Glorious 39 (2009)

The adopted daughter of a privileged British politician uncovers a family secret in the weeks leading up to World War II.

Director:

Stephen Poliakoff

Writer:

Stephen Poliakoff

Stars:

Romola Garai, Eddie Redmayne, Juno Temple

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Romola Garai	...	Anne
Eddie Redmayne	...	Ralph
Juno Temple	...	Celia
Toby Regbo	...	Michael
Christopher Lee	...	Walter
Corin Redgrave	...	Oliver
Charlie Cox	...	Lawrence
David Tennant	...	Hector
Bill Nighy	...	Alexander
Jeremy Northam	...	Balcombe
Katharine Burford	...	Lucy
Jenny Agutter	...	Maud
Julie Christie	...	Aunt Elizabeth
Hugh Bonneville	...	Gilbert
Asier Newman	...	Mick

Storyline

1939 is set between present-day London and the idyllic British countryside in the time before the beginning of the Second World War. At a time of uncertainty and high tension, the story revolves around the formidable Keyes family, who are keen to uphold and preserve their very traditional way of life. The eldest sibling Anne is a budding young actress who is in love with Foreign Office official Lawrence, but her seemingly perfect life begins to dramatically unravel when she stumbles across secret recordings of the pro-appeasement movement. While trying to discover the origin of these recordings, dark secrets are revealed which lead to the death of a great friend. As war breaks out Anne discovers the truth and flees to London to try to confirm her suspicions, but she is caught and imprisoned and only then does she finally begin to discover how badly she has been betrayed.

---

Plot Keywords:

foreign office | world war two | actress | member of parliament | prisoner | 

---

Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violent images, language and brief sexuality/nudity

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

1939

Filming Locations:

Claydon Park, Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£3,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£72,780 (UK) (27 November 2009)

Gross:

£84,063 (UK) (27 November 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, UK Film Council, Screen East Content Investment Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min 129 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stephen Poliakoff's first feature film for 10 years.

---

Quotes

Elizabeth: This little war makes everything uncertain...

---

Connections

Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 12 August 2011 (2011)

User Reviews

Taut Thriller With a Few Flaws

I had the privilege of attending the world premiere of this film at the Toronto International Film Festival last night. It tells the story of the aristocratic Keyes family in the days leading up to the outbreak of WWII. The father played superbly by Bill Nighy is an influential MP and an all round "good egg" of a dad to his three children. The oldest daughter Ann, played by Romola Garai is an adopted child but seems to fit in perfectly with her younger siblings and is the life and soul of the family. The film starts as a classic English period piece with lavish settings in Norfolk and London involving picnics and parties. However, as war gets closer, dramatic and strange events involving the family and friends slowly change the mood of the film. Other reviewers have made comparisons to Hitchcock's films and I have to agree with them. I enjoyed the film but there were definitely a few situations that did not ring true. The ending was particularly clumsy and there were some strange scenes that just didn't seem to fit. At 130 minutes it was probably 20 minutes too long. There were good performances by Julie Christie as a batty aunt and Jeremy Northam as a sinister government official. A good watch if you like British mysteries