Juniors Farm

A bit harsh there surely, we also had
The Molly Maguires
Zardoz (and don't anyone try and tell me this isn't brilliant)
Outland

homeguard

But was he really acting in The Molly Maguires? A great exemplifier of The Ancient Order of Hibernians our Sean.

HG

kelp

Well...........how about community service then? You know, a bit of shopping for the elderly, and then back to your rooms in time for tea. (Oh, no, that's what we do now, so that's no good).

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

Steve Crook

Nobody ever watches Zardoz.
One glimpse of Connery in that costume and they're rolling in the aisles and can't see the film



Steve

Third Man

err.. for a moment there I thought someone was doing a tour of Saunton Sands

Simon

homeguard

Dead right! And that's the point that most people miss when criticising this type of punishment. There were men who would do anything, then there were the unlucky souls like Stevens, and the odd few heroes (in the eyes of the other prisoners) like Roberts who had tried to save his mens' lives by disobeying orders. As the film gently points out, and Roberts grudgingly accepts, you don't disobey orders - somebody above your pay scale might know more than you!
I thought that apart from Harry Andrews, Ian Hendry played the part of bullying bas***d to perfection. How many other ex-squaddies have met that t**t in their service?
Great movie, but not because of Sean.
Regards,
HG

Steve Crook

It's not dogs or naked goat herds that he's worried about

Steve

kelp

I'm sure I used those boots in Dick Whittington in 78!

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

lordtednfs

Okay I will save my time elsewhere.

___________________
Hooked off the line

homeguard

Do you think he was having a laugh at the rest of us - or are there really some actors who will do anything for money?
Watch out for the old bald bloke at Wimbledon this year now we have a Scottish sportsman who could win it. Will he turn up in those boots and go club-ing later?
regards,
HG

Third Man

Agree with everything you say - I did get a slight hint of grievance from yourself with the Connery character Roberts, I myself think he's not that worthy of admiration rather of a person sitting on the fence to see which way the wind blows, perhaps I'm looking too deeply.

Simon

Valerie

Absolutely love The Hill Ian Bannen is my favourite character but Sean Connery is brilliant as usual. Got this one on Region 1

Val

homeguard

You're right, he wasn't worthy of admiration - and he knew it. He was in jail for assaulting a senior officer who had commanded him to take his men into a battle which Roberts considered a waste of his mens' lives. On first consideration that might have seemed a noble thing to do, but in reality, soldiers know that is beyond the pale. They also know that a senior NCO guilty of that crime is finished. There is no way back from a Courts Marshall conviction for disobeying an officer and striking him. Until 1919 he would have been shot. That makes his position in the prison impossible. Jock McGrath (Jack Watson) summed it up when they were being lined-up for the first time. His dislike of Roberts would have been echoed throughout the prison, and anyone associating with him would have suffered similar isolation from the main body of the prison. Roberts had nothing to lose, and even the RSM wouldn't have bothered to try and change his attitude.
I think you are right to look deeply. There are many dark examples of military life which are accepted by the serving soldier in his world that are depicted in this film. It illustrates the difference between ordinary and military society very well. I doubt it could be replicated today as most of the people involved with the film would have had some experience, first or secondhand, of National Service at least, and also a good proportion of the audiences in the 1960s.
Sorry, I've run on a bit there - as usual!
Still a great movie as a social commentary though.

Regards, HG

kelp

Nice to see the term used correctly HG. I refer to your use of the words "Courts Marshall", and not as we often hear "Court Marshall".

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

homeguard

Thanks Kelp. Some of us have got 'our knees brown' in the past. For the civvies reading this - that is not a sexual position for soldiers, at least it wasn't in my day.

Regards,
HG