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List Price: $24.99 | | Label: Acorn Media
Salesrank: 18651
Released: April 14, 2009 |
| Our Price: $16.02 |
| Used Price: $14.45 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The BBC drama that launched Mystery! on PBS
While on a Pyrenees vacation in 1922, upright English gentleman Richard Chandos (Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange, Heroes) encounters the villainous Vanity Fair (Eileen Atkins, Cold Mountain). Mistress of the turreted Chateau Jezreel and leader of a motley band of criminals, she will inherit millions if she can force her stepdaughter to marry. Pitting his wits against this formidable adversary, Chandos determines to rescue the beautiful young woman. But Vanity Fair keeps one step ahead of him, a trick forever up her sleeve and murder in her heart.
Based on the novel by Dornford Yates and adapted by Tom Sharpe (Wilt, Porterhouse Blue), the story unfolds in a series of twists and turns as sharp as the hairpin bends around which the protagonists hurl their luxury cars. Emmy®-winner Atkins and Golden Globe®-nominee McDowell play perfect foils in this highly entertaining thriller.
She Fell Among Thieves Reviews:
Somewhat disappointing 
2009-11-05 - I love period drama but this movie was more tongue in cheek than real drama. It sounded great but found it to be "overdone" in the acting and the presentation. I would recommend only for those who would enjoy a very unrealistic acting job. Not the worst by any means but not that fantastic.
Not sure what to expect 
2009-09-12 - When I bought this I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleased with the content. I play dvd's when I work and mostly listen to them but this I couldn't help but watch.
The stuff the cult movies are made of
2009-08-26 - The first episode ever of BBC Mystery! She Fell Among Thieves is an amusing and entertaining mystery/crime/period piece. It was adapted from the novel by Dornfold Yates and it tells the story where a nice proper English gentleman Richard Chandos (Malcolm McDowell in his charmingly naive Mick "Lucky Man" Travis mode) on vacation in the southern France finds the body of a man known as an associate of a mysterious powerful crime boss named Vanity Fair (yes, that's right). Eileen Atkins plays the murderous leader of the gang/evil step-mother who would stop to nothing to press her angelic beautiful stepdaughter to get married before she gets of age, so Vanity Fair will inherit the fortune of her late husband and will stay the mistress of a spectacular turreted Chateau Jezreel. Atkins obviously took the part with the big doze of humor and plays with such gusto that instead of being terrified of Vanity Fair, I could not help grinning every time she would enter the screen wearing makeup so heavy and screaming that she reminded me of Donald Sutherland as Casanova in the Fellini's film or Bette Davis in the Death on the Nile, one of Agatha Christie's adaptations which She Fell Among Thieves reminds with the beautiful scenery, gorgeous costumes, attentions to all period details, and ironically with the final scene. I think the makeup that Atkins had to apply and her exaggerated gesticulations, piercing glares, hissing and barking the orders to her not always efficient henchmen go well together and give the viewers a good idea that this picture is not about subtlety or twists and turns of the plot but about good old campy fun. The plot is predictable, and what would you expect with the wicked step-mother, innocent blonde step-daughter waiting to be saved by a knight in shining armor who would appear just in time to free the maiden, and all types of rather pathetic criminals as well as the brave Foreign Office men on hand to save the day and stop Vanity Fair before she strikes again. Somehow, however, predictability makes this little film very enjoyable. Add truly beautiful scenery, romantic castles, three (3) Rolls-Royces, and rest assured that the baddies will get their just deserts and the good time will be had by everyone.
It has been a long wait.... 
2009-06-23 - I don't understand the Amazon credits listing of Judy Dench etc., since these are not the actors in this wonderful film.... the very first episode of PBS' MYSTERY! How many years did I listen to the audio tape I made of this program? Campy dialogue, wonderful music, remarkable acting and actors.... and remembering Vincent Price saying the screen writer took the original novel, its concept, and threw the rest away... the results were a wonderfully atmospheric period piece with tongue-in-cheek humor that is mostly supplied by the viewer. And Eileen Atkins steals the film as the most succulent villian... accompanied by the proper eerie moments or organ music in the score. One hell of an ending, too!
Save Your Money 
2009-05-14 - I recommend this only if you can view it as a new-age attempt to remake silent pictures - all we were lacking was the organ playing dramatic interludes. The make up on the actors will indicate the good guys from the bad guys and the plot - well, I've said enough.
