Customer Reviews

Florence Nightingale

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was dissapointed to read the other review of this movie because I really loved it. Granted, I am a nurse so I may have more invested than a non-nurse viewer....even so I thought Jacqueline Smith gave a heartfelt and noble portrayal of Florence. The movie itself showcased some of florences best moments...standing up to the male hierachy of the British Army to be allowed to care for the wounded soldiers. I defy anyone not to be moved by Florence's dedication and commitment to her patients. Way to go Jackie! Good job in bringing the "Lady with the Lamp" to life!"

I absolutely loved this movie and I am so glad I bought it for my home to view it over and over again. It is a wonderful story based on true facts from the life of Florence Nightingale who unselfishly gave up her life to help others. We can all learn from her fine example and discover just what this life has to offer and what we can do to improve it.

I really liked this movie, it is sad but I think Jaclyn Smith did an excellent job in this film. The wardrobe was very authentic and the story stuck very close to real life. Love it.

This is arguably one of the best tv movies ever produced in the 80's. Sadly, they don't make movies like this anymore in hollywood now a days. The movie was actually released as a three-hour movie and not a miniseries in 1985. I still have a copy of this movie on VHS and it's great to get hold of this dvd version this time - much better quality. It's worth keeping this classic movie....from the production, to the music -- an outstanding film. Performance wise, I reckon Jaclyn Smith delivers her best performance in this film. She may not be in the same league like say Meryl Streep or Cate Blanchett but she's a very credible performer. I thought, she's really a standout during her quietest moments in the film. She just played it with grace and composure....

I'm giving this movie FIVE stars !!!

This is a decent and nicely produced period piece. The portrayal of Nightengale seems correct and perhap a little stiff, but this goes along with the feeling of the time. The costumes and uniforms are all quite correct for the Crimean War period. We even get a few Highlanders and Guards in bearskins!

Naturally a film like this is going to portray the Victorian British army as a crude male dominated organization. The problem was that ineffiency was emblematic to all armies of this period. The US was hardly in any better shape when our Civil War broke out a few years later and thousands were lost from bad care. The French had a marginally better medical organization in the Crimea and by use of the Vivandiers, the lady Canteen carries, they had a least a built in element to use for helping the soldiers. The Russians were even worse off with hardly any medical care and their losses from this war will probably never be known.

The British army suffered from an antiquated organization that had changed little since the Napoleanic Wars. The Duke of Wellington would have been quite at home with the army in 1854, as it was still his army in spirit. The ineffiency however was something he would have corrected. Unfortunately Lord Raglin did not have this ability, despite his long association with the Iron Duke.

Miss Nightengale certainly was a catalyst to address change. Without her this would have happened anyway, as reforms throughout the army were due as a result of that first dreadful winter in the Crimea. She certainly played her part to accomplish this noble end. One notes that at Scutari Hospital the mortality rate was roughly 44% before she and the reforms instituted by Parliamentry Commissions were implimented. Six months later it was reduced down to 2%. Miss Nightengale and her staff, along with many dedicated army doctors deserve much credit for this. The Crimean War was a first for many things. Nursing was just one of them.

I enjoyed this film and thought it was well done. There are not many dramas out there on the Crimean War, and for this reason alone I gave it a good rating. I withheld 5 stars because its too bad the DVD package did not include a few extras such as a Bio on Miss Nightengale as well as some background for the general viewer on the war itself. After all this is what DVDs are for. Lacking those extras the production is not complete, but still a good movie none the less.

Even if the movie wasn't made in Hollywood, our heroine is given the Hollywood treatment. It bothers me that she is portrayed by an actress who looks as plastic as a Barbie Doll. I only hope that the audience is motivated to find out more about the real person who is way more interesting than this character. The movie ends as Nightengale returns from the Crimean War. It makes no mention of the fact that at age 37 she became a recluse. She lived to age 90 but rarely left her room or even received visitors- not even her family. She did do alot of consulting and educating through letters she wrote. There is no mention of the fact that she had a genius for mathmatics and statistics.
I didn't hate the movie. I think it is well worth watching. It just doesn't do her justice.

I just stumbled upon this film at Books-A-Million the other day and watched it with my Grandmother. We were both intrigued. The film centers around the internal conflict of Miss Nightingale pursuing her calling as a nurse versus adhering to the traditional society pattern of marrying well and foregoing any type of career. While we as a society often think of nurses as a kind and gentle profession, this film really reveals to what lengths Miss Nightingale and her self-funded team of nurses went through to care for the soldiers that were being neglected by the British army. They have to travel and defy British military tradition and hierarchy. Miss Nightingale's flawless logic and adeptness with words is highlighted in the film. And Jacklyn Smith gives a very sophisticated and classy portrayal of Miss Nightingale, the Lady With The Lamp. Wonderful film.

I ordered this item only because Jeremy Brett played the part of Florence Nightingale's father. His performance is excellent, as usual (if you want him to be awarded a posthumous Bafta, go to facebook:"posthumous BAFTA for Jeremy Brett". But when I watched the movie, I found it extremely interessant and moving. Poor british soldiers!Florence Nightingale was really a generous woman, and a clever and very strong one too. I learned more when I watched this story, and in the most thrilling way. Excellent movie.I loved it.

I was very happy with the movie and the speedy service. It was a good movie about a wonderful and strong woman.

I understand that this movie may not follow exact history, but it does provide a feel for the time period and enables one to see the conditions of war. It also allows one to experience the love involved in sacrifice and devotion to a task that does not serve oneself. For this I give the movie 5 stars. Study the history, sure. But, watch the movie and ask yourself ... what is my devotion? how do I sacrifice for others, even unto risking my life and/or leaving behind comforts of the world? Don't miss it.