Dandelion Dead
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Movie Reviews of Dandelion Dead
Movie Review: Riveting True Crime Drama
Summary: 4 Stars
Spoiler alert:
This is a two part movie. We watched the first part yesterday and the second part this evening. It was riveting from start to finish. The first part really reels the viewer in with the gorgeous scenery, charming atmosphere, lovely costumes, and English gents saying "Jolly good" and "Cheerio". What fun! However, the plot is quite a bit darker which is why the film is so good. Set against this beautiful backdrop, the charming Herbert Armstrong decides to murder his wife. And, even though I am always one to side with the victims rather than the perpetrator, this is one time I would say the wife had it coming.
Oh, she was horrible! And, he was just wonderful. She was rude, unloving, and seemed to only have her self-interest at heart. When he'd make overtures to her to talk about their issues she'd rebuff him in the nastiest way possible. He wasn't milquetoast, though-- he seemed to have quite a bit of depth under that placid demeanor. She actually had the nerve to interrupt him at a tennis tournament to tell him to get home for dinner and that it was his bath night!
(This movie is based on true events and, from what I've read on other sites (look up Major Herbert Armstrong), the depictions of these characters were very true to life.)
Consequently, we empathize with Armstrong and don't mind when she drinks her arsenic-laced tea and cocoa. It's exciting to see Armstrong come out of his shell and be actually happy (while she's ill) because we've grown to care about HIM and understand how horrible the wife made his life and the children's lives.
In the second part, though, we change our minds completely about Herbert. He's no longer just a charming happy guy freed from living with an evil shrew-- he's now selfish and unscrupulous. Realizing what an easy time he had killing his wife, he now considers murder as an option for dealing with his business rival.
Had he not attempted this other crime, he would have gotten away with his wife's murder.
I don't usually like true crime films. This falls into the genre, I guess, but it's really a wonderful drama. Michael Kitchen (Foyle's War, To Play the King) is very versatile-- much more than I realized. Everyone in this was just excellent, as was the script and direction.
By the end, the viewer really does want Armstrong to get his comeuppance, but the entire chain of events is so very sad. There are no happy endings for anyone.
The disc has few extras-- bios of the main cast and a little silly quiz.
ADDENDUM: I recently read The Hay Poisoner by Martin Beales. Beales believes Armstrong is innocent and presents evidence to attempt to prove his case. If you really liked this movie and are interested in this case, you might want to read that book, as well. It was also published under the title Dead Not Buried. But, both titles are the exact same book.
Movie Review: Two sides of the same coin. The excellent series Foyle's War
Summary: 4 Stars
led me to this earlier Micheal Kitchen work, Dandelion Dead. In this mini-series, he plays Maj. Hebert Armstrong, esq. In several ways the characters are similiar. One is a solicitor, the other a cop. Both are well-bred, upper middleclass gentleman, former World War I officers. Both respected & liked. Whereas Foyle has rock hard integrity, the Major, not as much. But he is more amiable. The Major is saddled with a disagreeable wife. No, that is too kind. She is absolutely horrid, played marvelously by Sarah Miles. She has not a shred of affection for him, is an unremitting nag & embarasses him in front of friends & associates. I found myself rooting for him as he decides to poison her with arsenic he has acquired to rid himself of weeds in his beloved garden. She dies a slow, painful death. He is free! But so is his hubris at getting away with murder so easily. His law practice is slipping & he has competition in the small village where he works. So...
Lovely period piece set in 1921. Very British, dry, witty. Lots of humrous content despite the subject. Kind of the sterotype we Yanks have of the Brits from that era.
Movie Review: Dandelion Dead
Summary: 4 Stars
We love Michael Kitchen (star of Foyle's War) so we bought this movie to see him. It is an interesting tale of an excentric Englishman who thought he was above the law. Enjoyed it immensely.Movie Review: Not All What I Expected....
Summary: 2 Stars
Well, I asked for it... I assumed our hero from Foyle's War would be similar in all his features..... but as good an actor as he is, I don't think he did himself proud in this movie that should just as well never been made in the first place.Movie Review: Terrible Story but the Seller Response was Excellent
Summary: 1 Stars
Don't bother buying this story; I was very disappointed in Michael Kitchen. The seller did provide it with excellent service.
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