A good version of an excellent novel that attracted silly notoriety from an era of repressed sexuality.

Lady Chatterley review

By roncoach from suffolk

Lady Chatterley

Starring Sean Bean, Joely Richardson, Shirley Ann Field, James Wilby

Director Ken Russell

Genres Drama

Run time 210 mins Certificate 15

11th December 2011

I am a big fan of DH Lawrence but not of Ken Russell....so I watched with some sense of trepidation as to what the director might do with this 'sensitive' but wonderful novel.

I need not have feared. Russell puts aside his worst instincts ( as shown in so many of his films) and actually has a good attempt at portraying a good classic novel on screen.

Sean Bean and Joely Richardson are perfectly cast in the lead roles. It's all very tastefully done and creates the right sense of the period in a very well written screenplay and with good cinematography.

This is for anyone who wants to see a fairly accurate adaptation of the DH Lawrence excellent novel.

For those who only know of the book's notoriety and want the lower-brow version see the film of the same name starring the soft porn actress Sylvia Kristel. I recommend the Russell/Bean/Richardson version .........not cos I'm a prude : it's simply a FAR better film of a novel which deserves sensitive treatment.

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About the reviewer: roncoach

Mad about films-----nearly any genre invented. I firmly believe that , for examples, during the Golden Age of Hollywood ( say 1937-47) or during the Ealing Years in Britain in the 50s ,more good or great films were made, in terms of sheer numbers than before or since. But I also firmly believe that good and great films have been made in every decade over the past 90 years or more right up to the present day. It is just my opinion that far fewer are made in the present era than in earlier eras. But so long as great films , like The King's Speech ( 2010) or Shawshank Redemption (1994) { or even great TV series like "Lost") are made ........the silver screen will always enrich people's lives and add to our cultural heritage. And most of all to our sheer enjoyment ! Not everyone needs to be a film "buff" or include viewing as their favourite hobby......but is there really anyone who does not enjoy a good film at least from time to time ? In another life, I want to be Leslie Halliwell who, during his life, watched just about every movie ever made and passed on his enthusiasm and passion to so many of his readers. After his death, his successors never "got it right" as Mr Halliwell would have wished. Pity. I have made a collection of my 100 "must-see" films -------it is available under one of my profile sections. Of course, some of the list would change every day LOL ! But the one published on this site gives a good idea of the range of my movie "likes". I wonder if my feeling is correct that today's younger generations are far less tolerant of the whole spectrum of movies in terms of when they were produced. I feel that older generations will readily recognise and acknowledge a good or great movie whether it it was made in 1940 or in 2011. But it seems that younger generations do not do that------they are less inclined to even watch a film dated 1940 ( thus missing some all-time greats) , and if by chance they DO see an "oldie" that is genuinely a great film, they are likely to review it as "dated rubbish". I hope that sweeping generalisation is wrong and that younger generations make a point of looking for 5* films from bygone eras and not just trying to search through much dross to find a good or great film from among the current "blockbusters". Yeah, I'll get off the soapbox and go and watch a film......a good one : from 1940 or from 2011. Happy Viewing :)

Titles rented: 175

Favourite actor: Bogey to Bacon; Coop to De Niro; etc

Favourite director: Michael Curtiz