- Jubilee offer: spend £10 or more on any product sold by Amazon.co.uk on or before June 6 and you can buy The Diamond Jubilee A Classical Celebration Album for just £2.50 Here's how (terms and conditions apply)
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
DVD Description
Based on the classic stage play by J.B. Priestly, An Inspector Calls stars the incomparable Alastair Sim as the inspector of the title. The Birling family are rich, pampered and complacent. It is 1912, and the shadow of the impending war has yet to fall across their lives. As they sit down to dinner one night, celebrating the engagement of the eldest child, Sheila, to prosperous business man Gerald, a knock at the door announces the arrival of a visitor who will change their lives forever. The visitor is a police inspector, who announces he is investigating the suspicious death of a young woman. As he questions each member of the family, years of secrets and lies are revealed, and the family soon find themselves wondering who the mysterious inspector really is – and how he knows so much about them.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The comfortable complacency of the British Birling family is upset when Inspector Poole (Alastair Sim) comes calling. An impoverished young working girl named Eva Smith (Jane Wenham) has committed suicide, and Poole hopes that the Birlings will help him find out why. As the evening progresses, a series of flashbacks reveal that each member of the Birling family has in some small way been responsible for Eva's demise. A twist ending adds a mystical, thought-provoking touch to the proceedings. Bryan Forbes, who plays the Birling son, matriculated into the noted director of such films as The L-Shaped Room, King Rat and The Whisperers. An Inspector Calls was based on a play by J.B. Priestley, which recently scored a huge hit when it was revived in London and New York. ...An Inspector Calls
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
95 of 100 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There couldn't have been a better inspector, than the brilliant Alastair Sim and a supporting cast of fine, talented actors, makes the story that much more convincing. The entire film, from start to finish, leaves nothing to the imagination. It is a masterpiece! The upper class family, convinced that they are of a better status than those not so fortunate. Doing what they can to convince themselves that they have done no wrong, yet their consciences are awakened, when the eerie, calm and knowledgeable inspector enters.
The story flows smoothly; first one, then another, then the entire family gathering, are given an insight into their behaviour and attitude towards those less fortunate than themselves. It is a fascinating insight into the debauch behaviour of the "haves", towards the "have nots". As relevant today as it was then!
It says much about us all! An absolute must see; I've been waiting for years for this film to be released!
53 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Just a quick note if you are buying this to show to your GCSE pupils and you haven't seen it since your school days: the DVD is excellent quality even on a large screen. The Inspector is great and it's good to show the pupils the costumes and setting. It's not entirely faithful to the script though: for a start we have flashbacks showing Eva / Daisy which I think take away some of the mystery (and on a personal level, any sympathy for the character!). And why oh why oh why do they change the Inspector's name to Poole?!
51 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Alastair Sim is at his very best, playing the ghostly inspector, interviewing an upper-class family, in pre-First World War England. His masterful acting, combined with a brilliant cast and a script that is extremely believable, ensures that this gripping film holds the viewer's attention, right from start to finish, with that little extra susprise at the conclusion!
I do very much admire Bryan Forbes' portrayal of the alcoholic, uppper-class "boy" ("but he's only a boy", as his mother assures the inspector), while the father is absolutely convinced there won't be a war (perhaps he also believed the Titanic was unsinkable).
Each of the family has a story to tell about how their debauch, aristocratic lives affected a young girl; a girl who was seen as no more than a nuisance and a lower class worker, with no rights and no class. They claim the moral high ground, while their money supports their lifestyle of carefree, happy and irresponsible simplicity; they have wealth and status! The poor girl, eventually, dies under tragic and dubious circumstances and so it is that the eerie inspector calls on the upper-class family. Will his questioning reveal the truth? What IS the truth? Wait until the conclusion to find out and make up your own mind!
Even those that are not inclined to the quality of classic, British films, will find this a story that will command their attention and leave them wanting more!
I have been waiting for a long time, to add this brilliant film to my collection. I am extremely glad to see it is, at long last, being re-released.
I do very much admire Bryan Forbes' portrayal of the alcoholic, uppper-class "boy" ("but he's only a boy", as his mother assures the inspector), while the father is absolutely convinced there won't be a war (perhaps he also believed the Titanic was unsinkable).
Each of the family has a story to tell about how their debauch, aristocratic lives affected a young girl; a girl who was seen as no more than a nuisance and a lower class worker, with no rights and no class. They claim the moral high ground, while their money supports their lifestyle of carefree, happy and irresponsible simplicity; they have wealth and status! The poor girl, eventually, dies under tragic and dubious circumstances and so it is that the eerie inspector calls on the upper-class family. Will his questioning reveal the truth? What IS the truth? Wait until the conclusion to find out and make up your own mind!
Even those that are not inclined to the quality of classic, British films, will find this a story that will command their attention and leave them wanting more!
I have been waiting for a long time, to add this brilliant film to my collection. I am extremely glad to see it is, at long last, being re-released.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
an inspector calls
good film well acted worth watching.even after many years abscence still found it worth watching, and alestair sim was one of my most liked actors.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Donald Crabtree
A masterclass in acting by Alistair Sim
The brilliant Alistair Sim is the centrepiece of the film, proving once again that he was a marvellous chameleon actor. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jayne Murphy
An Inspector Calls
Being studied at school for GCSEs so bought for home use and a revision resource.
It has not disappointed and has some interesting ways of showing the drama, that can lead you... Read more
It has not disappointed and has some interesting ways of showing the drama, that can lead you... Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. L. Podbery
Memories !
Having seen a recent stage play version - we rediscovered our pleasure in the story - returned to the Great Alastair Sim film version through you - and enjoyed it all over again. Read more
Published 4 months ago by H
Invaluable
Bought this initially to help with my daughter's GCSE. I'd seen it in the West End several years ago but was reminded of the important theme of the play upon seeing this first rate... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Andy Hamilton
Pure class
I studied the play at school and I have also seen it in the Theatre. But Alistair Sim's performance is the one I can't forget. Read more
Published 7 months ago by AJ
A blessing for teachers across the land!
I imagine that teachers everywhere will be delighted that this title has been re-released. It's a valuable tool to help to bring the text to life for students.
Published 7 months ago by Ms. Af Mcgivern
An Inspector Calls
Worth watching if taking GCSE English as my daughter spotted the differences between the book and the film! Great to see Alistair Sim at his best.
Published 11 months ago by familyh1
A great film but no subtitles!
A great film and, as an English teacher with a Foundation class of GCSE students, it's an absolute godsend to help them get their heads around the play - even if it's not entirely... Read more
Published 11 months ago by angelmouse75
Classic Sim!
Alastair Sim never fails to entertain and another of his classics worth seeing is "The happiest days of our lives" with another brilliant entertainer Margaret Rutherford, that was... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Louise
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
