Product Details

• Actors: Robert Newton, Celia Johnson, Amy Veness, Alison Leggatt, Stanley Holloway
• Directors: David Lean
• Format: PAL
• Language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004CK5R

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars At Home Between The Wars, November 4, 2001

By 

James L. - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Happy Breed [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Robert Newton and Celia Johnson star as the parents of the Gibbons family in this episodic David Lean film that charts the history of the family between the two World Wars. It tells the story of homefront re-adjustment following WWI, the family conflicts that arise as social and political pressures mount, and it demonstrates the need for solidarity and courage in the face of the imminent war. As always with a David Lean film, the British cast is exceptionally strong, with a notable performance by Celia Johnson. Although the story is slow in parts, the changes in the family as reflected by the events around them nonetheless maintains the viewer's attention. During the 1940's, Lean had an impressive record of quality films, and this certainly belongs on that list.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A boost for the War effort, June 19, 2000

By 

Fabrisse "Fabrisse" (Dorchester, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Happy Breed [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Noel Coward and David Lean made several pictures together during WWII as a way of boosting the morale in Britain. The most famous is probably "Brief Encounter" and the most war themed is "In Which We Serve", but "This Happy Breed" is the homefront movie. It follows the life of one family from before the war to "the present." The men who go away to war aren't followed it's their loved ones at home. Great Britain went through far more during World War II than the United States, rationing started earlier, lasted longer, and was more severe there. They were under constant bombardment and as many civilians died as military men. This film brings it all home. By today's standards the pacing is a little slow, but it's a good movie and an interesting historical document. John Mills plays a young sailor and his daughter Juliet made her screen debut as the baby.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars They couldn't have possibly drank that much tea., March 28, 2006

By 

JOHN GODFREY (Milwaukee ,WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Happy Breed [VHS] (VHS Tape)

1st of all this is not a home front movie. To have that you need a war front & there was none. This movie may have been made in 1944 but was not released until 1947. 1919-39, was a time of peace for 20 years between the wars when The United Kingdom was trying to cope with the fact that they had lost 1 million men killed & a million more at least maimed & disabled. Frank is a vet who survived as is his neighbor & best friend Bob. They have settled in the suburbs & the traquility & comfort of the middle class. After 5 years of horror, they are satisfied with a quiet, maybe even a little boring, life. Frank's wife, Ethel is just thrilled to have her husband home & in one piece. Being English, she tries not to show it. Displays of strong emotions just wouldn't do. Her sister, a real head case since being widowed by the war, lives with them as does her crabby mother & their three children. Life happens, nothing spectacular & the kids are not so content. They fall in love, rebel, have babies & do all the things kids have always done to dismay their elders. Every crisis, in fact every minute of every day is faced with a cup of tea. In the larger world it's evident that England, though still a world power is tired. The years of peace bring strikes, riots, depression & disarmament through the 20's. Then there is the rise of facism & Hitler in the 30's &
the slow realization that Great Britain may have to fight again. This was a fine Noel Coward play probably better suited for the live stage because of long periods of inaction. It has been adapted by David Lean. Celia Johnson did a fine job as Ethel & is the heart of this movie. She is pretty much unknown in the United States. I was surprised & pleased by how enjoyable a movie this was.