johnbach1978

Based on the famous novel by Bruce Chadwick this tale of twins growing up on a welsh hill farm in the 1900s is an excellent film. The film starts with the twins parents meeting at a church on the Wales/England border getting married and going to live on a rented farm called The Vision. The twins then become the focal point of the film, their lives on the farm and their unique bond with it and each other. Welsh nationalism is a recurring theme throughout the film and Anglo/Welsh relations are often strained due to the sale of farms at an auction and the outbreak of war when many Welsh people were drafted into the British army. To emphasise this point the family who start out as Church of England switch to Welsh chapel goers. The twins were real life brothers and most of the cast were recruited from the Hay on Wye area where it was filmed.

Based on fact, the heroic defence of Rorke's Drift followed a harrowing defeat at the hands of the Zulus at Isandwana. Heavily outnumbered by approximately 4000 Zulus, The 24th (WELSH) Regiment of Foot or South Wales Borderers as they were later known defend a Missionary and manage to repel wave after wave of attack against the odds. The action was later famous for the highest number of Victoria Crosses being awarded at any one time. (Britains highest award for bravery) An interesting point about the film is the Zulus played themselves and their Sandhurst educated chief was a direct desendent of Zulu Chief Cechawayo. Due to the dramatic African scenery and battle formations this film is best viewed in widescreen format.

The 3:10 to Yuma must surely be in any fan of the 5o's Western genre top 10. Glenn Ford is at his best as outlaw and gang leader Ben wade, it does not take him long to shoot someone, ride into town and then proceed to chat the local barmaid up. When captured he goes one better and makes a play for his armed escorts wife! Van Heflin is superb and worthy of an Oscar in his role as the hard up rancher making a pay day out of being Fords captor.

The tension that mounts as Heflin & Ford wait for the train to arrive at the station whilst surrounded by Fords gang is unbearable, and the twist at the end is both unexpected and brilliant in its delivery.