Customer Reviews

Travels With My Aunt [VHS]

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

 

 

Maggie Smith is deliciously wonderful as the unconventional Augusta, a woman with a shady and colorful past. Arriving at the funeral of her sister after man years absence, she plucks her staid stick-in-the-mud nephew from his humdrum existence in suburban England and drags him with her on a journey of self-discovery, introducing him to her many Bohemian friends as well as her West Indian lover Wordsworth played brilliantly by Louis Gossett Junior. Augusta's nephew is played with excellent British stuffiness by Alec McCowan who finds out to his horror that there is more to his own past than that of his Aunt. Compelled by a sense of duty mingled with confusion he sets out to help the madcap Augusta in her bid to raise the funds to free one of her old flames Mr. Visconti who is being held to ransom by a band of desperate men. This film is delectably funny, quirkily humorous in a sardonic come sartorial way whilst at the same time maintaining equilibrium in the form of its characters who are larger than life but totally human and believable. Maggie Smith however steals the show with her portrayal of Augusta a woman with a past as colorful as a patchwork quilt. There are little twists and turns that add to the piquant essence of the whole film, such as Henry's true parentage both maternal and paternal, and Augusta's own self-interpretation of her life and actions over the years. The final scene will bring tears of laughter to your eyes and you should be left with a good feeling because "Travels with my Aunt" is a feel good with a bit of a difference.

Directed by George Cukor and though it's not in the same league as his famous hits such as " The Philadelphia Story " or " My Fair Lady " I still have to agree with every other reviewer on Amazon and give this little known gem 5 stars.

Maggie Smith plays Aunt Augusta, a wild septuagenarian scoundrel who incarnates life itself. No small acting feat, especially when she also portrays her as a teenager in flashbacks. Even with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by comparison, this is still her greatest achievement. Robert Stephens, her sometime real life husband, another great actor and co-star from The Prime plays her one true love, Mr. Visconti.

Too many magical moments to mention, though the scene when we first encounter Visconti at 'the most romantic railway station in Europe' as the present dissolves back to their first meeting is indescribable.

Oh yes, I haven't told you the plot have I?

Well let's see Alec Mc Cowan plays Henry, her nephew ("Be that the whole truth, woman?"--Louis Gosset) a middle aged banker who is set in his ways and---

---Oh, never mind! Just leave your dahlias behind in the garden to fend for themselves and climb aboard the Orient Express with Aunt Augusta.

And by all means, go first class. You never know when poverty might strike, like influenza.

Though quite hammy at times, Maggie Smith delivers a stellar performance as Aunt Augusta in "Travels With My Aunt." She takes her nephew on a series of zany adventures all over the world. It's definitely a fun way to spend an evening!

Best performance I've ever seen from our famous Maggie Smith, to immerse yourself in this movie is sure to cure anyones malady. At first a frown may appear on your brow, but once you understand the characters (especially 'Augusta' - Maggie) the true colours of fantasy, comedy AND reality where some are concerned - just shine through. I cannot understand how this movie has never really had the publicity it deserves, get your wallets out and buy a copy immediately. I'm about as selective as one can be when it comes to comedy's, particularly from the '70's but this is one you cant let go.

"Travels with My Aunt," (1972), a comedy/adventure/dramatic film, was based upon a novel of the same name, penned by its greatly praised British author Graham Greene rather late in his long life, and his long, prolific, greatly-honored literary career. The script was written by J. Presson Allen; the short -109 minutes - full-color film was directed by George Cukor. (Bhowani Junction, A Star Is Born (Deluxe Edition)) Mind you, this particular underlying novel never has been a critical favorite. Nor has the movie, starring Dame Maggie Smith,fresh off her Oscar-winning turn in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, who was also Oscar-nominated for the title role of Aunt Augusta Bertram.

Stuffy retired bank manager Henry Pulling, played by Alec McCowen, (Shakespeare: The Animated Tales) meets, at his mother's funeral, his Aunt Augusta, an elderly eccentric with more-than-shady dealings, who has had no part in his life since his christening. Pulling has never married, is presumably still a virgin, and looks forward to nothing more now than a lifetime of cultivating his suburban dahlias. Until Aunt Augusta pulls him right out of his rut, and drags him along on a whirlwind adventure, as she attempts to rescue an old lover.

The plot's episodic, and not as tight as some of the writer's great spy stories. But you can see the Greene touch in some of the book's flavorful characters. In addition to Aunt Augusta, there's the Turkish cop, Colonel Hakim, one of several powerful third world law 'enforcers' created by Greene, played by Daniel Emilfork. There's 'Tooley,' the airhead hippie girl met on the Orient Express (played by Cindy Williams, then at the height of her popularity in Laverne & Shirley - The Complete First Season. And Zachary, whom Aunt Augusta calls 'Wordsworth,' an emigrant from Sierra Leone, a part of the world with which Greene was very familiar, as he'd spent World War II there as a spy. Wordsworth, as played by Lou Gossett Jr., (Lou Gossett Jr. Three Movies Collection) is fiercely in love with Augusta, a woman at least twice his age, and devotes his life to her.

All the leading actors do very well here, scenery is good, and pace is quick enough. Cukor was, of course, known as a woman's director, and it would seem to most viewers, I think, that Dame Maggie was born to play Aunt Augusta, among other parts. Still, I understand consideration is being given to remaking this movie, and I imagine there are other women in that stable of powerful English theatrical Dames who can play her: hello Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Judi Dench. We shall see.

Greene (1904-1991), who was one of the more illustrious British writers of the 20th century, enjoyed a very long life, and a very long, distinguished, prolific writing career. Some of his writing highlights are The Power and the Glory (Penguin Classics), The End Of The Affair, and The Third Man. Many of his books were bestsellers; most - 56% is the percentage I've seen-- were made into movies, some more than once. He was one of the better-known Catholic converts of his time; many of his thrillers, as this one, deal with Catholic themes of guilt and redemption. He created morally complex characters, while he explored moral and theological dilemmas through psychologically astute character studies, presented in exciting dramas on the international stage. This one is very hard to find, but worth seeing, not least for the acting, if you can.

I remeber seeing this movie in the theater and delighting at the action, the great locations and the fun of sharing the adventure in this often funny and heartwarming film. I'm sure I am not the only one waiting for a great DVD release of this film. I can only hope that whichever studio now owns the rights will make an effort to save this film on DVD. I know that fans of Maggie Smith would want that as well as those that remember the fine work of Director George Cukor.

I found this an extremely enjoyable movie when I saw it in a theater, and can't believe it's not on DVD. If Brideshead Revisited can get a well-deserved mini-series, can't Travels With My Aunt even have a DVD? But if it comes to that, where's Wise Blood on DVD? The sort of shows that people pack college auditoriums to see don't seem to make it into general circulation. Brother Sun Sister Moon just made it onto DVD, for instance, and moviegoers have been trying to get Donovan's songs ever since the film first came out. Not being a fan of the Hollywood ho hum knock 'em dead box office smashes (which of course make it out in deluxe DVD boxed sets with a zillion extras), I rather prefer films like Travels With My Aunt. Other films I've enjoyed include Olmi's The Tree of Wooden Clogs, Cinema Paradiso, Nadine, Bread and Chocolate, Cousin Cousine, Kings of the Road, and A Room With a View. I merely mention these few films for those absolutely alienated by standard Hollywood faire who would like something different, with the hope some of them make it onto DVD.

Read the Graham Greene book the movie was based on. This is a very rare instant where the movie is actually better than the book. a lot of us live uneventful life ala Henry (Alec McCowen) but wish to be in the spirit of his aunt (Maggie Smith). this movie beckons us to seize the day. File this movie under "Adventure".

note: this is one of the most memorable movie. other must view are: "To Forget Venice","Bread and Chocolate" both by Franco Brusati, "Avanti" by Billy Wilder, and "Grave of the Fireflies" -an animated film that will haunt you for days after watching it.

I know that this is sad, but being from the millennial generation, my only concept of Dame Maggie Smith was as stuffy nannies or prudish old maids. In fact, this characterization was so engrained in my mind that I was completely stunned by her portrayal of the sexual, humorous, and utterly fabulous Augusta in "Travels with My Aunt."

Directed by the great George Cukor, this light-hearted film is a sort of "Auntie Mame" meets "The Pink Panther." There's the exotic locations, the over-the-top costumes, the captivating central character, all wrapped around a thrill ride to rescue Augusta's kidnapped lover. Others have said that the plot was thinly held together. I don't know if I was so invested in what would become of Aunt Augusta and her nephew, or if I really wanted to know how the pair would pull off saving her old flame, but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole ride this movie took me on.

Smith certainly propelled the story forward. I couldn't wait to see what this boozy, untamable dame would do every time she inhabited the screen. Augusta is far from perfect, but just like her nephew (not to mention the Academy of Motion Pictures, who rewarded Smith's efforts with a nomination), I fell completely in love with her.

I would say that if you're a fan of the "Murder on the Orient Express" genre, then you won't want to miss this film the next time TCM shows it.

I love this film. It's a classic! I only have it on VHS which seems to be wearing thin. I came here to Amazon this time because a few of us had just watched it ... again!! And I wanted to find it on DVD. To my dismay it's not! What a shame! With a cast such as it has it should be. I wonder who do I put pressure on to get it released on DVD? After posting this I discovered that there is a DVD available, but it's Region 2. Arrrgh!