Customer Reviews

American Friends [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have rented this movie twice, and I would like to say that this is a video worth seeing. Michael Palin stars as Reverend Francis Ashby, an English professor at Oxford University. He takes a trip to the Swiss Alps where he meets two American women. Connie Booth plays Caroline Hartley, and Trini Alvarado plays young Elinor. Throughout the movie the two women are in a competition for Reverend Ashby. At Oxford however, women are prohibited and also they are not allow to marry. It's a struggle seen by Reverend Ashby who is at odds with his devotion to Oxford and the women he loves. I won't give away whose heart Reverend Ashby wins so you will have to watch and see.

For those of you who are familar with Michael Palin's work, comedy is his speciality. Also Michael is known for his world travels. This movie is drama although it does have a few light moments. Not only Michael stars in the movie but he also wrote the movie. The movie is set in the mid 1800's and is based on the diaries of Michael's great grandfather. The scenery of the Swiss Alps are very beautiful. It makes you want to take your next vacation there. It's a movie that you will want to have and it also shows that Michael Palin can do drama.

This is a quiet film--very, very British with wonderful shots of Oxford University--particularly New College, although Mr. Palin himself attended Brasenose College. The scenery is beautiful and the story is wonderfully thought-provoking. We enjoyed it very much--particularly the insight into "What is integrity?" It was good to see Connie Booth again and Alfred Molina was very convincing as a Brit. Michael Palinn is quite excellent in his Oxfordian restraint, and it was touching to see people very much in love without having to jump into bed immediately. Imagine! Well done, Mr. Palin!

This is a beautifully understated, moving film. I remember seeing it simply because Michael Palin was in it, and I am a major Python fan (like almost everyone in the world). This film is not a comedy (I kind of knew that going in), but it is gentle, serene, beautifully shot, and quite moving by the end. Palin acquits himself wonderfully as the Oxford professor, as does the rest of the cast. I was really surprised by how quite profound some of it was. The location shooting is amazingly beautiful, and Palin has a line of dialogue that has always remained in my memory when he is staring at the Swiss Alps. He remarks on how beautiful it all is, and there must have been some divine hand guiding it. I think Palin is the most underrated of the Python performers. He has done very good dramatic work, and has become a global trekker. From all reports, he is an extremely modest man in person, so maybe he doesn't promote himself as the others might have (at least not as much as Cleese likes to do...the Pythons tease Cleese all the time about that). This film is wonderful, and it deserves to be better known.

Wonderful film, why no U.S. version?? I would love to replace the tired VHS copy I bought from a defunct video rental store.

Francis Ashby (Michael Palin) a middle-aged Oxford tutor on a hiking trip in Switzerland in 1861. There he meets the American Caroline Hartley (Connie Booth) and her 18-year old ward Elinor (Trini Alvarado). Ashby is drawn to them both, particularly Elinor, and therefore, he is rather surprised when they arrive in Oxford and intend to stay...

The plot was based on a real-life incident involving Palin's great-grandfather, Edward Palin.

It is truly the best film I have ever seen, remarkably moving and touching - a delightful production.
Michael Palin is truly one of the finest actors ever and I must thank him for sharing the story of his great-grandfather with us.

American Friends [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]
What an absolutely lovely story...gently paced with a great cast. The best part is that it's true...about Michael Palin's grandfather...the story garnered from diaries.
I had been looking for yrs for this title on dvd & finally found it! It's a keeper!
This is Michael Palen in wonderful form... He is quite versatile, comedian, actor, writer, explorer, etc.