...
Unfortunately, on a cold November night Derek and his pal Chris are caught by the police on the roof of a warehouse they are breaking into, but suddenly Chris reveals a gun and begins shooting indiscriminately… killing one officer and injuring another…
But with Bentley shouting "Let him ... Read review
Let him have it. These words, uttered during a shootout by 19-year-old Derek Bentley, ... more
sealed his fate. But what did they mean? Was Derek telling Chris Craig, his psychotic partner, to shoot an approaching cop... or, as the defence contended, did he jus...
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: A moving fact based drama performed with grace Disadvantages: none at all
Director: Peter Medak.
Writers: Neil Purvis and Robert Wade.
Producers: Jane Frazer, Luc Roeg, Robert Warr and Jeremy Thomas
Stars: Christopher Eccleston, Paul Reynolds, Tom Courtenay and Eileen Atkins.
Released in 1991 this near two hour film, based on the true events in Croydon on November 1952 which changed a families life forever as one man is sentenced to death for his part in the shooting of a police ... ...uncovered.
** BRIEF PLOT **
Derek Bently, (played by Christopher Eccleston) is a mentally challenged young man, coming from a very nice family, but he is easily led by others, especially his best friend Chris Craig, (played by Paul Reynolds), and his small gang of wanna-be gangsters.
The gang spend most of their time wandering the streets getting up to o good, usually only minor criminal activities… simply ... more
Director: Peter Medak. Writers: Neil Purvis and Robert Wade. Producers: Jane Frazer, Luc Roeg, Robert Warr and Jeremy Thomas Stars: Christopher Eccleston, Paul Reynolds, Tom Courtenay and Eileen Atkins.
Released in 1991 this near two hour film, based on the true events in Croydon on November 1952 which changed a families life forever as one man is sentenced to death for his part in the shooting of a police officer… only for a total miscarriage of justice to be uncovered.
** BRIEF PLOT **
Derek Bently, (played by Christopher Eccleston) is a mentally challenged young man, coming from a very nice family, but he is easily led by others, especially his best friend Chris Craig, (played by Paul Reynolds), and his small gang of wanna-be gangsters. The gang spend most of their time wandering the streets getting up to o good, usually only minor criminal activities… simply more out of boredom than malice. Unfortunately, on a cold November night Derek and his pal Chris are caught by the police on the roof of a warehouse they are breaking into, but suddenly Chris reveals a gun and begins shooting indiscriminately… killing one officer and injuring another… But with Bentley shouting "Let him have it Chris…" just before the fatal shot he is accused alongside Chris with the murder of a PC Sidney Miles, although he never actually pulled the trigger…
** IN CONCLUSION **
I'd heard about Derek Bentley and his alleged criminal activities so I thought I'd watch this when it came on the television recently.
When I first started to watch this movie I wasn't expecting much as the opening scenes flickered on the screen… I instantly presumed it was going to be a bit of a 'B' movie type with bad acting and an even worse script… But how wrong I was… it soon turned out to be one of the most moving films I have ever seen in my life… knowing that this poor sole (Bentley) was wrongly accused and treated in such a barbaric way, considering his rather immature mental attitude on life… What a remarkably touching movie… and what an utter travesty for the Bentley family.
The action is slow but considering it IS based on true facts you can't be adding all sorts of inappropriate crap just to boast the ratings…this one simply sticks to the basic facts and creates a master piece…(with the director Peter Medak having a hand in the brilliant Krays movie a year earlier).
The all round acting is fantastic and makes the movie worth watching over and over again… Paul Reynolds with his dodgy suits and his almost psychotic expressions really does give this movie a tenseness of its own…his great skills as an all rounder really coming to the surface.
And as for Christopher Eccleston, well, he simply takes his part to the limit, showing the world just how good this new actor really is… almost becoming the 19 year old Bentley with a mental age of a preteen… opening up his acting career with an outstanding performance which can only be described as pure brilliance.
The sadist thing about this movie is the knowledge that it IS based on the real life events regarding the total mess which was the justice system and how one simple mistake led to a once happy family being totally ripped apart… And what is worse is that by the time Derek Bentley was pardoned his close relatives had all passed away, all in the knowledge that justice had NOT been served.
* Would I recommend this…?
Well of all the movies I have ever seen I would have to say that this one is one of the best… it may not be action packed or filled with CGIs to entertain the younger viewers but the story is well told and knowing that this poor young man was an actually living being makes this movie a very touching piece of work.
This movie is a must for every one to watch at least once, if only to see just how British justice can be so wrong… taking the life of an innocent man, and not just any man, but a man who never really knew the difference between right and wrong…
If you want to get a copy of this brilliant film Can be bought from amazon for less than a fiver, and for what this story is about it is a complete bargain…
Advantages: Interesting, based on a true story Disadvantages: Not a happy ending
from Craig, particularly after Chris' brother, Niven, is imprisoned for gun crime. This tips Chris over the edge, exacerbating his love for guns and his hate for the police. One fateful day, Derek manages to escape his parents, meets Craig, with the aim of burgling a butcher's shop. This does not come off, but the two boys end up on the top of a building and are seen by the neighbours, who call the police.
Craig, who has a gun, fires at the police. Derek yells the name of the film: 'Lethimhaveit'. Both boys are arrested, but Craig, being only 16, is too young to face the death penalty and so Derek has to take the punishment. But what did he mean by 'Lethimhaveit?'. Was he asking Craig to give the gun to the police, or was he really inciting him to commit murder? And taking his low IQ into consideration, should he have been ...
Advantages: Some good acting, good chemistry between the lead roles Disadvantages: Bad effects, slow in the middle
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The river is hard and they have a lot to overcome but will they be able to make it all the way to the Louisa and will Rose be able to get Charlie to give up his Gin?
This is definitely not a film which I would have chosen by myself but hubby really likes it. We have had it now sitting unopened on the DVD rack so I finally gave into him and lethim watch it! I have to say that I was slightly surprised by it. The storyline is good but very far fetched at times. I mean how could someone make torpedoes from basically nothing, I did ask hubby if he had the A Team in to help!
I thought that Humphrey Bogart did a great job playing the role of Charlie and I loved him at the start of the film when he had his wild ways and loved his gin but I think that during the film he did start to get boring and he seemed to have changed too much. Rose, who was ...
Advantages: 28 mins to get the washing up done! Disadvantages: Unlike a few other Baby Einstein DVDs i didn't find it good for a newborn.
I have 11Baby Einstein DVDs now and my little boy adores them all. He does however like some more than others and this one is only just starting to become a favourite (he is nearly 7months now).
The DVD is the usual mix of classical music and images of toys, blocks and patterns moving across the screen, while different languages are spoken (Hebrew, Japanese, Spanish, German and more). This section lasts about half an hour. My little boy does like to watch it, but it maybe doesn't hold his attention as well as some of the others in this range. It is useful for calming him down and lettinghim (and us) have some quiet time.
The DVD also includes a section on how to use it and a section which is a little like flashcards. A picture is shown, and then the word is said (and written) in which ever language you choose. My husband and I loved ...
Two teenagers are surprised by police during a break-in. One, epileptic with the mental age of 11 and IQ of 66 is arrested, the other, a gun-toting hood refuses to give up his weapon. Shouting Let Him Have It! to his friend, he fires, wounding one officer and killing another. Both boys face the death penalty. Did the boy mean shoot him or give him the gun
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
4DIGITAL MEDIA; PINNACLE VISION
Release date
28/06/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
DVD 2540
Barcode
5034741254014
Languages
Main Language
English
Professional reviews
Review
"...[A] crisp, chilling investigatory drama....[LET HIM HAVE IT] finds beauty in unexpected places..." (New York Times, p.C24, 06/12/1991)
Two teenagers are surprised by police during a break-in. One, epileptic with the mental age of 11 and IQ of 66 is arrested, the other, a gun-toting hood refuses to give up his weapon. Shouting Let Him Have It! to his friend, he fires, wounding one officer and killing another. Both boys face the death penalty. Did the boy mean shoot him or give him the gun
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