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A review by katykelly
Their Finest Hour and a Half by Lissa Evans
5.0
Very amusing period-set look at filmmaking in wartime
I've loved Lissa Evans' children's books and hearing that her adult book was to be made into a film, decided to read it first.
It's wonderful - the period is created vividly, with the bombings and resultant travel chaos (not something I'd thought about before!) making it feel real, annoying, constant. All the 'dregs', those not considered the 'best' are our characters - the assistant bumped up to writer, has-been actors, any old person drafted in to help on a film set.
And the film itself, hilariously enough, is 'based' on the story of two sisters going over to help in Normandy, but whose almost-adventure is twisted and expanded to make a thrilling, romantic, patriotic 90-minute blockbuster with Americans, explosions and a dog, to entertain the masses.
It's a great behind-the-scenes, as well as a wartime read. With some amusing characters (Ambrose the actor and Buckley the writer were my favourites).
It kept me reading, and I look forward to seeing it on the screen as well, there are some wonderfully written roles here. The dog in particular I look forward to seeing portrayed on film!
I've loved Lissa Evans' children's books and hearing that her adult book was to be made into a film, decided to read it first.
It's wonderful - the period is created vividly, with the bombings and resultant travel chaos (not something I'd thought about before!) making it feel real, annoying, constant. All the 'dregs', those not considered the 'best' are our characters - the assistant bumped up to writer, has-been actors, any old person drafted in to help on a film set.
And the film itself, hilariously enough, is 'based' on the story of two sisters going over to help in Normandy, but whose almost-adventure is twisted and expanded to make a thrilling, romantic, patriotic 90-minute blockbuster with Americans, explosions and a dog, to entertain the masses.
It's a great behind-the-scenes, as well as a wartime read. With some amusing characters (Ambrose the actor and Buckley the writer were my favourites).
It kept me reading, and I look forward to seeing it on the screen as well, there are some wonderfully written roles here. The dog in particular I look forward to seeing portrayed on film!