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The Children's Hour

The Children's Hour

List Price: $14.95
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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Too Tame
Review: Good production values but too tame in its treatment. The actors are good but the script is off mark. James Garner's role does not ring true. He should have hung in there no matter what.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Powerful and Thought Provoking
Review: Highly recommended Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclaine drama. Maclaine gives an amazing performance in this. James Garner is also in top form here. Hepburn's performance is subtle and well played throughout. Extremely well directed by William Wyler(Ben Hur). Great score! Be warned though...The ending is VERY depressing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A masterpiece by director William Wyler
Review: I agree with all the reviewers. It will keep you glued to the screen every minute in suspense. Just imagine being accused falsely especially with evidence based on a child's lie.

Note the camera work all throughout the movie, especially the final shots with a rapid succession of images. I think they are just a wonderful example of superb cinematography. The last shots of Ms. Hepburn are one of the most charming images of her, even in plain clothes and almost no make-up. Basically, in these shots Ms. Hepburn is making a fashion statement without Givenchy.

Both of the ladies should have been at least nominated for the Oscars. And Shirley MacLaine should have won the Oscar here instead of winning it later for a senseless movie in the 80's.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not Convincing, but a very good try
Review: I agree with the review by John Graves. More than anything this film annoyed me. Where were the father parents of the totally obnoxious little brats? The ring leader, the liar, needed to be slapped across the room. Instead, the "so-called" adults just told her to stop lying- In the era when this movie supposedly took place, a child behaving like that simply was not tolerated. I also agree about the ending to a certain extent- Shirley MacLain was shocked by her own revelation, and at that time it may have been too much for her to handle, or the fact that she had dissapointed her best friend Karen, either way it was totally depressing. I was dumb-founded by the removal of the trial, because at first I thought it was the very next day, then only through dialog do I realize that it's been months and there's been a trial and a decision etc.
This film could have been great, and started out extremely nicely. But nothing added up at all, perhaps because of the subject matter. The lead characters were great, but they all gave up much too easily. Being such good friends they could have pulled together more I think, or maybe I'm projecting 2004 values back to that time.
In any case, this played like a soap opera melo-drama similar to "The Perils of Pauline"
I came away feeling cheated for what might have been.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Important, Impressive, Inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I definitely remember seeing this movie as a youngster, well before I had come out to friends and family, and it left an indelible impression on me and actually provided me with survival tools, all people, regardless of their differences would invariably need to effectively deal with societal intolerance. The performances are spellbinding, most notably, Audrey Hepburn and Shirley McClaine. It was indeed ahead of its time and quite frankly I am surprised it has not been re-done. But on second thought, regardless of cast, there would be very little that a remake could lend. This would be a classic example of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The original version does exactly what it intended to do: open up a dialogue. It is uncomprimising and tastefully done with wrenching performances and is just as timely today as when it was first produced. I heartily recommend it as a though-provoking and important film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Superb until the final 1/2 hour
Review: I found this to be one of the best movies I've seen -- until the final half hour. At that point, the characters' actions just don't make much sense and it gets a little boring. Hepburn and Maclaine do an outstanding job, and the girl who starts the whole mess is a character I'll remember for a long time. I'm a big fan of Audrey Hepburn but I'd say that this is easily the best film she's ever been in.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Still Packs a Punch...Hepburn is terrific
Review: I just bought this after seeing it again (after many years) on Turner Classic Movies, in letterbox. I have never been a big Audrey Hepburn fan, but found her performance poignant and beautifully understated. I actually cried at the end. Shirley McLaine, Fay Bainter and Karen Balkin are all excellent in their roles, as well.

The black and white photography has a wistful and dream-like quality (especially the opening scene), making the ugly lie that destroys everyone all that more disturbing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's in a class by itself...
Review: I never fully appreciated Shirley Maclaine's talent until I saw this performance. She will blow you away. Audrey Hepburn is a competent actress, but she could only play Audrey Hepburn - you seldom believe that she is anyone else. James Garner was cast for his looks, not his talent. Faye Bainter and Miriam Hopkins provide classic film acting at their finest. They are a treat to watch. The young girl was perfectly cast. You want to throttle her. William Wyler's direction is an art form. Lillian Helman's play is perfectly crafted with tension, suspense and human emotion. You will be moved.

Many films are not worth your time. This is worth every minute. Rent it and you'll eventually own it. Own it and you'll never let it go. Bravo.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Thought-provoking even for a teenager
Review: I saw this movie when I was a young teenager. Although I didn't understand 100% the rumor about the two protagonists, I recall the impact the movie had on me when I saw Shirley Mac Laine in her final scene. I was stunned by the possible ramifications of idol gossip. Because of the movie's impact on me, I would recommend this to a teenage crowd, which today is a lot more sophisticated than I was in the late sixties.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I love this movie!
Review: I was sooo impressed with the Veronica Cartwright's acting.


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