Glorious 39 (2009)
By: Stephen Poliakoff (director, writer)
Starring: Romola Garai, Bill Nighy, Julie Christie, Eddie Redmayne, Juno Temple, David Tennant, Charlie Cox, Jeremy Northam, Christopher Lee
On the eve of World War II as the formidable Keyes family try to uphold their traditional way of life their daughter Anne (Garai) sees her life dramatically unravel when she stumbles upon secret recordings of the pro-appeasement movement.
Looking at the lineup of formidable talent attached to Glorious 39, you might be inclined to assume that it actually had a good script. You would, unfortunately, be quite wrong, just as you’d also be wrong if you assumed it worth the time to watch.
I love period pieces in general, but it’s possible I love World War II period pieces most of all. When combined with so many actors I generally enjoy, Glorious 39 had a whole lot going for it, and ultimately had a whole lot squandered. It absolutely plods along, a convoluted thriller that can’t bear it’s own weight. I kept waiting for for it to just keel over in a bloated, aristocratic mess. The acting is solid, but the script and story in general are perpetually half a step away from being dreadfully dull or hopelessly confusing. There’s little to engage a viewer here outside of the talent of the cast. To top it all off, rather than just let it flounder along as best it can on its actors’ shoulders, it’s got utterly useless and pedantic modern day scenes bookending it. Talk about good ingredients gone horribly wrong.
These are my exact feelings on this movie. Did it ever come out in theatres or did it go straight to DVD? I’m assuming the latter.
I don’t recall it being in theatres in the US at all, so I’m assuming it went straight to DVD. Obviously for the best, since it would have bombed.
It did come out in cinemas here in the UK, but from what I could tell it was a flash in the pan.