- Actors: Cate Blanchett, James Fleet, Abigail Cruttenden, Charlotte McDougall, Rupert Penry-Jones
- Directors: Gillian Armstrong
- Writers: Jeremy Brock, Sebastian Faulks
- Producers: Catherine Kerr, Cathy Lord, Douglas Rae, Elinor Day, Hanno Huth
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: 2entertain
- DVD Release Date: 5 Jan 2004
- Run Time: 121 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005U8PC
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 32,224 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
DVD Description
1943. The World is at war. Charlotte Gray, a young Scottish woman is parachuted behind enemy lines in southern France. Officially, she has been recruited by the British government to liase with the local Resistance group. Unofficially, she is searching for her lover, missing in action. As Charlotte becomes more deeply involved with the Resistance fighters, she realises that her love for France and its people will change her life forever.
Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Directors Commentary
Featurettes A Village Revisits History And Living Through Wartime
Interview With Gillian Armstrong
Interview With Cate Blanchett
Cast And Crew Interviews
TV Spots
Trailer
Deleted Scenes
Behind Enemy Lines The Real Charlotte Grays
DVD 9
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Directors Commentary
Featurettes A Village Revisits History And Living Through Wartime
Interview With Gillian Armstrong
Interview With Cate Blanchett
Cast And Crew Interviews
TV Spots
Trailer
Deleted Scenes
Behind Enemy Lines The Real Charlotte Grays
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Looking at the higher proportion of reviews which pull this film to pieces in every aspect, I thought I would put a review through in the films defense.
I watched this film by accident, I can't remember how long ago, and loved it. I wasn't phased because they spoke english or any of the other criticisms levelled at this production, I loved it for what it was - a kind of, dare I say it, romanticised version of what actually happened to a lot of women who were dropped into France, and lost loved ones left right and centre. Packed with beautiful photography and contrasting disturbing images,
the most powerful part of the film being the portrayal of how the French betrayed their own country and colaberated with the Nazis - truly a stomach churning thought, plus Charlotte's realisation of "what have I gotten myself in to", panics and decides to leave - only to be stopped in her tracks at the railway station because the nazi troops all descended from the carriages - another powerful image.
The main story once Charlotte gets dropped into all the mistakes, the deceit and suspicion, is her determination to care for two little jewish boys, whose parents were taken away unbeknown to them, the heart breaking job she has to do of convincing the boys that there is nothing wrong, even down to their eventual capture by the nazis believing their parents were away "doing war work".
In all, I thought the film dealt with a lot of issues very well, and gave the viewer a sense of what these poor people had to go through, the tough decisions they were usually forced to make very quickly, and is summed up with a line from Peter; "War makes us into people we did not know we were".
I watched this film by accident, I can't remember how long ago, and loved it. I wasn't phased because they spoke english or any of the other criticisms levelled at this production, I loved it for what it was - a kind of, dare I say it, romanticised version of what actually happened to a lot of women who were dropped into France, and lost loved ones left right and centre. Packed with beautiful photography and contrasting disturbing images,
the most powerful part of the film being the portrayal of how the French betrayed their own country and colaberated with the Nazis - truly a stomach churning thought, plus Charlotte's realisation of "what have I gotten myself in to", panics and decides to leave - only to be stopped in her tracks at the railway station because the nazi troops all descended from the carriages - another powerful image.
The main story once Charlotte gets dropped into all the mistakes, the deceit and suspicion, is her determination to care for two little jewish boys, whose parents were taken away unbeknown to them, the heart breaking job she has to do of convincing the boys that there is nothing wrong, even down to their eventual capture by the nazis believing their parents were away "doing war work".
In all, I thought the film dealt with a lot of issues very well, and gave the viewer a sense of what these poor people had to go through, the tough decisions they were usually forced to make very quickly, and is summed up with a line from Peter; "War makes us into people we did not know we were".
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although the film was rich in suspense, love, death and heroism in simple terms it told the story of the blossoming of the central character - from impetuous and unworldly to experienced and fully rounded.
Whilst the acting of Cate Blanchett was an undoubted highlight the film was a great ensemble piece too - Billy Crudup the American actor being a very credible "troubled" young Frenchman,Michael Gambon a solid patriach, Ron Cook a weasley British spy and the production team should be commended for creating such a believably rustic French WW2 atmosphere.
The DVD extras complimented the film well most especially the documentary about the real life British women spys active in France (SOE's)and the interview with Sebastian Faulks,who guardedly supported the production whilst insisting Blanchett played Charlotte.Though a little overegged, the featurettes/interviews with those directly involved in the making of the film were revealing: Billy Crudup is extremely choosy about his films,Cate Blanchett is a perfectionist (well there's a surprise!), Gillian Armstrong, who directs, is a really ballsy Aussie, Michael Gambon is something of a raconteur and Sebastian Faulks has a presence that would surely make him a fine actor too!
To all those who have read the book I suggest you follow Cate Blanchett's advice if you want to fully enjoy this DVD by treating the film as an entirely seperate entity.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having not read Sebastian Faulks' book, I cannot compare the film with it. It seems it must have been a rather long novel, with lots of characters in it, and plenty going on. It seems the film attempts to stay faithful to the book, and so the impression one gets is that the director tried to compress a complex and multi-layered story into a couple of hours.
The story is good but very predictable bordering sometimes on caricature. But nonetheless it is all very entertaining and the actors are good. It reminded of the older 1950's and 1960's war movies, very far removed from the new and very realistic wartime dramas ("Band of brothers,...).
Certainly worth watching.
The story is good but very predictable bordering sometimes on caricature. But nonetheless it is all very entertaining and the actors are good. It reminded of the older 1950's and 1960's war movies, very far removed from the new and very realistic wartime dramas ("Band of brothers,...).
Certainly worth watching.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Film
This is a great film. I am surprised by some of the comments, "I bought this, but had already seen it, so I give it three stars". Read more
Published 29 days ago by Team Fan
Charlotte Gray
Hi there
from first seeing this war film i wanted to purchase it,it is an excellent film and keeps you on the edge of your seat,would recommend this film 5star.
from first seeing this war film i wanted to purchase it,it is an excellent film and keeps you on the edge of your seat,would recommend this film 5star.
Published 3 months ago by Mr. K. Gray
Go in search of Charlotte Gray DVD
For those who have not read Sebastian Faulk's book or seen the film in the cinema starring Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Michael Gambon and Rupert Penry-Hones, I should go in... Read more
Published 5 months ago by RR Waller
Charlotte Gray (I knew I"d seen it)
Bought for the better half & told her she had seen it on the box, but who am I to say. Still, it was my cash (pensioner)she had seen it! Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr.Happy
Nancy Wake alias Charlotte Gray
The quality and delivery of DVD were fine but disapointed with film content, nothing like the true story of Charlotte Grey or giving her a true name Nancy Wake who recenly died... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ron Mac
A con??
If you read the book first, you'll be disappointed with the film. Based on the book it may, but only very loosely - very many significant differences, not least of which a... Read more
Published 10 months ago by dadams
Blanchett Gray
Cate Blanchett's presence is more than enough in this movie to have a unique taste
She's playing Charlotte Gray you must watch the rest.
She's playing Charlotte Gray you must watch the rest.
Published 13 months ago by Stallion
Where's The Energy ?
Dull, dull, dull - I stuck with this for about 30 minutes over Christmas then started wondering whether I should sneak into the kitchen for yet another mince pie. Read more
Published 17 months ago by W. S. Barklam
Charlotte gray
We enjoyed this movie very much it gave an excellent portrayal of life behind the scenes of the people involved in the resistance movement during the second world war. Read more
Published 18 months ago by pat
Misses the mark
Cate Blanchett's attempts at a Scottish accent were awful/comical. The film itself was ok and the location was well chosen to give it a real 1940s feel, but the storyline was... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Kim S. Brackley
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