longford (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Tom Hooper

Writer:

Peter Morgan (written by)

Release Date:

17 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

The only thing more shocking than her crime was his crusade to free her.

Plot:

A portrait of Lord Longford, a tireless British campaigner whose controversial beliefs often resulted in furious political debate and personal conflict. |

Plot Keywords:

Interview | Attorney | Common Law Marriage | Child Killer | Victim

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 8 wins & 17 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17

4:50 AM

HBO

Cast

Lee Boardman	...	Talk Show Host
Jim Broadbent	...	Lord Longford
Tam Dean Burn	...	Roy
Lindsay Duncan	...	Lady Elizabeth Longford
Kate Miles	...	Rachel Pakenham
Sarah Crowden	...	Lady Tree
Robert Pugh	...	Harold Wilson
Caroline Clegg	...	Longford's Secretary
Samantha Morton	...	Myra Hindley
Alex Blake	...	Paddy Pakenham
Roy Barber	...	Father Kahle
Ian Connaughton	...	Reporter
Charlotte West-Oram	...	Downing Street Secretary (as Charlotte West Oram)
Roy Carruthers	...	Albany Prison Officer
Andy Serkis	...	Ian Brady

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Durham, County Durham, England, UK

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Trivia:

To look as much as possible like the real Lord Longford, Jim Broadbent wore a prosthetic nose and chin that took two hours to apply each day. A prison guard who had known the real Lord Longford was once very startled when Broadbent entered the prison door in costume. To make himself walk very slowly and lamely when Longford sees Myra Hindley for the last time in the movie (when the character is 92 years old), Broadbent put small, painful stones inside his shoes.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the end scene we see Hindley with a packet of cigarette's. However, the packet has a health warning on it which was not introduced until 2004 -- Myra Hindley died in 2002.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Myra Hindley: You know, we only missed it by a few weeks.
Lord Longford: What?
Myra Hindley: The death sentence. They abolished it while we were on remand. Looking back, don't you think it would have been better for everyone if they'd just hung us?
Lord Longford: Certainly not! Only God has the right to take human life.
Myra Hindley: Would He not have wanted to give the families that comfort?
Lord Longford: [staring off into space] None of us knows the true purpose of our lives on earth... Besides,
[gallant again]
Lord Longford: had you been hanged, I would never have had the privilege of getting to know you!
Myra Hindley: [gazes at him with sadness in her eyes] You really believe that, don't you?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards (2007) (TV)

A Bravura Broadbent Portrayal

The Myra Hindley/Ian Brady Moors murders of 1963, one of the most heinous crimes in England since Jack the Ripper, has been beautifully transcribed to the screen by writer Peter Morgan and Director Tom Hooper. And though the story is basically about Longford's relationship with the incarcerated Myra Hindley, the film paints a rather complete portrait of a strange man who vacillated during his lifetime among religious beliefs and spoke out strongly for the rights of prisoners and 'unfortunates' who fall out of line with the law all the while riling against pornography and other vices.

Jim Broadbent creates a wholly credible Lord Longford in this amazing performance. Transformed physically to resemble Longford's bizarre appearance, Broadbent manages to convey the spectrum of trust, self-doubt, pity, outrage, compassion and blind religious belief in a manner few actors could match. The remainder of the cast is equally excellent: Samantha Morton finds every nook and cranny of the enigmatic murderess Myra while Andy Serkis gives a chilling depiction of Ian Brady, her accomplice who knew how to manipulate the government and people as well as the infamously wily Myra.

The story is in many ways grounded by the strong forces of Lady Longford (beautifully realized by Lindsay Duncan) and the Lady Tree of Sarah Crowden and Harold Wilson of Robert Pugh. Hooper knows how to magnify the class differences between the gentry and the working class and his choices of locations and pacing of confrontations both in the prison and in the home and in the court are spot on.

This is one of those films for television that teaches us what really fine films can still be. It is a tremendously moving piece of work and Jim Broadbent will long be remember for this classic role. Highly recommended for repeated viewing. Grady Harp