Reviews

So much of the this film was excellent. The battle scenes, the costuming, the shipboard life. -- But, it was possible for me to catch only about fifty percent of the dialogue. Was this intentional? I think perhaps this is so as the dialogue played a very minor part of this film. I reach the point where I almost tried to forgot what they were trying to say and came to realize that this could have been made as a silent movie.

Still,all of the visual richness filled the screen. I'm pleased that I went and saw the film on the large screen. Too much will be lost for those who wait to see it on TV.

Oh yes, I would have rated this much higher is they had given the sound track the care and attention that was given to the visuals. A generous seven.

I missed the first two or three minutes that would have included the credits and so did not realize that I would be watching George Eliot's moving novel. Although the movie was thoroughly modernized it took very little time for me to realize what I was watching. -- Much to my surprise and delight. I felt that George Eliot would have loved this movie. I give it a strong recommendation if you have read "Silas Marner". Those who have not, though, may find it contrived.

I agree with almost all of the other reviews but add that Trevor Howard is wonderful. He is completely natural and believable to the point that he almost steals the show from Cary Grant; not an easy task! Cary and Leslie Caron make their unlikely match seem quite natural. -- And the photography is just gorgeous. This was especially so when I first viewed it on a big screen back when it was released.

I watched this film with the hope that it would be as good as the book. It was not. -- There are (at least) two reasons for this. One is that the screenplay did not come anywhere near close enough to the novel. The second, and far more important, is that Tony Goldwyn simply had NO power of personality in this part. He was not believable in the role of Jesus or a Jesus-type figure.

This is still a good family film. It is a wholesome film that can provide a springboard for parent/child discussion. I would recommend it; but with the recognition that it should have been much better.

I missed this film in 1984 but did see "A Perfect World: when it came out in the 1990's. If "Martin's Day" had followed the Costner movie I would have thought it less believable and compelling. The fact that it predated the Costner film gave it a big boost in my assessment of the film. Richard Harris was his usual excellent self; and all of the other members of the cast were excellent. I did find the ending, however, very weak. In the case of "A Perfect World" this was rectified. Anyone who sees one of these two films would be well advised to see the other.

This film was first made in the 1930's with Jimmy Stewart. -- Then in the 40's, as a musical with Judy Garland (In the Good Old Summertime.) Both previous versions were better; especially the musical.

A major problem with this version is the "modern" twist that the two main characters were both living with someone with whom there was absolutely no commitment, or even love, when the story opened. The fact that there were no overt sex scenes seems to have been done to make it more acceptable for the younger crowd. Few critics seemed to have warned parents of this assault on moral values.

Other than that, just another lightweight comedy with good actors giving their customary performances.

Sissy Spacek, William Hurt, Howard Da Silva, and Sally Kellerman are all perfect in this gem of a "made for TV movie". It was good enough to play in the theaters. Spacek was made for the part of the USO girl who was just barely talented enough to land a spot in one of the many second rate USO shows; though she innocently believes that her talent is great enough that she will be a star. Da Silva and Kellerman are both experienced show business entertainers and know the truth about "Verna's" talent as well as their own. Hurt is the lieutenant who falls in love with Verna. All of it very simple and predictable until the end.

I haven't been able to find this on any of the TV channels for many years. Too bad. It is a great loss.

This story is quite faithful to the facts of the life of this remarkable Belgian priest who chose to live in a leper colony while still a man in his early 30's even though he knew it to be a permanent assignment and a death sentence.

The horrors of the leper colony were conveyed realistically while still giving a focus that would allow all but very young audiences to view it. The bureaucrats, both civil and religious, are well portrayed. -- (Derek Jacobi gives his usual fine performance in one of these roles.)

This is a "must see" for anyone who has never heard the story of Father Damien or knows little about the leper colony on Molokai.

This is almost a perfect duplication of a wonderful book. I recommend all who loved this movie to read the epilogue of the book if not the whole book. In the epilogue, which the movie SHOULD have included, it is many years later. ... There is now the school and hospital which had been alluded to in the film. .... A tour is being given by one of the next generation of nuns. When the tour comes to the chapel we find that it is dedicated to St. Benedict the Moor and has a painting of St. Benedict as is appropriate. The nun explains that the model of St. Benedict was the man who built the chapel and it had been done by memory by one of the original group of German nuns. Her comment that "he was not of our race nor of our faith" was simple and lovely.

Whenever I see this movie now I simply imagine Homer Smith coming back as a middle aged man to see this special work of his and the emotions that Poitier could have demonstrated at seeing himself as St. Benedict the Moor.

This is a very powerful story with the fine acting which we have come to expect from Ralph Fiennes.--Why did it miss being a great movie? The director saw fit to make a three hour movie which included at least 30 minutes of gratuitous sex. It was as if he did not feel that this very powerful story could support or sustain itself with the incredible drama that made up the fabric of the film and so threw in unnecessary sex scenes to "be sure it would sell". This was especially evident when it muddles the character of Adam Sors.

This should be re-edited and issued again in a tighter form.

I first saw this film when it was released in 1948. I was a teenager. At that time, in my limited experience, it was the best film I had ever seen. These many decades later I have seen as many films as a devoted movie buff can see; even doing a stint as an usher!

"The Search" remains the best film I have ever seen.

This is not even close in fidelity to the stage version of the Friml operetta. However, I didn't find this in the least annoying; though I am often a purist when it comes to musicals. The screen writers stayed with the usual Jeanette and Nelson format and it works very nicely.