It's fascinating to see these events as portrayed at the time, rather than in hindsight.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Admirably, Leigh resists the temptation to pile on the horror... both charming and traumatic.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Admirably, Leigh resists the temptation to pile on the horror... both charming and traumatic.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Despite some dodgy plotholes and remarkable coincidences, the film is genuinely exciting.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Despite some dodgy plotholes and remarkable coincidences, the film is genuinely exciting.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Hilarious throughout.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Hilarious throughout.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

An entertaining family film with few pretensions.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Fast-forward through the freakshow and admire the music.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A soggy experience.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A soggy experience.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

While Gooding's performance is fine, it's so bound up in artifice that it's hard to really admire.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

While Gooding's performance is fine, it's so bound up in artifice that it's hard to really admire.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A beautifully filmed, chilling, lost classic.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A beautifully filmed, chilling, lost classic.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This peculiar fantasy from the odd-ball indie filmmakers the Polish Brothers, who make the Coens look like commercial sellouts, is as disconnected as a dream - indeed, it may all be a dream.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This peculiar fantasy from the odd-ball indie filmmakers the Polish Brothers, who make the Coens look like commercial sellouts, is as disconnected as a dream - indeed, it may all be a dream.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

The production's lavish attention to detail in its recreation of the poverty and luxury of the time shows up crisply on this DVD, which is a visual feast.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

There are some fine performances, particularly from Jean-Pierre Darroussin.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This is a largely tasteful, delicate look at the legend.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A refreshing take on the usual period drama cliches, with a dry wit and a refreshing realism leavening the lush romance.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A refreshing take on the usual period drama cliches, with a dry wit and a refreshing realism leavening the lush romance.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A sassy classic with heart.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A sassy classic with heart.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This is a blockbuster which puts the emphasis firmly on entertainment by showing its heroes enjoying their roles, not suffering through angst.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This is a blockbuster which puts the emphasis firmly on entertainment by showing its heroes enjoying their roles, not suffering through angst.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Milland and Dietrich have such charm and comic talents that they save it, more or less.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Milland and Dietrich have such charm and comic talents that they save it, more or less.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Dietrich is, as usual, magnificently knowing, mannered and sensual.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Dietrich is, as usual, magnificently knowing, mannered and sensual.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Some of the footage is powerfully moving and yet Moore handles it delicately.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Some of the footage is powerfully moving and yet Moore handles it delicately.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This odd story is reminiscent of a Beckett play in its compelling sinisterness.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This odd story is reminiscent of a Beckett play in its compelling sinisterness.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Streep's pitch-perfect performance is tremendously watchable.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Streep's pitch-perfect performance is tremendously watchable.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

The adaptation is heavy-handed and crushes the life out of the story.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

The adaptation is heavy-handed and crushes the life out of the story.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This film's message of smaller personal concerns being swamped by greater political ones is still touching.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

This film's message of smaller personal concerns being swamped by greater political ones is still touching.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Daft the plot may be, but all concerned do a splendid job.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

Daft the plot may be, but all concerned do a splendid job.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

The sheer unexplained terror of the Aliens is more than enough to make them watchable.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

The sheer unexplained terror of the Aliens is more than enough to make them watchable.

~ Andrea Mullaney -