The Best of Friends (1991) (TV)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Alvin Rakoff

Writers:

Sir Sidney Cockerell (writer)
Felicitas Corrigan (book)

Genre:

Biography

Plot:

Adapted from their letters and journals, this is a portrayal of the unique 25-year friendship shared by Dame Laurentia McLachlan (Benedictine nun)...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play | Based On Book

Cast

John Gielgud	...	Sydney Cockerell
Wendy Hiller	...	Laurentia McLachlan
Patrick McGoohan	...	George Bernard Shaw

Runtime:

USA:77 min (DVD) | UK:81 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Perhaps better suited for live performance, but well-captured onto film.

First of all, this is a film of a play, and is not to be judged on the normal merits of a motion picture. Alvin Rakoff has all the talents of a major director, but without the need for special camera-work, he is free to lavish his full attention on acting and character portrayal. Patrick McGoohan I see as the most talented of the group, very warm in his dialogue, and always with a certain amount of charming self-important attitude. John Gielgud plays the self-effacing elderly man to perfection, and Wendy Hiller is excellent as an eccentric old nun.

"The Best of Friends" contains some of the best acting you are likely to see on film, and should be seen if the opportunity arises.

8.6 out of 10