Hope and Glory ***** (1987, Sarah Miles, Susan Wooldridge, Ian Bannen, David Hayman, Sebastian Rice-Edwards, Derrick O’Connor, Jean-Marc Barr) – Classic Movie Review 9005

The 1987 British nostalgic wartime comedy drama Hope and Glory is a wonderful, warmest-hearted trip down memory lane as John Boorman writes, produces and directs this semi-autobiographical account of World War Two, as seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy, Bill (Sebastian Rice-Edwards), growing up in London during the Blitz.

It was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Film, and won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA Film Awards for Susan Wooldridge (there were 12 other BAFTA Film Award nominations). It was the Film of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards (1988) and won the Evening Standard British Film Awards for Best Film and Best Technical/Artistic Achievement (designer Anthony Pratt).

Hope and Glory is a movie with the golden glow of England at twilight as we see the wartime struggle as a never-ending parade of firework displays, rubbled playgrounds and eccentric relatives.

The entire cast communicates this vision with great style and brings genuine pleasure. Hope and Glory is guaranteed to make you nostalgic for whale meat and rationing.

It stars Sarah Miles, Susan Wooldridge, Ian Bannen, David Hayman, Derrick O’Connor, Sammi Davis, Annie Leon (as Grandma), and Jean-Marc Barr.

Bill’s aunts are called Faith (Jill Baker), Hope (Amelda Brown) and Charity (Katrine Boorman).

Hope and Glory is directed by John Boorman, runs 113 minutes, is made by Columbia Pictures, Nelson Entertainment and Goldcrest Films International, is released by Columbia-Cannon-Warner (1987) (UK) and Columbia Pictures (1987) (US), is written by John Boorman, is shot in Technicolor by Philippe Rousselot, is produced by John Boorman, is scored by Peter Martin, and is designed by Anthony Pratt and Don Dossett.

It is followed by Queen and Country [Queen & Country] (2014).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9005

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