Jim Broadbent assays the role of Frank Pakenham, the 7th Earl of Longford and a campaigner for prisoner’s rights, who in the ‘70s sought to free one of the most heinous murderers of the time.
What the back of the box says:
Morton is Myra Hindley, the infamous child killer behind the "Moors Murders" and the personification of evil among the public. Playing out amidst the media furor of the time, the story explores the reasons behind Longford's steadfast conviction that Hindley should be released and rehabilitated, showing how his advocacy and good faith, ironically, may have ransomed his good name and a reputation built over decades.”
In the 1960’s the deadly duo of Myra Hindley (Samantha Morton) and Ian Brady (a chilling Andy Serkis) kidnapped and murdered five children in what would become known throughout the country as the “Moor Murders” because the bodies were dumped in the Saddleworth Moors. The two would kidnap children mostly thanks to the fact that Brady was not a lone man but had a woman, a maternal figure, with him and the children were less afraid of the pair. They were captured and their trial in 1966 was a huge public spectacle and the pair were reviled throughout the country. Unfortunately, the death penalty had been abolished the year before so the two were sentenced to life imprisonment.
In the ‘70s, Hindley wrote to Lord Longford (Jim Broadbent – resembling a mash up of William Hartnell and Peter Boyle in his makeup), a firm believer in prison reform, the two met and he became the lead trumpeter for her parole. His wife Lady Elizabeth (Lindsay Duncan) is firmly set against his support of Hindley, but he continues to support Hindley and he also finds his reputation up for public scrutiny.
I’ll have to admit that I had no idea about the Moor Murders, but now that I’m aware of them they seem like extremely heinous crimes, especially considering that the pair were committing their crimes against innocent children. Longford provides a high quality telefilm (the kind that HBO is known for) more about the aftermath of the murders and of Lord Longford’s support of Hindley.
Jim Broadbent is excellent as Longford and Lindsay Duncan provides some fine support as Lady Longford. Samantha Morton is also excellent in the role of Hindley as we’re not sure if her professions to converting to Catholicism and remorse are genuine. A standout in a small park is the eerily chilling performance of Andy Serkis as the only subject of this biopic that is still alive and still in prison (may he rot).
Longford is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include a commentary by director Tom Hooper and writer Peter Morgan. There’s also the 6 minute “For the Record: First Hand Accounts of the Moor Murders.” For 6 minutes it sure packs a lot of interesting information and some of the interviews seem to be gleaned from another documentary that looks very good (although I’m not sure if they truly came from another documentary, it just looked that way to me).
It has new interviews with director Tom Hooper, Jim Broadbent, Samantha Morton, and Lindsay Duncan. There are also interviews from various times from Danny and Sheila Kilbridge (1998 – victim John’s brother and mother), Eric Robson (1977 – Brass Tacks: Freedom for Myra Hindley), Sir Ronald Waterhouse (1997 – Junior counsel during Hindley trial), Kelvin Mackenzie (1997 – Editor of the Sun for 13 years), Home secretary Leon Brittan (1985), Former Det. Peter Topping (1998), Ann West (1977 – Victim Lesley Ann Downey’s mother and used rather effectively in the film), Fred Broughton (1997 – Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales), Auberon Waugh (1974 – Lord Longford’s godson), and the real Lord Longford (1974, 1977, 1985, and 1998).
Longford is another fine entry in the realm of HBO telefilms and features some fine performances from an able cast. Jim Broadbent, Samantha Morton, and Andy Serkis all are excellent and well worth seeing.
Longford is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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