Customer Reviews

A Town Like Alice: Special Edition [Region 2]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This appears to be the old B&W movie with Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch. A very good but dated movie based on the wonderful Neville Shute book.

The Australian TV mini-series is light years better - in fact is one of the greatest movies ever made.

I hope some day it's released on DVD. Until then I still have my old VHS copy.

A Msterpiece Theatre TV mini-series of the Nevil Shute story makes most war dramas since sloppy and unrealistic (U-571). This short novel send-up was the real deal, starring many fine actors, both Japanes and British. Told in flashback to Harry Andrews, the romantic leads are Helen Morse and a new-comer, Bryan Brown. What is missing today in any Hollywood love story is the struggle, sacrifice and testingt of potential partners dramatized throughout this series. The tension of the unselfish pair, builds to s surprise climax, but you would lose considerable enjoyment if you miss any of the realistic events that tested their resilience and courage, both the captors and the captives, when war intervenes. Well-rounded characters throughout this landscape of despair, suffering and hopefulness. A shame to be shelved this long not on DVD. Think of "Bridge on the River Kwai" with romance too.

This is a very interesting and well written mini-series from Australia that tells the story of a group of Australian and British women and children who are captured by the Japanese at the outbreak of WW2. Separated from their husbands, they are forced to march many miles to the prison camp. Without food or medicine, they suffer many hardships. They run across a couple of Aussie POW's who give them some food. After the war one of the women goes back tho the hometown of one of the men. A not to be missed program. NOT for the faint of heart or for younger children. Stars Bryan Brown as one of the POW's.

This is without a doubt my favorite book and movie. Watch the movie at least twice each year and never grow tired of the magnificnet writing. Wanted so much for "Mrs Bone" to love her Attorney, which she did, but not in the way he
would have liked. But also knew her heart was with the rough and tough man
she married and tamed. Seldom have I enjoyed a book so much and then when I first was introduced to the movie, could not believe how heart wrenching and
brave these people were. Need more people like this is the world but afraid our
strength has faltered since WW2.

This version is so bad! Save your money and buy the Masterpiece one starring Helen Morse and Bryan Brown - my favorite movie and book can't count the times I've read it, watched it and loved it!! These are people of substance and real romance not the trash they put out now!

My husband wanted me to find this movie for a gift for his parents. Though this was a region 2 edition, we were able to convert it to work on DVD players used in the USA. They are very happy with the gift.

Excellent movie based on the Nevil Shute novel. I enjoyed it as much as the BBC Masterpiece Theatre version which i have on VHS. You must have an all region playing DVD player to play this movie but it's worth it.

Having read Neville Shute's book, and seen the three hour miniseries (and really enjoyed both), I really wanted to see this original film version starring Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch. The screenplay is a trimmed down version of the story, eliminating the development of Jean's relationship with her barrister, and eliminating entirely her development in Australia.

Still, I thought the actors and director did a nice job with capturing the conditions of the forced marches, and although tame by any modern standards, I did have a sense of the horror of Joe's capture and crucifixion for stealing a chicken (and hitting a Japanese soldier).

If you were going to watch both of these films, I'd suggest you start with this version first, and then let the newer version work its magic on you later.

I just watched this Australian TV classic again, on a home-made DVD conversion from a VCR.

Despite the poorish quality, it is still one of the best movies ever made, much-much better than the English movie version.

It truly begs to be released as a re-mastered DVD

When, o when, will the industry respond to the customer's wishes ! I have wanted this movies for ages and almost ordered it. Then I read the reviews and found it was not the Masterpiece Theatre version. A while back I bought a region free Sony player so I could enjoy things like this. Now they are zapping us again. Another dirty trick they are playing is selling "region enhanced" which nullifies the usefulness of our new region free players. What Crooks--they are ripping off the public.