Reviews

A truly outstanding episode about the potato famine in Ireland which started in 1846.

Around a million died and another million emigrated as a result. History brought to life.

Directed by Jim Loach, son of Ken.

I saw The Tudors series when it was first shown and for me Destiny and Fortune was the stand out episode. I resaw this episode last night and still consider this to be exceptional television of the highest order.

It has a different feel to the other episodes in being more contemplative and subtle than the others. Jon Amiel as director lifted this episode from being good drama to something approaching greatness.

Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn is extraordinarily good in this episode and towers above all the other actors in this episode though George Irving as Sir William Kingston (the Constable at the Tower of London) does a fine job.

The episode deals with the last hours of Anne Boleyn's life leading to her execution. The execution itself is portrayed, not as a blood splattered beheading, but something deeply moving and tragic, and almost beautiful in its elegance.

The series as a whole carries a 15 certificate in the UK. This episode would be closer to a PG.

I saw this film many many years ago on television with my parents. As a child I used to watch Richard Hearne as Mr Pastry in his comedy shows on television and quite liked those.

So I was intrigued by this film when it was shown to see what it would be like. The omens were quite promising, it was written by Patrick Campbell who I knew from the many times he was a captain on Call My Bluff (the other captain was Frank Muir and it was hosted by Robert Robertson). It was directed by Ralph Thomas who directed many popular British films of the 50s and 60s (Campbell's Kingdom and some of the Doctor films), It starred David Tomlinson (best known for the father in Mary Poppins).

I think the film was supposed to be a comedy, about the efforts made to try and stop a girl from hiccupping.

I and my parents found the film to be completely unfunny and we did not even manage a smile at any time. It was so bad that I have never forgotten this film and have no hesitation in saying that, of the many thousands of films I have seen, this stands out as the worst film of all.

I see that a DVD of this film is due to be released in April in the UK. I will not be buying a copy.