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Product Description
Sir Laurence Olivier takes on the role of eccentric lawyer, Clifford Mortimer, in the 1981 film adaptation of Sir John Mortimer s autobiographical play, an unexpurgated yet affectionate portrait of his father. Struck down by blindness in middle age, Clifford Mortimer continued to battle in the courtroom despite his decreasing ability to look after himself. A Voyage Round My Father explores the tempestuous relationship between father and son as the younger Mortimer (portrayed by Alan Bates) tries to come to terms with the bitter memories of his father, whilst still seeking his love and respect.
Special Features
English
Region 0
Dolby Digital English
Dolby Digital
Biographies On Laurence Olivier And Author John Mortimer
Region 0
Dolby Digital English
Dolby Digital
Biographies On Laurence Olivier And Author John Mortimer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I first saw the play at Her Majesty's Theatre with Alec Guiness and was bowled over by its brilliant writing and by Alec Guiness' performance. Then I have watched it several times on the video which stars Laurence Olivier. I find it impossible to say which was the better. Olivier is enchanting in the lead role. Sadly,I missed the recent revival which starred Derek Jacobi. Bet he was good. I'm even told that John Mortimer once played the father! This is a wonderful play and piercingly witty. You musn't die without seeing it, either on stage or on the (grotesquely expensive) DVD.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Based on the true-life story of John Mortmer's barrister father who was blinded in an accident, everything is first-rate about this production: casting, acting and filming - all done with loving care.
When he was no longer able to act onstage, Olivier did his finest work for TV (most cinema films he appeared in were mediocre). He portrays to perfection the waspish, cynical, difficult, eccentric father who thus hides the agony of losing his sight in middle age and acts as if all was normal. He can on occasion be surprisingly helpful and understanding towards his son. All these facets of character are conveyed to perfection by Olivier, who has mastered the art of understatement so necessary for television performance. His performance is often extremely funny too, as when he sings "Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green" while the other parents sing a hymn at a school speech day. Physically, his performance is outstanding: he gradually ages from robust middle-age to sunken-cheeked, dying old man and his portrayal of blindness is uncannily realistic.
The filming of the English countryside and the gently nostalgic atmosphere add to the delights of "A Voyage Round My Father".
Not to be missed, for a witty, perceptive film and for the chance of seeing a truly great actor at his peak.
When he was no longer able to act onstage, Olivier did his finest work for TV (most cinema films he appeared in were mediocre). He portrays to perfection the waspish, cynical, difficult, eccentric father who thus hides the agony of losing his sight in middle age and acts as if all was normal. He can on occasion be surprisingly helpful and understanding towards his son. All these facets of character are conveyed to perfection by Olivier, who has mastered the art of understatement so necessary for television performance. His performance is often extremely funny too, as when he sings "Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green" while the other parents sing a hymn at a school speech day. Physically, his performance is outstanding: he gradually ages from robust middle-age to sunken-cheeked, dying old man and his portrayal of blindness is uncannily realistic.
The filming of the English countryside and the gently nostalgic atmosphere add to the delights of "A Voyage Round My Father".
Not to be missed, for a witty, perceptive film and for the chance of seeing a truly great actor at his peak.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This TV film is a wonderful example of the genre - subtle, low-key, unsentimental, yet emotionally compelling for all of this. Olivier and Alan Bates have a very well developed onscreen understanding (they had worked together twice before); Olivier, in the Father role, invests his performance with marvellous feeling and nuance. The music is another great asset. The film has very quickly become one of my favourites.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Subtitles
Does this have english sub titles?
If not, why not?
So many good TV films and older cinema films are issued without english language sub titles. Read more
If not, why not?
So many good TV films and older cinema films are issued without english language sub titles. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2008 by Anthony Gardner
At Last
I had soldiered on for over twenty years with an off-air video recording of this wonderful film and was delighted to find it at last on DVD. Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2006 by J. McDonald
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