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Love On A Branch Line (DVD, 2006)
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I have three books to which I resort as relief, 'Sweet Thames flow softy' by Robert Gibbins, 'Three men in a boat' and 'Diary of nobody' but now there is a fourth, 'Love on a branch line' They are all in their way strange books which celebrate the eccentricity of English life. I suspect that our country is less delightful since our whimsy and eccentricity has declined, since the social media has made the vicious propensities more therapeutic [ and anonymous] than humour, 'Love on a branch line'' is a pure delight both to read and to watch. The adaptation of John Hadfield's novel, with Lord Flamborough's daughters, all very different but all attractive, and this government department, neglected for seventeen years, suddenly up for closure with its staff of three running a stately home whilst the present lord lives in train on a line closed in an early dose of cost savings, There is a vague plot,but it is everything else incidental and diverting which is important . Our civil servant seems to be attractive to the lords daughters and gets to kiss all of them: Chloe who is married to an alcoholic,and needs sympathy, Belinda whose candid view of life is so uninhibited, and provides some of the most entertaining scenes with some of the most entertaining dialogue, whilst Mathilde has the knack of providing surprises, not least arriving in the hero's bedroom down the chimney, and firing arrows ; and all of them involve kissing. The other diversions are Jazz, cocktails, the Charleston and cricket, all of them piquant glimpses of English life. The English were a leading industrial nation but their hearts were never in it, they secretly adhered to an aristocratic, pastoral society: cricket, gardening, steam trains, and fetes and quaint competitions such as the most lovely ankles, follies and ruins attest. Whether this book will help foreigners to understand the English, I suspect not, but in a strange way this book provides an insight into the English character, but also in a strange way explains some of our present travails, because although our politicians talk incessantly of economics and efficiencies and the dangers of socialism our anarchic spirits were in rebellion against all this economic morality and duties and crypto- Calvinism. Actually the English character is not all that clear to ourselves let alone foreigners, especially Americans, but in 'Love on a Branch line' we approach close to it. Et in Arcady ego and so do we all, if we admit it. If Poussin had painted that celebrated painting in the ruins of some English folly there would be a cricket match near by and the peasants would be studying the score Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Based on the John Hadfield novel: it's a daft, lightweight, easy viewing 4 part drama where nothing really happens in the four hours.But no worry - there are loads of period 1950's features and it's populated throughout with great acting from the likes of Leslie Philips,Michael Maloney and Stephen Moore.*spoiler alert* A man gets sent from the ministry to close down a department, he doesn't in the end but no problem all the people find other paid employment.Best just leave drama to the Americans eh? - the Brits are certainly no longer any good at it !
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Really enjoyed the whole film very engaging. Took me right back to the 50's
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Very good film
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wonderful, wonderful !! one of my favourite treasures. I have the book too
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Excellent DVD. Great story. Very funny.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
a good cast
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Entertaining from start to finish!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Although set in 1957 it is still a relevant comment on civil-service life in 2011. Perhaps not as targeted as "Yes, Minister", it nevertheless carries an undercurrent of political satire beneath the light-hearted story of what can happen when Whitehall visits the real world. You probably wouldn't want to watch it with your maiden aunt in the room but otherwise an amusing piece of entertainment.
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