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Reviews
Law & Order (1978)
Inciteful, closer to the truth than was comfortable for the authorities
This beautifully and cleverly researched series of three separate plays touched a sensitivity at the time; and history has proved that it was not too far from the mark. It was shown on BBC2 in 1978. THIS SHOULD BE RELEASED ON VIDEO/DVD before this magnificent 'tour de force' is lost forever.
Three stories; the Detective's Tale, The Villains Tale and the prisoner's Tale. Each character's situation, raison d'etre is explored ruthlessly by Newman and each character's flaws and mind sets contribute to a withering examination of the legal profession, the police and villainy in general.
The story was broadcast at the time of the notorious 'Countryman' country-wide police enquiry (mischevious timing perhaps) and made the whole country think again about the truth that some (very) few, police officers had become a law unto to themselves. Beautifully scripted with wry humour.
The actual story has three central characters Jack Lynn (villain), Alex Gladwell (lawyer) and the magnificent Inspector Pyle of the Met.Police, who produces the ultimate portrayal of a bent detective, a classic example of a good detective, gone wrong.
The background is an armed robbery that went wrong but had sufficient substance in it to enable Pyle to fit up Jack Lynn.
There are no heroes in this film.
This play will anger, frustrate, disturb and uncomfortably amuse.
Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)
A darned good entertainment!
An excellent story, well told in the manner of the era the film was made. This means the story telling was paramount - thank heavens no tedious digital effects.
So what the story was loosely based on Chaney's life. In the 2 hours or so the film ran it was not possible to tell the whole story. So they use shortcuts and invention - so what. I bet more than one person started to research Chaney and other stories from the silent era. Interest stimulated...... job done.
Rather like the Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman stories, same applies. How many started to appreciate the music, they knew nothing of the inaccuracies. They saw a good story and heard some interesting music, helped me to start listening to jazz and I am grateful.
You will never satisfy the 'expert'.