Someday someone will compile a list of every film ever made that features a Nazi plot at its center. You’d find Glorious 39 on this list, and, assuming it’s in descending order by quality, it’d be somewhere near the top third. The film’s plot has its fair share of intrigue and some great performances filling it out, but ultimately it just can’t keep up the pacing needed to keep the story clipping along and it begins to sag midway through. Glorious 39 deserves to be seen, but it’s not the taut suspenseful thriller it could have been.
Anne Keyes (Romola Garai) lives a posh existence in Britain’s upper class in the months preceding the country’s declaration of war against a belligerent Hitler. She spends her days lounging about in fields and enjoying extravagant dinners with friends (David Tennant) and attempting to make a name for herself as an actress. It’s a life of bliss that takes a sudden turn when she discovers an old record in her father’s estate which, though labeled as a foxtrot, actually features an interrogation session. It’s one of many, and before long Anne finds herself twisting about desperately in the midst of a conspiracy she can’t understand. All the while, her father (Bill Nighy), brother (Eddie Redmayne), and sister (Juno Temple) seem ambivalent towards her increasing paranoia in the face of sudden and inexplicable suicides and disappearances of everyone she trusts.
Be warned, it’s arguable that the next paragraph is essentially a spoiler for the film’s conspiracy, so if you’re looking to see the movie and stay in the dark as to the motives surrounding everyone in the film, just skip to the next paragraph. Conspiracy films always have that one linchpin that once pulled, everything falls into context and the mystery is revealed (or ruined, if you haven’t already seen the film). Furthermore, the seasoned movie veteran has become accustomed to all manner of plots based on Nazi conspiracies – both within the party’s own lines and without. The reason this explanation is both a spoiler and not, is because while it’s a commonly known facet of pre-World War II politics, the film works hard and successfully to hide that the root of Anne’s paranoia has to do with the “Appeasement” movement. If you don’t know what that is, then that last sentence spoiled nothing, but this next one will do the job. As Anne evades the grasp of her family and friends who seem not have her best interest but rather some hidden agenda at heart, she discovers that the reason for all the interrogations and tight-lipped secrecy has to do with a portion of Britain’s upper class attempting to stay in good terms with Hitler, negotiating terms of compromise that are increasingly desperate, and her father lies at the center of the plot.
Director Stephen Poliakoff does well to keep the tension and confusion building amidst the discovery of new recordings, disappearances, and seemingly inexplicable occurrences, but at times the ball is dropped and the plot returns to idle before revving back into full gear. It doesn’t ruin the film, as it depends mostly on the big reveal, but it does slow it down just enough to lose some of the steam that would have made the conspiracy’s coming into full view truly satisfying. Instead, we’re given enough time to think about what’s going on and have the chance to guess what’s happening before the film wants us to know.
There are some beautiful shots in the film and therefore it’s a pretty good feature for hi-def. It can look stunning when it takes advantage of some of Engalnd’s sweeping pastoral areas and the fact that it’s a pretty good conspiracy thriller just sweetens the pot.
Blu-ray Bonus Features
Unfortunately the extras are slim. When you consider the superb cast they had on hand, you would’ve liked to hear more from them than just a few behind the scenes glances and interviews can offer. I was surprised to find there was no audio commentary, which has become a default on most films.
"Glorious 39" is on sale February 15, 2011 and is rated R. Drama, Thriller. Written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff. Starring Bill Nighy, Christopher Lee, David Tennant, Eddie Redmayne, Juno Temple, Romola Garai, Toby Regbo.
