Customer Reviews

10 Rillington Place [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

10 Rillington Place is not a fun movie for those looking for a Saturday night popcorn/splatter fest. It is a hard-edged, harrowing account of the true story of British mass-murderer John Reginald Christie and his hapless fall guy, Timothy Evans. The film, directed by Richard Fleischer and featuring Richard Attenborough and John Hurt in the two leading roles, is based on the book of the same name written by prolific British writer Ludovic Kennedy. This controversial case, which resulted in two hangings, came back to haunt Britain after everyone thought it had been resolved and was paramount in the abandonment of capital punishment in the UK. The slant in this film is unmistakeable.

Starting in 1949, the Evans family: Timothy, his wife Beryl and their baby daughter Geraldine, arrived at Christie's dingy Rillington Place address to rent the apartment on the top floor. Christie had already killed two women by this time and would continue to do so after the Evans's had gone. Timothy Evans was a compulsive liar of rather limited intelligence and it was his gullibility combined with Christie's manipulative talents which would eventually get him into trouble.

Posing as a backyard abortionist, Christie sets to work on the newly-pregnant Beryl with predictably awful results and this is one of the most distressing scenes in this very disturbing film. He then convinces Evans that he should leave or face the consequences, promising to place the baby in the care of some friends in Acton. For Evans, as if things weren't bad enough already, they only get worse from here.

Shot in the original street and using exteriors fronm the actual house, the film has a very stark confronting atmosphere with a seedy brown look, all accentuated by the quietness and lack of music. The acting is very powerful: Attenborough being particularly villainous and the direction is very tight. Intelligently scripted and with no actual gore, it is "the thinking person's horror movie". The result is superb pace and an utterly chilling atmosphere. I think the feeling I got most from this film was one of absolute helplessness and revulsion. A first rate film which makes a very clear point, 10 Rillington Place has a very important message for all and goes way beyond other films of the same genre.

A brilliant period piece capturing the seedy side of post-war London and mostly filmed on the real locations shortly before they were torn down. The story is well known, as are the repercussions in law. However, recent research suggests that the truth may not have been quite as protrayed, and the possible guilt of Evans is subject to current informed speculation. However, the film is well worth seeing for the chilling characterisations and as social history. Classic British cinema.

Not really on a parrallel with Norman Bates, but most certainly believable in all respects.

A chilling account of a creepy but outwardly affable Christie, excellently portrayed by Richard Attenborough and John Hurt's fittingly daft and dim Timothy Evans in post war London.

The acting is well supported with bleached, drab colours and the grim surroundings of Rillington Place (the real tenament was knocked down but the producer's used the other side of Rillington Place's cul-de-sac to film the exteriors.)

The most terrifying and gripping scene is where Timothy, in a state of utter confusion, is thrust from a waiting room to his place of execution. I cannot adequately describe how very saddened and affected I was by this scene - almost to the point of shouting "No!" at the scene.

A physchotic thriller with very, very real acting - you'll be rivetted by both Richard and John.

I casually started watching this movie while surfing channels late one night. It has haunted me ever since. John Hurt gives a sublimely poignant performance as the daft and credulous tenant, and Richard Attenborough is absolutely terrifying (and nearly unrecognizable) as the innocuous-seeming but murderous landlord. This is a quiet movie that creeps up on you and wraps its cold fingers around your neck.

Richard Attenborough deserved an oscar for his portrayal of mass murderer Christie. The scenes are haunting and made yet more gruesome by the ever present offer of a cup of tea with which Christie sought to put his victims off their guard. The movie is roughly based on the book by Ludovic Kennedy with some shortcutting. For example, Miss Edie was not Christie's first victim and he did not invariably use a gas contraption to make the women unconscious. A couple of more recent books have argued that lodger Timothy Evans knew more about the murder of his wife and baby than he admitted. He is rather sympathetically portrayed in the movie.

This is one of my favorite movies. It was well-made and full of chilling suspense. It's hard to believe it's not a fiction movie. The fact that the story really happened makes it an excellent and tragic story. END

It's that rather horrible moment in this excellent but severely depressing movie about mousy murderer Mr. Christie when the blame [and subsequent punishment] falls on the somewhat dim and innocent lodger. An extremely depressing study of this serial killer, excellent realized by the underrated Richard Attenborough in an Award winning performance. The young John Hurt [pre- 'I Claudius'] plays the innocent lodger [says so much about the British system of justice!].

The movie deserves much better - should be restored to DVD.

Director Richard Fleischer captures the gloomy anonymous terraced houses perfectly - gray and drab, yet always fascinating - "Keeping up Appearances?" - Not! Norman Bates was never like this!

Companions? "Young Poisoner's Handbook"; "The Krays" as well as the excellent "Let Him Have It"

This is the story of sad, silly Timothy Evans who lost his wife and child to a serial murderer and was hanged for a crime he never committed. John Hurt portrays this stupid, primitive and yet touching young man, while Richard Attenborough is a sly, evil, frightening Reginald Christie - all the more frightening because this plump, pink, bespectacled man looks so harmless. Only when he is seen throug the eyes of his dying victim the monster is revealed. The dark, stuffy atmosphere of war time London adds to the effect. The film clings closely to the actual case. It left me shaken.

Knowing nothing about this movie, I found it in a sale for $2, and my money has not been wasted. From the opening scene it is riveting, with quiet but commanding performances from the two leads. Richard Attenborough makes his character sympathetic and rather likeable; why would you not trust such a gentle-seeming, well-spoken man who seems to endlessly offer cups of tea? As the story unfolded and the ghastly monster beneath the surface was revealed my heart went cold...as for John Hurt, as always, he held me spellbound...as soon as I hear his voice I know I am watching a class A actor (it's hard to remember he's only acting - so undderrated!). I found myself crying out at the television, trying to warn him...and although simple, his character is even more likable than Attenborough's, also, I felt very angry at the police and their lacklustre and pathetic investigation... no wonder the wrong man got hung. Anyway, it's a beautifully crafted film, darkly lit and seamy, but this only adds flavour to the sordid subject matter. Many of the actual "deeds" are left to the viewer's imagination, which is something that I found wonderfully refreshing. Seems to me that these days Hollywood has forgotten that A; people are not stupid and don't need to have everything spelt out and B; sometimes less is more.

An excellent movie, it's on my A list!

Attenborough is probably the most underrated psycho in this creepy, understated, tense, appalling thriller. He reminds me of a gigantic baby with that bald round head of his. This movie will augment your respect for Attenborough and Fleischer.