Let Him Have It (1991)

In 1950s England, slow-witted Derek Bentley (Christopher Eccleston) falls in with a group of petty criminals led by Chris Craig (Paul Reynolds), a teenager with a fondness for American ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Medak

Writers:

Neal Purvis, Robert Wade

Stars:

Tom Courtenay, Christopher Eccleston, Eileen Atkins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Courtenay	...	William Bentley
Eileen Atkins	...	Lillian Bentley
Rebecca Eccleston	...	Iris aged 10
Peter Eccleston	...	Derek aged 8
Craig Turner	...	Derek aged 14
P.J. Nicholas	...	First Boy in Shed (as PJ Nicolas)
Bret Walker	...	Second Boy in Shed
Walter Sparrow	...	Nightwatchman
Christopher Eccleston	...	Derek Bentley
Edward Hardwicke	...	Approved School Principal (as Edward Hardwick)
Clare Holman	...	Iris Bentley
Daniel Brazier	...	Boy in Fairview Road
Ben Brazier	...	Denis Bentley
Paul Reynolds	...	Chris Craig
Serena Scott Thomas	...	Stella

Storyline

In 1950s England, slow-witted Derek Bentley (Christopher Eccleston) falls in with a group of petty criminals led by Chris Craig (Paul Reynolds), a teenager with a fondness for American gangster movies. Chris and Derek's friendship leads to their involvement in the case which would forever shake the United Kingdom's belief in capital punishment.

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Plot Keywords:

slow witted | gangster | friendship | 1950s | capital punishment | 

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Taglines:

The shocking story of an unbelievable miscarriage of justice.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the 1990 book "Let Him Have It, Chris" by British author and history teacher, M.J. Trow.

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Goofs

When the telly was switched on to watch What's My Line?, the picture and sound appeared within two or three seconds. An early 1950's TV would require at least 15-20 seconds to warm up.

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Quotes

Chris Craig: [pointing gun at Derek] Hands up buster! Against the wall!
Derek Bentley: You cheeky little bleeder!
Chris Craig: What's the matter Derek? Can't take a joke?

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Bugsy/Let Him Have It/At Play in the Fields of the Lord/Kafka (1991)

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Soundtracks

Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Michael Kamen (Oboe)

User Reviews

The shocking true story of a miscarriage of justice that will forever stain the honor of the British legal system

Derek Bentley a partly retarded youth due to an injury as a child in a bombing raid in World War 11 becomes involved with Christopher Craig and other anti-social misfits called "teddy boys" during the early 1950's.

In November 1952 Craig, with Bentley under his influence decide to rob a confectionery business in Croydon, London but are observed climbing onto the roof of the building and are reported to the police.

When the police arrive and apprehend the youths, Craig opens fire on the officers from a concealed gun killing P.C. Miles, although Bentley has already surrendered beforehand to Detective Fairfax, already wounded by Craig in an earlier part of the shootout.

At the following trial of the two youths for murder, the already biased Lord Chief Justice Goddard is determined to exact the supreme vengeance on the perpetrators of this crime. Craig who fired the shot killing the Police Constable is detained at Her Majesty's pleasure being a juvenile under the age of 16 years. Bentley aged 19 and considered an adult is sentenced to death as an accomplice.

Despite a public outcry over Bentley's fate, and petitions made to save him from the gallows, the Home Secretary Sir David Maxwell Fyfe refuses to grant him a reprieve,and Bentley is hanged on 28th January 1953.

The great irony of this case is that the Home Secretary was the successful chief British Prosecutor of the Nazi War Criminals in 1946 in Nuremburg but tarnished his reputation in a most disgraceful manner in the way he treated the semi-illiterate Derek Bentley who was made the condemned victim for his part in this crime because the real killer could not face the supreme penalty.

The other most shameful and disgusting aspect of this case is that it took over 45 years for the unforgiving self righteous British law courts and representations to the various Governments of the day, to finally overturn the conviction of Derek Bentley, although both his parents had died beforehand, but at least give the rest of his surviving family the satisfaction of knowing that his sentence was totally improper and unjust.

Christopher Eccleston gives a fine performance as Derek Bentley, along with Tom Courtenay as Bentley's father, who wages a relentless but futile attempt to save his son from his fate. The rest of the supporting cast is great.

A must see for those who think justice is blind and fair to everyone.

Details

Official Sites:

Vine International Pictures Ltd.

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1991 (UK)

Also Known As:

Az igazság malmai

Filming Locations:

Church of St Mary the Virgin, West Derby, Liverpool, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,088, 8 December 1991

Gross USA:

$88,686

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$88,686

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions, Canal+, Film Trustees Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1