Longford

source: Longford

The UK has certainly had its share of serial murders, probably none more popular than one of the first, Jack the Ripper. This story involves a series of crimes, the moores murders, and the two perps, Ian Brady and Myra Hendley who, acting in concert, dispatched more than five young kids in the most bestial fashion and buried them in the Lancashire moores. Suffer the little children. Of Brady we can say that there's only the slightest doubt that he suffered from what is now called anti-social personality disorder, unsocialized type. He was a Class A psychopath from his childhood onward, a characterological descendant of the Kallikaks and the Jukes. Myra Hindley is a question mark. Of course there have been women who have killed with evident pleasure, as she did, judging from photographs taken during and after the crimes. But women murderers are less often into brutality and more often into soft murders by poison. And, more often than taking physical form, the least amiable express their cruelty in verbal form or in small punishments of subordinates. (These ridiculous generalizations come to you courtesy of the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution!) They also show a tendency to be attracted to men of power and potency, as in the Stockholm syndrome. And some of the more twisted seem to be willing accomplices to brutal men. Myra Hindley, whatever her motives, served some 36 years in prison. Caril Ann Fugate served 18 before being released. But this isn't the story of Brady and Hindley anyway. It's the story of Longford, one of those iconoclastic British eccentrics, a member of the House of Lords, an anti-* crusader, a Catholic, and a fervent supporter of Myra Hindley's quest for parole. He was in middle age by the time her case came to his attention and there was speculation that, well, maybe there was more to his involvement than mere humanitarianism. It would be understandable. Myra wasn't bad looking and she evidently could present quite a convincing case for herself. Still, his motivation was probably pure enough. He'd visited many prisoners before Myra and continued to visit them for the rest of his life. He was a devout man, and his faith seems to have both sustained him and served as a trap. "Hate the sin, love the sinner," Longford says. And when it turned out that Manipulative Myra had played him like a fish on a light line, "finding Jesus" as so many inmates do, lying to Longford repeatedly, failing in an attempted escape when he seemed to be neglecting her, dismissing him when he was no longer of use to her, Longford never blamed anyone but himself for the suffering he'd brought about. Jim Broadbent, as Longford, is superb. He looks crazy. But his performance could hardly be improved upon. The usual legal thriller has a hero or heroine who defends an innocent person who's been convicted of a crime by an evil system -- and gets him or her off. Here's a story of a man who sacrifices his reputation for the sake of someone who's unworthy of that sacrifice. Yet the movie explores him without condemning him or making him look foolish. Longford may or may not be a hero. Hindley's motives are left murky and the final meeting of the two is friendly enough, even warm. It's not a story of good and evil, just a story of mistakes. That's what makes it a film deserving of adult attention. Kids weaned on slasher movies will find it boring because it's all talk. People with more sophistication will have a better understanding of what the characters are going through.

With a man like Longford(Jim Broadbent) he's a man willing to go all the way to reach people. Lord Longford is one stagnant and restless man to walk in London, spreading the word and causing some strife. Especially when he talks to prisoners the real strife is when he interviews child-killer Myra Hindley(Samantha Morton) who she and her lover Ian Brady(Andy Serkis) murdered several young kids. Hindley starts to stay clear of Brady, but Brady himself is way more disturbed. When Hindley gets transferred to another prison, she is treated worse than in the last one she was in. Longford, is a strong opponent in *, and his wife looks at the magazines that doesn't even faze her a bit. Lord Longford is an endurer, and he tends to shrug off everything people say what he is doing, even the British government were no problem as well. After ridiculing Longford, Hindley redeemed herself before she died, and that lifted the guilt off her shoulders. As for Lord Longford, he's one tough old chap I'll say. This movie can be put into educational use, except for the * dancers, everything else is great! 5 stars!

Longford was a bit of a twit wasn't he? Or at least in this movie, no? He's made to say: "She has enriched my Spiritual Life" and "No matter how evil (one is), one can be redeemed." Oh really? By whom, one may ask? Isn't that someone else's job? Lady Longford is made to say (shaken to her core): "I had no idea (about prison conditions)". It reminds me of 19th century upper-class mad house viewing but modernized for progressives. Its really about their own feelings. The kids? The real victims? Oh, yeah. Well, whatever . . . We have people like Longford in the States. They are called ACLU lawyers and they are definitely not trying to find God through slumming. There's a French phrase for this, three words that begin with NdB, but I can't get IMDb to accept. I did like the camera work and thought the acting superb. Cheers, everyone.

This is a brilliant drama-documentary featuring outstanding performances from Jim Broadbent (as Lord Longford), Samantha Morton (as the infamous Myra Hindley) and Andy Serkis (as the sinister Ian Brady). Jim Broadbent excellently portrays the honest yet diffident, protector of lost causes, Lord Longford, making incredible railway pilgramages to various prisons throughout the land to see various monsters now in jail. He lives down in Etchingham, on the beautiful Tunbridge Wells Hastings railway line, yet never learned to drive. You can imagine what a trek it would be to Carlisle, up near Scotland. If you like this, you'll like The Last Hangman (also 2006), about the sick executioner, Pierrepoint. Also, This is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper (1999).

'Longford' is the coming of age masterpiece of television and film director Tom Hooper. In it a transformed Jim Broadbent becomes walking-self-caricature Lord Longford, the famous, perhaps infamous, campaigner for civil rights and early release for prisoners - most notably Myra Hindley, the female murderer of five schoolchildren in Yorkshire, England in the 1960s. Samantha Morton is Hindley, tightrope walking above potential seduction and deception of Longford as well as possibly very real repentance. Longford himself is viewed as a man perhaps blinded by Hindley's charms who may be equally as guilty of manipulating her plight in a hobbyist fashion. Andy Serkis encapsulates the mythical monster and the man that is Ian Brady, yet still the film as a whole carries with it the seed of forgiveness as the way forward in the judiciary and paints the heart of mob rule as blackly as perhaps the hearts of the Moors murderers in fact were. A compelling film, with no easy answers, and the showcase of some of the most magnetic acting performances ever lensed.

HBO has done it again and produced a film of superior quality. The films generally produced by HBO fall into the category of excellent independent movies except with much larger budgets that give them notable stars and superior production values. The DVD's that come from this cable channel are gifts to anyone who enjoys quality motion pictures. Longford spans about forty years in the life of Frank Pakenham who was the 7th Earl of Longford. Pakenham was a very colorful character. He was basically conservative although one of his causes was examination of the treatment and sentences of criminals. He became notorious in England during the 1960's and 70's by calling for the release of Myra Hindley who - with her sadistic boyfriend - tortured and murdered five children during the years 1963-65. Pakenham became convinced that Hindley was a basically innocent girl who came under the evil influence of her boyfriend Ian Brady. Pakenham visited Hindley numerous times in prison and convinced her to return to her religion. She totally convinced him that she was regretful of her part in the murders, and he vigorously campaigned for her parole. All the while, Hindley was communicating with Brady and it soon came to light that she was basically pulling the wool over the eyes of a gullible man - Pakenham. Disillusioned, Pakenham began to direct his efforts to the Nationwide Festival of Light which was a program of protest against commercial exploitation of sex and violence in Britain. Even though disillusioned, Pakenham stayed in contact with Hindley until his death in 2001. Giving full credit to the superior production values, it is the acting in Longford that makes it an extreme pleasure. Jim Broadbent is Lord Longford. I use "is" rather than "plays" because it appears that - from what I can determine - Broadbent so captured the personality and appearance of Longford that he even astounded those connected with the production who knew the real man. Broadbent shows us a man who is definitely a "kook" but one to be admired. He is a man who is so compassionate of his convictions that you cannot not like him even if his opinions are totally counter to your own. Samantha Morton (nominated for an Emmy for this part) is outstanding as Myra Hindley, a woman who shows a surface of innocence above layers and layers of neurosis and evil. Viewing her interpretation of Hindley is fascinating. Andy Serkis chills you to the bone as Ian Brady. It appears that Brady has been pretty much of a bad seed his entire life, and Serkis shows us that seed in full bloom. His is a performance not easily forgotten. Longford is an enthralling character study of an equally enthralling real-life character. It is grand entertainment.

A disturbing yet intelligent look inside the head of Lord Frank Longford and his support of one of Britain's most sadistic and brutal child killers. Jim Broadbent gives an outstanding performance as the eccentric Lord and allows us to feel for the vulnerable nature of his constant belief that everyone can be forgiven. Sam Morton also gives a great performance as the sympathetic but calculating moors murderess. All in all this was a great production and seriously debated whether a man like Longford should be supported or called foolish. My only criticism is that Myra was portrayed just a little too kindly...then again I didn't know her....but Longford did.

first and foremost i would like to commend everyone involved in this project for their incredibly well-crafted delivery. i'm quite certain that many people in the united states do not realize how the British react when they hear the name Myra hindley. to say her notoriety is on par with that of Charles Manson may give them some insight. no one can fathom how or why true evil burns at some point in the hearts of men and women. when crimes such as the ones hindley and Brady are committed...we want to know why. and many times we can never find an answer that makes sense. this film is not trying to seek an answer to those questions. nor is it trying to portray the families of the poor murdered children as vengeful and filled with murderous longing. it is simply human nature to want to seek revenge on those who have wronged us. what this film conveys above all is that we can all rise above the pain and evil in this world and seek a peace either with god or simply within our own souls. we can try to remember that there is the potential for good everywhere. sometimes it alludes us for longer than we expect but when we keep looking for it - eventually we can find some glimmer of hope. Myra hindley and Ian Brady committed horrific acts for which they were deservedly punished. i do not necessarily believe that Myra should have been paroled. most likely that would have resulted in her own murder by someone who was confused, hurt and afraid of her and what she had done. and the cycle of violence would continue onward. what i do believe is that no one has the authority to take another human life. the case of Derek Bentley is proof enough of that (and the reason why the UK has outlawed executions) forgiveness is a bitter pill to swallow - a horse pill, if you will. but its benefits are innumerable. if we apply what lord longford attempted to do with Myra hindley to our own lives, our own wrongs, the wrongs perpetrated upon us by others and learn to forgive - even if we can't forget. we may well be much better off in the end. i am also reminded of the instant forgiveness shown by the Pennsylvania Amish community towards the madman who recently killed so many of their little girls. they have already started rebuilding their community - they have hope because they have embraced forgiveness and if that's the one thing this film has conveyed - it has been a success indeed.

Knockout film made for HBO starring Jim Broadbent, as a retired legislator, who with his very liberal beliefs, takes on the cause to pardon a child killer played by Samantha Morton. Broadbent and Ms. Morton have never been better. In fact, these performances are probably the best of their respective careers. Broadbent, as Lord Longford, has for years visited prisoners in jail. He soon discovers that he and Morton are both converts to Catholicism. First incurring the wrath of his wife, the latter later joins him on his mission. The film is a definite belief in rehabilitation of the most hardened criminal. The eye for an eye tooth for a tooth principle doesn't belong here. Despite public outcry and his ultimate betrayal by the Morton character, Lord Longford, who died at 95, always felt that he did the right thing by advocating Myra's pardoning. This is definitely a film promoting social consciousness. Did you know that in England that all child-killers had been paroled as they were males? Of course, this did not apply to Morton and her lover, both of whom killed several children.