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Sebastian Rice-Edwards, Sarah Miles, David Hayman, Derrick O'Connor, Susan Wooldridge ... see more see more... , Sammi Davis , Ian Bannen , Jean-Marc Barr , Anne Leon , Amelda Brown , Jill Baker , Katrine Boorman , Geraldine Muir , Nicky Taylor , Gerald James , Sara Langton , Barbara Pierson , Charley Boorman , Susan Brown , Arthur Cox , Colin Dale , Shelagh Fraser , John Boorman , Ann Thornton , William Armstrong , Andrew Bicknell , Imogen Cawrse , Christine Crowshaw , Peter Hughes , Nicholas Askew , Colin Higgins

An affectionate reverie about war, childhood, and British stoicism, John Boorman's Hope and Glory is the veteran filmmaker's recollection of the bombing of London during World War II. Set on the Briti... read more read more...sh home front during the early days of the war, this episodic movie shows the blitz through the eyes of seven-year-old Billy Rohan (Sebastian Rice-Edwards). At the war's outset, Billy finds himself alone in a house full of women, as all the men are called off to join the war effort. With wide-eyed wonder and an outsized imagination, Billy sees the war as a grand diversion, an extension of his world of knights, tin soldiers, and war games. As bombs fall and houses burn, Billy's mother (Sarah Miles) struggles to keep the family together in her husband's absence. Even as Billy seeks to escape the harem of aunts and sisters, Dawn (Sammi Davis), his older sister, falls for a Canadian soldier, who gets her pregnant. After the Rohans' home catches fire (not, ironically, as the result of a bomb blast, but from a domestic accident), the family is forced to move in with Billy's cantankerous grandfather in the countryside, where they spend the rest of their summer and enjoy an unusual idyll amid the raging war. Nominated in 1987 for a Best Picture Academy Award, Hope and Glory proved to be another high point in the career of the remarkably protean Boorman. ~ Elbert Ventura, Rovi

Flixster Users

81% liked it

5,363 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

17 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: John Boorman

Release Date: October 9, 1987

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DVD Release Date: June 5, 2001

Stats: 271 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (271)

  • thmtsang
    April 14, 2011
    thmtsang
    War time movie about a boy and his family during the London blitz. The Germans bomb London during the World War II, families homes are destroyed, neighbours die and people are displaced. Even with the war around them, they find time for family, fun and celebrations.
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    My Gran said it was realistic and she was in the blitz, so that?s good enough for me! Great film!
  • RCCLBC
    February 25, 2008
    RCCLBC
    A very moving, funny and thouching look at a young boys life in England during World War II. I loved this film immediately upon first viewing and having enjoyed it everytime that I have watched it since.
  • jjnxn
    September 23, 2007
    jjnxn
    Interesting child's eye view of England at war. You can feel the director's engagement with his subject.
  • snakegeek1
    October 27, 2009
    snakegeek1
    Oh yeah this film rocks. one of the funniest films I've ever seen. I loved the ending. it is one of the most brilliant endings i have ever seen. the story of the bombing of london through the eyes of a child is a fresh new perspective. that perspective came through in the humor t... read moreoo. just the childlike humor is one of the things that makes this film so lovable. brilliant, perfect, funny. I loved this film. it had a good story and the jokes were excellent. yeah brilliant.
  • donnarenee2006
    July 6, 2008
    donnarenee2006
    Such a charming movie with cute british children in the lead roles. John Boorman did a great job with this charming movie.
  • DrLappos
    April 3, 2008
    DrLappos
    Excellent movie. Nuff said.
  • ileo
    December 25, 2007
    ileo
    An amazing movie! Love it!!
  • renderking
    May 4, 2009
    renderking
    http://thefedorachronicles.com/thefedorachronicles.com/flicks/ren/2009/05_02_hope_and_glory.html

    I'm not too sure why I forgot about this movie, then again there were so many good period flicks during 1987.

    Read my review, tell me if you can figure out why this is a forgotten ... read moregem for Vintage Aficionados.
  • MovieGuruDude72
    April 15, 2008
    MovieGuruDude72
    A very overlooked and underrated piece of cinema. Depicts the horrors the people of London endured during The Blitz and shows just how powerful the human spirit can be. Uplifiting, well-acted and written. A must-see.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
July 28, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The Blitz as a comedy: Director John Boorman offers a warmly nostalgic view of his childhood in a London suburb during WWII. Full Review

Lori Hoffman
August 17, 2006
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly

Touching World War II remembrance of Blitz-torn London

Luke Y. Thompson
January 8, 2004
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

Charming.

Bob Bloom
November 29, 2003
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

A wonderful and touching story about life during wartime.

Ken Hanke
June 16, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

One of Boorman's best, most personal films.

Jon Niccum
November 1, 2002
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

A classic chronicle of civilian life during wartime

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
June 8, 2001
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

The antics of the colorful characters and its fast-paced story line give Hope and Glory all the spontaneity of a child at play. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

No review available.

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

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