MovieChat Forums > Longford (2007) Discussion > What is the point of this?......

What is the point of this?......

posted 18 years ago by co201gs
16 replies | jump to latest

Well for me at least, the point is to not be afraid of talking about things, asking questions, and doing this through drama.

The depiction of the moors murerders (brady + hindley) was completley sensationalised by the british press for many years after the event, when far worse crimes had been committed. This programme has to be good, otherwise it will just be adding to the sensationalism. One thing is for sure... there'll be a hell of a lot of press attention :S

[–] ilovethephantom1990 18 years ago

i have no idea. what a waste of money.....i feel sorry for all of the familys who lost there childern in these horrendus murders. i know i wasnt alive when it happend but no one desserves to have there lives taken from them.

you laught at me becouse i am obsessed with poto, i laugh at you becouse your the same

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] hb004e9899 18 years ago

I agree with you completely. God knows those parents of the victims who are still alive have suffered like I can't begin to imagine since it happened, but there have been equally despicable murders committed before and since. Plus it's also been said that if Myra Hindley had been a man, she wouldn't have served as long a sentence as she did. But from everything I hear, the production is going to concentrate less on the crimes themselves, than on Lord Longford's campaign to get Hindley released. This isn't the only production on the same subject matter, either - only to be expected with it being the 40th anniversary of Brady and Hindley's trial - and this one apparently does look at the murders themselves.

[–] madasstobs 18 years ago

th is peoples lives that were lost..dont say what a waist of money....i cant believe people out there say that.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] indigo_pie 18 years ago

"Imagine how the families will feel now knowing that people who watch this programme will question whether Hindley deserved to spend longer then her initial sentencing in prison. I personally don't agree with the death penalty but do believe that life should mean life and not 14 years in jail per murder. If you murder someone intentionally you should spend the rest of your life in prison."

I suppose there will be some people saying or thinking that, but I doubt they will be in the majority. She knowingly did what she did and just because someone is 'sorry' and remorseful when the crime is to the extent that those were, they shouldn't be given leniancy. The truth of the matter is had it been a little bit earlier, she would have got the death penalty (please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong as I have only heard that). She got lucky. Now she's dead, and I'm sorry to say but I think the world is better for that.

However, there will always be people in history like Myra Hindley, Ian Brady, Rose West, Fred West, Ian Huntley etc.... and probably more increasingly the child killers like Jon Venables and Robert Thompson. Since when is 8 years sufficient for the horrific crime they committed? I think it's worse that they were so young when they committed it and should have least gone to an adult institution for a time.... oh and NOT be given the educational opportunities that they were given, or the new identities as such.

Sorry for having a rant..... nothing personal....

I will watch this programme though. I'll have to video it as I have an essay in the following day, fun fun!

[–] andrewnorfolk 18 years ago

From what I understand this drama is focusing on Longford and his attempt to get Myra Hindley released from prison. It is mainly asking questions about forgiveness, blind faith and whether or not Longford was played for a fool by Hindley.

It also questions whether or not Longford was right to attempt her release. I think generally Longford was somewhat niave and seemed to want to see the best in people without necessarally recognising that being 'nice' on the surface doesn't mean you still aren't capable of hideous crimes.

Though he may have been somewhat foolish and naive at least was prepared to sit down and open a dialogue about what we could do about these types of people.

[–] Rick-34 18 years ago

Exactly. Longford seems to have the curious notion of taking the Christian concepts of forgiveness and repentance seriously. Most people don't really feel that way. I think it's an issue that deserves serious discussion, whatever one's feelings are.

The film certainly isn't a puff piece (like the Academy-award winning 'Monster' was to a certain extent).

[–] geezabrek-1 18 years ago

Plainly, the point of this is to tell a story of an idealist and campaigner dealing with the biggest challenge of his later life. I know that there was much more to the man than the pornography enquiry and the Hindley involvement and I am impressed, by the work of the actors and the way the film moves foeward. Andy Serkis, Lindsay Duncan and Samantha Morton are very fine and Jim Broadbent utterly convincing.

If it has the effect of annoying the moaners then so much the better.

[–] d-a-lambert 18 years ago

Myra Hindleys mugshot is second only to the classic Che Guevara portrait as probably the most iconic image of the last century. Without getting into an argument about the rights and wrongs of her sentence, the fact is that she was a celebrity, albeit infamous. The demonisation of her by the ever powerful press resulted in her being treated unfairly in comparison to other lifers, male and female. Successive cowardly home secretaries were more concerned about the public reaction to a parole hearing then any sense of fair play. I do not wish to sound like a bleeding heart because i'm not. I believe a life sentence should be just that. But, if you are going to have a parole system , it should be and be seen to be equitable and fair. In Myra Hindleys case, it plainly wasn't. At the end of the day Longford's view was that everyone is capable of remorse and deserve forgiveness. Whether this was true in Hindleys case is irrelevant, the point is the system rejected her. I believe this was the point Lord Longford was trying to make.
By the way, Jim Broadbent must be one of the finest actors around today.

[–] whosaysthatmurdersnotanart 18 years ago

It may be a waste of money, but isn't *beep* like Big Brother even more so?

[–] heatherbee 18 years ago

I utterly agree - Jim Broadbent is fantastic. He has to be one of the most versatile, watchable and fascintaing actors around today. As for the subject matter, well I applaud it, for although the initial crimes were truly horrendous, and indeed gave me sleepless nights for many years as a teenager once I read about them, this programme casts a wider net and at least gives us real sustenance for thought, which in this day and age of reality tv and dramas of 'les nouveaux riches' is very welcome.

[–] granby40 18 years ago

has anyone said regardless of the subject matter the acting is fantasic.

Winslet for the oscer!!!!!!!(again)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] lynneyluvsu 18 years ago

I think this programme was toatally worthwhile i think it was really interesting and raised some good points(the had hindley been a man she would have been released thing etc). Also it made sence of WHY Lord Longford did what he did for Myra

[–] churchr-1 17 years ago

It also shows, I believe, why the death penalty still exists in so many places. As this movie shows, life in prison usually isn't. Myra is held up as he exception, life behind bars more often than not means 12 years, and until that changes we'll have the death penalty as the only way to keep some people off the street and out of the neighborhood.