No Love For Johnnie

[Keechelus]

NO LOVE FOR JOHNNIE (Ralph Thomas 1960) is a perfect small drama.

In just 100 minutes, we meet youngish Johnnie Byrne, MP (Peter Finch) - a striving Yorkshire boy who's overcome his regional background to be a rising star in a 1950's Labour government.

But Johnnie has a Marxist wife and a working class constituency back 'ome that is not happy with his London style. Johnnie has the charm and eloquence to be sought by BBC TV, but not enough weight to win a Cabinet post.

Johnnie makes foolish choices, joining a divisive faction of the Party while playing with his personal life. He ignores sound advice from old political mentors (especially Stanley Holloway in a superb performance), while falling into a trap set by some cynics. Donald Pleasence is very oily in this film.

If this were an American Capra-corn movie, justice would prevail, Johnnie would be reformed and all would end happily.

But no, it's Brit realism. A terrific story, well told. A life-long personal fave of mine.

[Mark O]

Sounds an interesting Movie Keechelus, just looked at the cast on IMDB, I see Rosalie Crutchley plays the Wife, I was a fan of hers too!

[dylan]

The film was based on Wilfred Fienburgh's novel. Fienburgh was the Labour left-wing MP for Islington who tragically died, aged 38, in a car accident in 1958. Had he lived he would certainly been a major figure in Goverment and today would possibly be occupying a similar niche as Wegie Benn.

From his wiki entry the novel is only vaguely autobiographical. Wiki gives his birth place as Ilford but the book inside cover bio gives it as Bradford - I suspect his publisher was indulging in postumous hype.

Wilfred Fienburgh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

D.

[batman]

Originally Posted by Mark O Sounds an interesting Movie Keechelus, just looked at the cast on IMDB, I see Rosalie Crutchley plays the Wife, I was a fan of hers too!

You can pick up legitimate R2 Greek releases of this film on ebay for about a fiver.

Search results for no love for johnnie in DVDs

[Keechelus]

Aha, thanks, Batman.

I have a DVD traded from a pal; good quality, but its only feature is Greek subtitles ... I wondered why.

A movie of this quality - brisk writing and good acting by some very notable performers - should be a full-feature DVD someday.

JOHNNIE didn't invent the political intrigue genre, but it is, I think, a strong predecessor to epics like the excellent HOUSE OF CARDS trilogy.

[stevie boy]

agreed a very good film

[dremble wedge]

Worryingly the main thing I remember from this film is a young Ollie Reed as a drunk at a party with a bucket on his head!

[Keechelus]

Pardon my delayed thanks to dylan for the Wikipedia reference.

This article has given me more insight, and some other avenues to explore.

I am grateful.

[batman]

Originally Posted by dremble wedge Worryingly the main thing I remember from this film is a young Ollie Reed as a drunk at a party with a bucket on his head!

What's wrong with having a bucket on your head?

[dremble wedge]

Originally Posted by batman What's wrong with having a bucket on your head?

It's just a bit beyond the pail...

[Davewidescreen]

Imagine that you are a lifelong, avid movie fan. Of the countless films you have seen, you were able to see one particular selection just once in 1961. This film proved so effective that you are still hoping for a chance to see it again, almost fifty years later. This is my experience with the Peter Finch picture, "No Love for Johnnie". Not every critic I have read hailed this film, but it is a handsomely produced and highly effective character-driven drama. Why does it remain consistently unavailable in any home entertainment format? This is a sad mistake!

[dremble wedge]

Originally Posted by Davewidescreen Imagine that you are a lifelong, avid movie fan. Of the countless films you have seen, you were able to see one particular selection just once in 1961. This film proved so effective that you are still hoping for a chance to see it again, almost fifty years later. This is my experience with the Peter Finch picture, "No Love for Johnnie". Not every critic I have read hailed this film, but it is a handsomely produced and highly effective character-driven drama. Why does it remain consistently unavailable in any home entertainment format? This is a sad mistake!

You can pick it up on e-bay...

[batman]

Search results for no love for johnnie in DVDs

[Mark O]

Originally Posted by batman Search results for no love for johnnie in DVDs

Thanks for the link Bats............I've just ordered a copy, though it seems strange a Britmovie in every sense was given away in a Greek Newspaper, not aware of it ever being given away in the UK!

[batman]

Originally Posted by Mark O Thanks for the link Bats............I've just ordered a copy, though it seems strange a Britmovie in every sense was given away in a Greek Newspaper, not aware of it ever being given away in the UK!

The Greeks have loads of Britfilms available on ebay that you cannot buy in the UK. Mrs Bat had wanted Testament of Youth on dvd for ages and we got it from one of those sellers. I also got a legit copy of a film called The Conclave with Brian Blessed from Brazil!

Check out all the foreign Amazon sites as well, they also have R2 releases of Britfilms that are unavailable in the UK.