CindyH

I'll admit that the end has two incredible gotcha moments. However, There is no reason why this should have been 8 episodes long. From episode 2 through 7, it is mostly just run around. You get about 55 minutes of show with a result of maybe one small piece of information.

Most of the time I fought to stay awake and just sat there rather bored until the one piece of information was finally given.

I was not at all impressed with Michelle Keegan's acting skills. Anyone could have played that part. I also tired quickly of constant perfect make-up and her ridiculous filler-filled lips. (Credential: I am a retired plastic surgery nurse.) I mean no offense here, I am simply saying how I personally felt. You may feel differently and that's fine by me.

If you're an Armitage fan, don't expect to see much of him at all. I think he had maybe 3 minutes screen time (but really is probably much less) and most of it was repeats. The same thing over and over again.

This inserts annoying flashbacks that I'm pretty sure can cause seizures in some the way its done. Unfortunately, they do it over and over and over again. Once was enough, thanks.

Joanna Lumley though is great in this, she is always lovely. I would like to have seen a bit more of her, but alas, this was not to be.

Adeel Akhtar's brilliant acting skills in this is what made the show more interesting. I understand that the book doesn't really offer as much of Kierce's backstory as we see here. I think his whole story could have been a miniseries in itself. What a story!

While I really love Hattie Morahan's acting, I think her entire character and story was completely useless. They could have just ditched the Caroline character and no one would have even noticed.

All in all, this could have been a great production, but it really wasn't. I normally would not recommend it to friends, except for the shining Kierce story and the two big reveals at the end.

I think this could have been told in perhaps 3 parts instead of 8 and it would have been much better.

What can I say that hasn't already been said in a review of this delightful film? It's great? It's passionate? It's kindness versus cruelty? All of this has already been said. I suppose I can look at it from its artistic value.

Most every actor was already known for their impressive work. This was not a film that was just pasting actors into their parts. Nor is it a simple production.

This film is somewhat loosely based on the novel by Rumer Godden, called [ASIN:B01M5D8G71 A Fugue in Time]. I have not read the book, but only know that there were many other siblings there. It is common for films to reduce the number of characters, due to time. You cannot tell all of those characters' stories in a film, but at least you can tell the story of the main characters.

David Niven at the time was perfect for his part. His wife had died by falling down the stairs of another actor, two and a half years earlier. He was all too familiar with the feeling of tender love and profound loss. Yet, by the time this film was made, he had fallen in love again and had married. He had enough time to grieve and yet start a new beginning. That experience no doubt affected his acting in this film, and what an effect it was! He was superb as Rollo. Though it is hard to see his face behind all that make-up, I doubt another actor at that time could have achieved the acting in this role as Mr. Niven did.

Theresa Wright is always a delight to watch. She had fallen into parts that were the epitome of the "nice girl next door," but usually as a troubled one. Known for being the only actor nominated for an Oscar for her first three films is all we need to know about her acting. If you like her in this film, try also watching [ASIN:B0093QE06M Mrs. Miniver], [ASIN:B002RXS1VS Shadow of a Doubt], and [ASIN:B00AOORDJS The Best Years of our Lives]. She is always captivating to watch.

The rest of the cast was also superb, but Jayne Meadows' Selina is very much worth noting here. This was a great part for her, as she had only filmed four movies prior to this one. Among those were an interesting version of [ASIN:B07573CDXR a Phillip Marlowe film] and even a [ASIN:B018GTVB4K Thin Man] film. She shined in both of those and I am almost certain this is why she got the part.

Production-wise, the cinematography is a story of its own. The art of filming in black and white is the use of light and dark. Here we see dark moments and by lowering the light during those moments, the viewer can actually "feel" the darkness with the characters. Gregg Toland is a master of this type of drama, after all, he did do [ASIN:B00GJBCMB4 Citizen Kane] which is exceptionally famous for its photography, among everything else.

Just one little note here. I've seen reviews mentioning a plot hole about Lark having a nephew, even though she had no siblings. Many large and close families consider aunts and uncles by marriage a true uncle. My family does too, in fact. We have a sort of hierarchy. As close as we are, we take care of each other and my uncle by marriage makes most of the decisions for us. It's not enforced, mind you, he is kind and offers his help and he's just the best one in the family for advice on everything. I think of him as a real by-blood uncle, even though he isn't.

For this reason, I see no plot hole. I am certain Pax Masterson is not only a nephew by marriage, but his relationship was through his mother. In other words, Marchese Del Laudi's sister married a Mr. Masterson and Pax was their son. It's really that simple.

This film has a great team and feels very much like a play. I just love this film and I think any "old movie" lover would find this truly enchanting. Its title suits it well, even if it is different from its original title.

Think of this as Rear Window meets The Flight Attendant, but isn't as good.

I like Kristen Bell (Anna) and she can be so cute and funny. With a title like that, I really did expect a black comedy. There are hints throughout the show, but I did figure it out. There is one tiny scene that gives it away but its easily missed. I just happened to catch it, so it was luck.

Her past is rather absurd and I wish I could talk about it but it would be a spoiler. I guess its supposed to be funny but it really wasn't.

It's great for when you're at home on a rainy night. Grab a glass of wine, kick back, and enjoy this guilty pleasure.