We Think the World of You

As London recovers from World War II, an aimless young man - who is bisexual and already married - named Johnny (Gary Oldman) is sent to prison. He gives his dog Evie to his parents, Tom and Millie, who are conniving at best and abusive at worst. The man who really falls in love with the dog is Johnny's older ex-lover and best friend Frank (Alan Bates). Based on the 1960 J.R. Ackerley novel, this film was directed by Colin Gregg, who also directed the Liam Neeson-starring Lamb, which you guessed it, is also on this Mill Creek box set. If you ever wonder how much our world has changed, when the trailer for this movie played in the U.S., it was sold as a light-hearted comedy about a dog and nothing was said about the romance between two of its leads.

It's nice that someone wanted to adapt this book, but there are a few big problems. One: Johnny is supposed to be very beautiful with "honey colored skin". Gary Oldman? It's like, as John Waters would say, Jaws without a shark. What's worse though is that the novel is told from the point of view of Frank. The film is too objective in its writing. Not that give a whit about Frank "growing" which he does, to understand Megan and finally respect her. The fact is the fun of the book is Frank's bad attitude towards these people who, in his view, and perhaps even objectively, if your objectivity doesn't match that of the screenwriter, treat him abominably. Instead we get this pathetic old queen with a poor dye job who and instead of identifying with him and his curmudgeonly prospective, we find almost painful to watch! In effect not only the "arc" but the whole feel of the story is undermined.

I saw this movie when it was first released and it always comes to mind when anyone mention a favorite movie. If you love animals and are sensitive to the "place" of gays in society just a few decades ago , you have to be touched by the interactions of middle class with lower class Brits,the straight world with the gay world and how one creature "EVIE" a German shepherd brings out the best and the worst in humankind . It is a sweet , gentle story with laughs and tears and the dramatic tension of wondering what will be EVIE"S fate . The acting is wonderful.The script is tight and every word of dialogue rings true . The final scene in the park is one of my all time favorites . You can't help but want to watch the movie again if just to marvel at how well acted and perfectly cast are all of the characters. Unfortunately the movie is out of print but shows up on cable every once in a while.

I saw this movie back when it came out. I was in high school and knew absolutely nothing about it. I knew nothing about the director, the cast, that it was based on a book, nothing. I remember it even today, over a decade later, as one of the best films I've seen. I recommend everyone see it. It is what independent cinema used to be, before it turned into the vast disappointment it currently is.

This is a good movie and it is especially enjoyable if you love dogs as I do. I never read the novel but I first saw this film years ago, and finally bought the video recently. To my surprise, the film now seems a little dated and even a little bit slow in parts. (But to be fair, American movies tend to move so quickly that many British and European films seem slow by contrast.) Alan Bates is terrific in the story of a middle-aged bureaucrat whose male lover betrays him for love of a female. When Bates agrees reluctantly to make sure his lover's dog is cared for while his lover is in prison, he finds himself really starting to care for the dog himself. Some funny visuals and a satisfying ending make for one good movie.

There is nothing so disappointing as getting a movie version of a novel you like only to find out the story has been changed substantially and the cinematic version is horrid. I am a new fan of Ackerley. I am pleased to say the movie follows the novel and it was a delight to see it come to life in the screen version. Everyone in the cast is outstanding and the plot moves along quickly so the viewer is never bored. I would not hesitate to recommend this movie to anyone who admires J.R. Ackerley. I even enjoyed the fact that the look and feel of the movie seem dated which helped transport me back pretty close to the time it was supposed to happen.