Customer Reviews

One Against the Wind [VHS]

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

 

 

Judy Davis and Sam Neill have appeared together in a number of films. They work so well together you think they must be like Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy--married in real life--but alas they are not. I first saw them in a film made 'down under' (I think they are both Australian) "My Brilliant Career." Sam was chasing Judy, and as usual she was spurning him.

In this wonderful Hallmark Hall of Fame production, Judy Davis plays the Comtesse Mary Lindell, two-time winner of the 'Croix de Guerre' and Sam Neille plays a British pilot shot down over France in the early days of WWII who goes on to become a Brigadier General. The Comtesse Mary Lindell inadvertantly saves Neill--the downed pilot--and thereby hangs a tale.

The Comtesse Lindell is a heroine girls can look up to. As a French citizen and a Comtesse, she was relatively unmolested by the Germans when they invaded France and would not have appeared to have had a stong motive to do the things she did and risk her life and the lives of her children. Lindell's daughter actually became involved with a German officer. However, Lindell had been a Red Cross nurse in WWI, for which she was awarded the Croix de Guerre for her assistance to both French and German soldiers alike, and she was a compassionate and caring person.

In WWII, Lindell developed a stake in the salvation of British, American, Canadian and other Allied pilots, because she accidently saved the life of a single British pilot. He spread the word, and before she knew it, she was inundated with downed pilots seeking her assistance. She could not stand by and watch the Nazis shoot them in the street, in the churches, anywhere they found them. When she was captuered and imprisoned for assisting the enemy, her son stood in for her. Eventually, she was released and resumed her underground career. Her son and her daughter, her friends and a host of other partisans helped her form the "Marie" underground network which smuggled countless Allied airmen out of harm's way through the southern border of France. For her heroism, Lindell was awarded another 'Croix de Guerre' at the end of the war.

This is a fine video, well constructed, and a joy to watch. I think you'll watch it more than once.

Judy Davis and Sam Neill headline this Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. The story is set France during the early days of Nazi occupation. Davis plays an outspoken, brash, high-profile, American-born French countess (by marriage). She and her two children, a son and a daughter, plunge into peril when Davis compulsively decides to help Neill, a British flier shot down over France. Their first interaction is classic -- Davis packs quite a wallop!

Davis goes on to become a player in helping downed allied fliers escape from occupied territory.

In the meantime, a Nazi officer is bound and determined to make an example of Davis...and thus the story develops and continues through the end of the war.

This is a "must-watch" movie. There is action, intruige, and incredible courage in the face of danger.

5 stars all the way! Whatever you do, don't miss this movie!

Alan Holyoak

In the days of occupied France during World War II, an English born French woman finds herself in the position of helping downed flyers escape German occupied territory. This is the story of a stubborn, driven woman, the countess de Melville, Mary Lindell, as played by Judy Davis, and her part in the French Resistance. The movie captures well the flavor of occupied France, and moves between action there, and London, where the first man she helps escape back to freedom, played by Sam Neil, works to coordinate her efforts with British intelligence. Her son, who was present on the set when it was being filmed, and whose life is also featured in the film, said that Davis perfectly captured the character of his mother. This Hallmark production is all dialogue and interaction, a classic war film. It is a crown jewel in any video collection.

Judy Davis and Sam Neill headline this Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. The story is set France during the early days of Nazi occupation. Davis plays an outspoken, brash, high-profile, American-born French countess (by marriage). She and her two children, a son and a daughter, plunge into peril when Davis compulsively decides to help Neill, a British flier shot down over France. Their first interaction is classic -- Davis packs quite a wallop!

Davis goes on to become a player in helping downed allied fliers escape from occupied territory.

In the meantime, a Nazi officer is bound and determined to make an example of Davis...and thus the story develops and continues through the end of the war.

This is a "must-watch" movie. There is action, intruige, and incredible courage in the face of danger.

5 stars all the way! Whatever you do, don't miss this movie!

Alan Holyoak

I have owned two copies of "One Against the Wind"--because I wore out the first one! You can get the story from other reviews. I show this movie to college freshman in a writing class where we talk about being your highest and best self and making moral choices (among other things). It's entertaining, riveting, and a great springboard for discussion. I don't want to have to buy another VHS--Hallmark, please, transfer this movie to DVD as you have with "The Love Letter" and "What the Deaf Man Heard."

This was a pretty solid Hallmark Hall Of Fame made-for-TV story about a real- life woman "Countess Mary Lindell" (Judy Davis) who helped Allies during World War II.

Many of the military men in need were downed pilots and Lindell would help these men get safely out of occupied France. Her character was a strong one and her resolve to do what she could against the Germans was resolute. Helping her accomplish that were her kids: a son and a daughter (a young Kate Beckinsale!).

The story lags in spots or I would have rated it higher. I'd watch this again if someone would issue it on DVD.

This is one of the most inspiring movies that I have seen, a story of incredible courage. I watch it on a regular basis. My daughter was in 10th grade when we recorded it on our VCR. Over the next couple years she watched it about once a week! I wish that it were on DVD!!!

The movie "One Against the Wind" tells a powerful story about Mary Lindell and her efforts in the Resistance. An excellent film to show to students who are studying WW II, and also a great one to watch. It's pretty clean with only mild language. I would say that it's safe to show to children except there are a couple scenes that are pretty graphic, especially the part where Lindell's son Maurice is being questioned by the Nazis. Highly recommend watching it.

I too would like to ask that someone put this movie on DVD. Also, I have tried in vain to find a copy of the book "No Drums, No Trumpets" (except for very expensive collector's editions). Libraries will not even loan this book out. Therefore, I wish that someone would reprint this book. Please, pretty please!!!

Mary Lindell is a household name in Great Britain. Thank God that HALLMARK took the time to recreate her daringly true escapades in smuggling evaders into unoccupied zones during WW2. For dramatic purposes, much of ONE AGAINST THE WIND has been rearranged and condensed . As exciting as this presentation of Mary Lindell's exploits is, her real life was even MORE dramatic than what HALLMARK assembled!( Read the book NO DRUMS,NO TRUMPETS by J.B. Wayne!!!!!)



Nevertheless, this film is extraordinary for what it accomplishes and Judy Davis is spot-on as the resourceful,courageous and mulishly strong-minded Mary. It is significant to note that Mary Lindell was 45 years old when she and her family began smuggling people out of occupied France, first by sheer bluff and boldness! Her methods became much more "professional" as the War dragged on. The focus of ONE AGAINST THE WIND is more towards the end of her smuggling people into Spain, more in particular Australian bomber pilot McSweyen (Sam Neill).Lindell actually had three children, two boys and a little girl.The son Maurice, is a composite of her two sons, and daughter Barbe (Kate Beckinsale) is pretty much invented along with her attraction to a Nazi officer for dramatic purposes.This makes for a great screenplay and creates dramatic tension, but it's not true. Other than that, ONE AGAINST THE WIND is about as exciting and daredevilish as a film can get (especially for HALLMARK!).



Great similar companion films would be BLACK BOOK, VARIAN'S WAR and CHARLOTTE GRAY.