DramaWarFamily

Hope and Glory

- The epic story of a world at war. And a boy at play.

A middle-aged man recalls his childhood growing up in and around London during World War II.

Release Date : 1987-09-03

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Columbia Pictures

Production Country : United KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Bill

Original Name : Sebastian Rice-Edwards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sue

Original Name : Geraldine Muir

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grace

Original Name : Sarah Miles

Gender : Female

Character Name : Clive

Original Name : David Hayman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dawn

Original Name : Sammi Davis

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mac

Original Name : Derrick O'Connor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Molly

Original Name : Susan Wooldridge

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bruce

Original Name : Jean-Marc Barr

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grandfather George

Original Name : Ian Bannen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grandma

Original Name : Annie Leon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Faith

Original Name : Jill Baker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hope

Original Name : Amelda Brown

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charity

Original Name : Katrine Boorman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Clive's Pal

Original Name : Colin Higgins

Gender : Male

Character Name : WVS Woman

Original Name : Shelagh Fraser

Gender : Female

Character Name : Headmaster

Original Name : Gerald James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teacher

Original Name : Barbara Pierson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger

Original Name : Nicky Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger's Gang #1

Original Name : Jodie Andrews

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger's Gang #2

Original Name : Nicholas Askew

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger's Gang #3

Original Name : Jamie Bowman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger's Gang #4 (Harper)

Original Name : Colin Dale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger's Gang #5

Original Name : David Parkin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger's Gang #6

Original Name : Carlton Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pauline

Original Name : Sara Langton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jennifer

Original Name : Imogen Cawrse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Evans

Original Name : Susan Brown

Gender : Female

Character Name : Luftwaffe Pilot

Original Name : Charley Boorman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : Peter Hughes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Honeymoon Couple #1

Original Name : Ann Thornton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Honeymoon Couple #2

Original Name : Andrew Bicknell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pianist

Original Name : Christine Croshaw

Gender : Female

Character Name : Canadian Sergeant

Original Name : William Armstrong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fireman

Original Name : Arthur Cox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Narrator (voice)

Original Name : John Boorman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Audience Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Graham Cole

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-01-30

This film contains one of the funniest wartime scenes I think I've ever seen... The fish! Anyway, it all centres around the young "Bill" (Sebastian Rice-Edwards) who finds himself - along with mother "Grace" (Sarah Miles) and elder sister "Susie" (Geraldine Muir) caught up in London at the start of WWII. His father (David Hayman) is soon away fighting and his mother refuses to be parted from her children so they stay and muddle through the bombs and the mayhem, the death and the disaster - all whilst, though the eyes of this bold and unafraid child, we see an opportunity for mischief and joy. This is especially apparent when the school of their rather puritanical/Dickensian headmaster (Gerald James) is blown to smithereens. As he and his sister get a bit older, their hormones also start to kick in a little and the joys of illicit sex (or is it true love?) for her and bemusement - and a bit of fibbing - for him are enjoyable to watch. Then they head to their grandfather "George" (the scene-stealing Ian Bannen) who keeps a large house and though outwardly quite strict, is actually a wonderful tonic for his family and for the viewer watching. The narrative doesn't shy away from the ghastliness of war, but it contextualises it engagingly by using the innocence of the youngsters to illustrate that even amidst the rubble there is fun to be had in their hideouts, straight out of an Enid Blyton story. Miles is strong here as the mother who struggles to bring up her children amongst all this carnage, whilst also remaining keen to keep her family together for the spirit-lifting occasional visits from dad. The thing is genuinely funny at times, too - you'll see what I mean about an act of God and the fish, but he's also in a gang that give out ranking points depending on which swear words you know - the "f" word being the ultimate emergency alarm call. The sterling and charming effort from Rice-Edwards parallels a little with Christian Bale's in "Empire of the Sun" that was also made in 1987 and also looks ar war from a child's perspective. This kind of film is the kind the British do well - the stiff upper lip stuff, sure, but also the portrayal of a stoicism, humour and strength of character (not always obvious!) and John Boorman writes and directs with skill and empathy as we progress. If you can, see it in a cinema - the cinematography is great at subtly conveying the wreckage and the pastoral with equal eloquence and I did enjoy this.