colin_marks

Give this film a miss - unless you like (what my wife calls "Chick-Flicks for Grown-Ups". What a load of sugary-sweet nonsense and a waste of time. All of the actors are far better than their characters allowed them to be - with such a weak script and such a predictable plot, this 90 minute film was about 85 minutes too long. The only saving grace, perhaps, was the appearance of Hampstead Heath and the surrounding are which is fast becoming the most frequently filmed location.

Saw your note about Magnolia Street and the "missing" Marie Burke. (I wonder how long ago you wrote it.) Apparently she played Mrs. Edelman in the TV series. A much more complete list of characters and who played what can be found on the British Film Institute website (http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/272076?view=cast). Maybe someone should update the IMDb site. Have you any idea where we can get hold of a copy of this series on DVD or on the web?? Someone must have a copy. Any info would be helpful. The full list is: Mrs Shulman CASIMIR, Golda Mr Emmanuel JAFFE, Carl Mrs Poyser WALLA, Marianne Mrs Billig LILIAN, Mona Mrs Edelman BURKE, Marie Rose Berman MARYOTT, Susan John Cooper WOODWARD, Edward Steve Tawnie WILLIAMS, Leonard Miss Tregunter TAYLOR, Totti Truman Mary Cooper MARLOW, Joyce Enid Cooper BOWN, Susan Mrs Berman KANN, Lilly Ada Berman RUSSELL, Heather Johnny Hummel GOORNEY, Howard Reb Berel HARDTMUTH, Paul Rabbi Shulman POOLE, Michael Mr Billig TZELNIKER, Meier Bill Carter WALKER, Harry Walter Hubbard ANDERSON, Keith Maggie Tawnie GODSELL, Vanda Mrs Briggs BURKE, Honora Dolly Hubbard DORMER, Maureen Jessie Wright HAINES, Patricia Wilfred Derricks WHITTAKER, Ian Mrs Derricks BRINDLEY, Madge

The portrayal of living persons with whom we are quite familiar is indeed problematic and presents an extra challenge, but it has to be admitted that at times Tony Blair came over, more often as not, as a sort of Mr. Bean character, Alastair Campbell, Blair's adviser, was depicted as a schoolboy thug out of John Alderton's "Please Sir", Prince Charles was depicted as both a pathetic wimp and a sympathetic softie (Make your mind up, Mr. Frears!), Prince Philip had absolutely no savings graces, and the Queen Mother came across as a gin-swilling pain-in-the-neck. Stephen Frears took great liberties with recent history and assumptions of what really happened, but that I guess, is his prerogative.