It Happened Here details

It Happened Here
Format: PG DVD
Starring: Pauline Murray, Frank Bennett, Derek Milburn, Nicolette Bernard, Reginald Marsh, Bart Allison, Sebastian Shaw
Directors: Andrew Mollo, Kevin Brownlow
Genre: Drama - Period
Studio: CORNERSTONE MEDIA
Name Discs
It Happened Here
PG Feature

DVD Information

Run time: 1 hour 37 minutes
Rental release: Currently unavailable
Main languages: English
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Most helpful review It Happened Here

  • one for film buffs

    Rated - 3.0 stars  
    By chungking (101 reviews) from London , 17 Mar 2006

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    When I heard about this film I was immediately interested. A ‘what if’ story, where Germany had won the second world war. Think a British film made in 1964 on this subject would be interesting, and it is. The idea that the British would have no trouble adopting the values of the nazis and that the resistance could be as extreme as the nazis. This is definitely not for everyone. It was shot on a miniscule budget and it shows. Poor production values, very rough editing and poor sound quality. Still, if you’re a buff, it has to be seen.
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  • Germany and England - Union for Strength

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By a customer from Norwich , 27 Apr 2010

    THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

    A nurse (Murray) with an apolitical stance tries to stand seperate from the socailist movement she is being ruled by, which are united against partisans, Jews and Communists.

    The focus of the film is on the chilling reality of what an occupied Britian would feel like, with an interest in the dark intellectual core of Facism, and how it's ideas infect the mind of an individual or a nation, and the moral compromises required of all who want to survive under such a regime.

    The nurse ends up joining an organisation in order to use her skillset to survive day-to-day life under an oppressive regime. Afterall, supporting law and order - in whatever form it presents itself, is better than living amidst anarchy and suffering, right?

    In doing so, she alienates herself from the few of her friends she has left, having become a Facist herself. This would seem to be a side effect of her conformism rather than a

    malicious act.

    Unfortunately for her, the partisans come to think of her (as with many others) as a collaborator, and she falls in to their hands, as they continue to try to bring an end to Facist rule.

    The extraordinary thing about this film has to be the story of the two young directors, who started the film aged just 16 & 18 years old!

    A difficult, and unique film, in which you see their creative talents evolve, and a remarkably scary (and narrowly avoided) scenario play out before your eyes.

    It caused a mass of controversy from many and varied groups, and led them into troubled waters they were not expecting.

    IF YOU WATCH THIS, YOU MUST READ 'How It Happened Here' by Kevin Brownlow, which tells the story of how the film was critically received upon release and the many questions it raised.
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  • An amazing achievement

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By a customer from London , 03 Nov 2009

    THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

    An incredible piece of filming begun by teenagers, which took 8 years to complete.

    It shows an alternative future where the Germans have conquered Britain but are engaged in fighting partisans,who are being supported by the US.

    The almost newsreel style sight of Germans marching past Big Ben and other parts of London and England are still gripping.

    Most British films cannot touch this one.
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  • Just Wasn't Happening...

    Rated - 1.0 star  
    By takkfyrir (7 reviews) from Southampton , 07 Oct 2009
    I can't quite remember where I read about this film but, being a sucker for alternative histories, I was really pleased to find it on the LOVEFILM list. What a let-down. Unfortunately, I endured the first 20 minutes or so and, whilst the concept was intriguing, the acting was just painful to watch. Anyone out there with more patience and a keener interest in the subject matter should definitely give it a go. If that's you then feel free to let me know if it's worth giving a second chance!
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  • Save your money - not worth watching

    Rated - 1.0 star  
    By WilliamJR (8 reviews) from Stafford , 29 Jul 2009
    Having recently learned of this 1964 'classic', and being interested in alternative history, I rented this film with great anticipation. I wish I hadn't bothered. The actors are stereotypical in the extreme, on both sides, and there are no shades of grey; everything is either black or white. The plot, such that it is, is hackneyed and uninteresting, and viewers will be tempted to 'fast forward' to reach the end of this turgid epic as soon as possisble. Even better, do not bother to rent it at all, and spend your money on something more intereting and plausible.
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  • it nearly happend to be brilliant

    Rated - 3.0 stars  
    By a customer from Northern Ireland , 20 Dec 2008
    one of the great - i wonder what would have happened if ........ movies

    i watched this years ago on vhs and was impressed with the devotion of the crew that put it together

    on second watch i can't help but be distracted by the poor acting of the lead actress - still - almost unique and all the more chilling because of the gritty low budget film-on-the-run feel.

    worth a look
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