Film Reviews by hooeboy

This collection of four documentaries from 1950s England promises much and delivers some interesting insights into life during that period. The subjects are: the last trams in London, an orphans' trip to Westonsupermare, an account of a secondary modern school and the day-to-day life of an elderly widowed man. The first film has some truly mazing scenes of street life and the architectural ecology of '50s London. The other three films just bring home how drab and mean life was in post-War England. The films illustrate what life was like: poor [albeit sufficient] food, people speaking in either clipped, poncy-twitty accents or else in 'gor-blimey' vernacular and the lack of any concept of dressing casually and comfortably. The final film about the elderly widower living on his own in a council flat was so depressing I couldn't watch all of it.

A beautifully filmed and directed movie. Although not 100% faithful to author Ray Bradbury's vision, director Francois Truffaut retained the paranoia and excitement of the novel. Critics who thought that genre science fiction was beneath contempt were non-plussed at the film's philosphical depth and visual impact. It is at times flawed in its narrative and even clunky by 21st century standards, yet it is an unforgettable and deeply moving masterpiece.