The Good Soldier

Not sure what they other reviewers were watching but the editing was bad; the acting was boring and the screenplay itself was confusing; actually restarted about 5 minutes into the film because scenes suddenly started to repeat... it was tough to figure out if it was present or past... do not waste time... There was one interesting person who was pretty good... for the most part the scenes were very contrived and the actors did little to make me believe that they believed in the storyline... not sure where the title came from... Have no idea why the American male lead even wanted to remain friends with the English wackos... stay away

I would make a set of underrated, though wonderful movies or series that ended up on Masterpiece Theatre. This movie is one that would surely end up on disc. One of many beautiful period pieces, it is distinguished by the emotional impact the storyline has. Neither of the two couples involved in the story are young, and yet still their love stories are spellbinding. Sex is not the issue here, it is what happens when one person in a marriage loves but the other does not. Yet these are passionate people, and their passions bring about their downfalls. Some of Britain's greats (the late Jeremy Brett and the late Susan Fleetwood and Robin Ellis from Poldark) give deeply emotional performances. That this movie, and most other Masterpiece Theatre's little gems (like Memento Mori) will never be available on disc is a true loss to lovers of this PBS show.

Edited to add: Wonder of wonders--this movie is now scheduled for a DVD release on April 24, 2007. It is truly worth a rental, if not a blind buy. One of Jeremy Brett's best performances. Enjoy.

Jeremy Brett makes a memorable performance here as the good soldier who is the ideal good man to everyone around him but who has terrible inner conflicts to battle worse than any war. The two couples meet at a German spa and spend a lot of time together associating with other prominent guests as well in an ideal environment with perfectly idyllic music (very much Schubert) and splendid weather, everything is beautiful, but it is all only appearances. The good soldier's wife has some outbursts, and then suddenly there is a drama present. The story and events are not very dramatic, although there are some surprising deaths and two suicides and a case of permanent insanity, but the appearances keep constantly in perfect style, there is no breach of etiquette, the constant politeness keeps dominating all the relationships and their innocent activities in a perfect paradise of idylls, while the tragedy ends up definitely dominating everyone's lives and future, while we naturally must wonder: whatever will the widow finally make of the whole thing?

This video (I watched it on YouTube) doesn't come close to developing the central ideas of the novel. In fairness, I don't see how any filmed version could. The story in the book is told from the pov of an enigmatic narrator who doesn't always know the full story, may have reasons for not being 100% square with the reader, and appears emotionally dim and stunted. He has no real intimacy with any of his fellow characters, who succeed in betraying him over the course of years despite their physical proximity. He is bitter, but too phlegmatic to be vengeful. His views on men, women, love, marriage, and human nature are fascinating. The book is terrific and really worth reading, but the film captures only the action and none of the heart. On video, the narrator comes off as some rich clueless slob whose wife and friends do a bunch of random things that inexplicably result in suicide and insanity. Pointless, in my opinion. But Jeremy Brett is handsome, hence a few stars.

I had this sat on my dvd shelf for years and decided to give it a go, after five minutes I was captivated, totally drawn in. The story is fantastic, I've not read the book so can't compare, but there are multiple layers, love, betrayal, longing, and a true sense of character. Spellbinding performances all round, although it must be said Jeremy Brett captivates every single time he appears, he is phenominal, so charismatic. I found myself also loving Pauline Moran here, she made Maisie such a tragic character.

Lovely production values, at times it felt like I was watching The Great Sherlock Holmes, it only needed a murder. Fabulous costumes and period detail, it truly is a lavish drama.

Glorious viewing. 9/10