A Voyage Round My Father (1982/Acorn Media DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: C- Telefilm: C+
Rumpole Of The Bailey creator John Mortimer created the
semi-autobiographical melodrama A Voyage
Round My Father which became a telefilm in 1982 with no less than Sir
Laurence Olivier playing his father, more or less. A solid, competent tale of the
dysfunctionality of family, Alan Bates is the son who has to tolerate his
sometimes pompous father who really shows his ego when he starts to go blind
and will not admit to it.
However,
I was never as big a fan of this work as many because despite being based on
real events, it still had the biopic limits and fell into some formulaic pits
that even Director Alvin Rakoff could not overcome. Still, the performances (also including Jane
Asher, Michael Aldridge and Alan Cox) is worth seeing for its performances and
moments that work. Just be awake and
have some patience.
The 1.33
X 1 image seems to have been shot in 16mm film, but it was lensed by no less
than Director of Photography Tony Pierce-Roberts (The Remains Of The Day) who makes this look better than most
telefilms you will see. Too bad this is
not clearer or sharper, but expect a Blu-ray at some point. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also a bit
worn-sounding, suggesting this is an older analog master or down a generation,
but Marc Wilkinson’s score is a plus. The
only extras are text on Mortimer, Bates and Olivier.
- Nicholas Sheffo
