Customer Reviews

Malta Story

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Malta Story is well worth watching, for it provides the viewer with a good, overall history lesson of the battle for Malta. That the British were able to hold off a German invasion on this small, isolated island testifies to the strong spirit shown by Great Britain throughout World War Two. In some ways, it reminds me of the battle for Corregidor, which was actually taking place during the same time. Of course, the circumstances and outcomes were different in both battles. By watching this movie, the viewer comes away with an appreciation for the sacrifices and casualties endured by British soldiers and sailors, in addition to many Maltese civilian deaths.

One interesting aspect about the battle for Malta is that it was one of the first times in the war that the United States used an aircraft carrier - the USS Wasp ferried RAF spitfires from Britain to Malta. These aircraft were vital for the island's defense. The movie honors the United States for the use of the Wasp with a fitting performance of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Alec Guinness does a good job portraying an RAF photo-reconnaissance pilot. His character is warm and sincere. The other British characters are quintessentially British, stiff upper lip and all. The woman who plays Guinness' love interest also gives a good performance. She was quite beautiful and rather charming.

The action scenes are fun to watch, and are quite good for a 1953 film. All in all, The Malta Story is a good war movie that showcases an important part of World War Two history. I highly recommend it.

Some may think that old war movies can not be compared with the modern ones because of the lack of super high-tech effects and millions of dollars which current productions have in ambudance. Although it is true that no old movie can give you the terrific visual effects of "Saving Private Ryan" they do have some advantages, especially when the theme is about World War II. First of all, they were closer to the real time of the war, thus the heroes, the faces, the mentality, the materials, the surroundings and even the language are much more realistic than any modern director could ever hope for. "The Malta Story" belongs to this category of excellent old British war films, picturing the drama of the besieged Malta in 1942, through the story of a young RAF reconnaissance pilot strandled on the island. There are fine scenes of air battle, of the terrible bombardment by the Luftwaffe and the convoys' desperate efforts to reach the island. The story of tanker "Ohio" of the "Pedestal" convoy is especially well presented. Those old days the director had numerous authentic Spitfire aircraft at his disposal and he used them in a marvellous way!

What more could a man ask for in a War Film? What with the following: A small strategic island that lays in the way of the enemies supply line. A ruthless, cunning enemy doing its best to put it out of the fight. The British loyally doing their best to supply the heroic Maltese with huge losses of men and ships in the process. (We even helped out with the loan of the Aircraft Carrier Wasp to deliver some much needed replacement Spitfires.)
A good love story and some really strong actors who seem to be at their best. That and for the time some very good special effects with a ending you don't expect.Altogether a tape that is well worth the coin. I just hope that the DVD comes out soon!

Really nice story. Great combat footage and other new footage I have never seen anywhere else. Matter of fact I have never seen any of this footage before. Aircraft buffs should like it :) This is really a step above the majority of old war films.

Review for movie only..not quality of DVD........this is the story of a pilot played by Alec Guinness who is flying photographic missions off the small island of Malta during WW2. Filmed on location this shows the results of the year long siege by the Nazis and the effect on the islands people. King George awarded the George Cross to the entire population of Malta for their heroism and their fight to defeat the Nazis. Script is somewhat limiting and acting is not what we have come to expect from Sir Alec...however...this is must see for all those who like movies about WW2. I like the movie for it's historical value and to put the human toll of war into perspective.

Welcome addition to my WWII collection. My father was a merchant marine sailor on Esso tankers in the forties, he would have loved this movie. The movie lead me to locate books on the subject of the SS Ohio.
Hard to believe that the British people of this period are the same people suffering the burning of their cities by hooligans today.

This is a very interesting story about a photo recon pilot who got stuck at Malta enroute to Egypt. Much of the film appears to be authentic scenes of ships blowing up and bombs being dropped on Malta. As usual Alec Guiness is first rate. Many of the British period actors are in the film whom you will recognize. I liked it a lot. It is a much better film than many war flicks even though it has a lot of models being used in the air action.

VCI Entertainment and A Theta Film Production presents "THE MALTA STORY" (1953) (103 min/B&W) -- Starring Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Steel, Muriel Pavlow, Renée Asherson, Hugh Burden, Nigel Stock, Reginald Tate, Ralph Truman & Flora Robson

Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst

VCI brings another great film from the British Invasion, as the British are coming
shown in the BONUS PROMO.

Most of the action is seen through the eyes of a very young Alec Guinness, a reconnaissance photographer stranded on Malta en route to Egypt. While on the island he romances a local girl in between hazardous flying missions. A no-frills account of the siege of the Mediterranean island of Malta during WW2. Much weight is given to the courage of the islanders in the face of appalling hardships, for which the island was awarded the George Cross by the British.

Viewers are drawn into the emotion and circumstance of the onscreen drama unfolding. Calling it a "stiff upper lip" may be one easy way to deal with the visual honesty, of those who are caught in a life and death situation.

Action score by the great composer William Alwyn gives this film a powerful documentary feel to it.

Near the final scene Guinness is requested by Hawkins to give location of the fleet and the
look on both actors is priceless, drama at it's best - unforgettable.

Overall, a very tense and well-written film that is great for history and aircraft buffs.

BIOS:
1. Brian Desmond Hurst (Director)
Date of Birth: 12 February 1895 - Castlereagh, Co. Down, Northern Ireland
Date of Death: 26 September 1986 - London, England, UK

2. Alec Guinness [aka: Alec Guinness de Cuffe]
Date of Birth: 2 April 1914 - Marylebone, London, England, UK
Date of Death: 5 August 2000 - Midhurst, Sussex, England, UK

3. Jack Hawkins [aka: John Edward Hawkins]
Date of Birth: 14 September 1910 - Wood Green, London, England, UK
Date of Death: 18 July 1973 - London, England, UK

4. Anthony Steel [aka: Anthony Maitland Steel]
Date of Birth: 21 May 1920 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: 21 March 2001 - London, England, UK

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 103 min on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment ~ (May 3, 2011)

The film `The Malta Story' is a great tribute to both the British and the Maltese soldiers including civilians, were both got involved in the hardship of this historical island. Both the British and the Maltese soldiers fought to keep Hitler of ever invading Malta. If Hitler managed to invade Malta, history could be much different. During the non stop bombings over the strategic places on the island, such as the airfields and the ports, which were constantly bombed. Fortunately the film was made when parts of Valletta and the three cities, on the other side of Grand Harbour, where actual evidence of war were still there.
The three worst instances when Malta was so hard hit were, The Attack on the Aircraft Carrier `HMS Illustrious', which for more than 24hours it was continuously attacked while it was being repaired in Grand Harbour. (A Tribute to my father who during those attacks he was a gunner on one of the anti-aircraft guns which surrounded Grand Harbour. Luckily he survived the ordeal and continued firing on the German Luftwaffe till the end of the war).
The other; was the ordeal of the most welcomed convoy especially the tanker Ohio. Most of the footage seen in the film was authentic as were also the scenes of Maltese praying and waiting for the convoy around the harbour. If it did not arrive, Malta could have had to surrender.
Then there was the arrest of that Maltese who was caught spying for the Italians. He used to be brought close to Malta; I believe in a submarine, and then paddles in a dingy towards the island of Gozo.
I don't want to forget, that Malta received the George Cross for bravery from King George of England; of which we are so proud.
Malta is just 120 sq Miles (320 Sq Kilometers; a floating rock; but it has a very big heart and an incredible history.

Malta is known as "the George Cross island ",the George Cross being the highest award for bravery by civilians within the British Commonwealth .The island was rewarded for its collective heroism in World War Two when it staunchly resisted the efforts of the Germans to bomb it into submission and occupy the island .This movie recreates the assault and siege in a quiet, restrained and dignified manner.It is a clear eyed unsentimental movie that ,being shot on Malta itself,brings fully to life the hot,rocky and beautuful island that has so often been the crossroads of conflict .

The main character is "Ross"(Alec Guinness) an air reconnaisance officer/photographer forced to land on Malta and bearing witness to and becoming involved in the attempts of the islanders and the British forces to repel a German invasion .the movie cuts between the civilians involved and the British military personnel ,in particular the Air commanding Officer ,played with customary skill by Jack Hawkins ,and the naval commander Banks (an excellent performance by the under-rated Ralph Truman).Nor does it neglect to pay due tribute to US assistance in the form of the carrier Wasp ,which brought much needed Spitfires at a crucial time .

Yet what one will most remember from the movie is the heroism of the civilian population -the quiet grave faces of the islanders as they endure privation and demonstrate resolve and fortitude .There is one particularly fine scene of children quietly playing in the street as the air raid sirens sound and a raid takes place.

Guinness is not at his absolute best and acting honours go to Dame Flora Robson as a Maltese mother whose children experience the contrasting fortunes of war ,and to Muriel Pavlow as a Maltese woamn with whom Guinness falls in love

Well directed by Brian Desmond-Hurst and shot in crisp monochrome this is a quietly compelling study in heroism ,civilain and miltary ,and reminds us that freedom has a high price sometimes -a message lost on the simpering jellyfish operating under the degraded name of liberalism