Customer Reviews
Nicely authentic feeling adaption of the tragi-romance - By: Lou Knee, 16 Feb 2008 
This is a nice film, satisfyingin so many ways, even if the sad conclusion is anything but, but that's the nature of romantic tragedy. This is Oliver Reed's finest film performance (apart from maybe Gladiator), & must be Ken Russell's best movie bar none. Good authentic adaption of DHL, a writer whose works often arouse strong emotions one way or another. In fact human emotion is often the main focus of all his works, rather than the more overt themes of class, or raw passion. This film has a lovely period feel to it, is very intimatein its portrayal of the relationships between people with different personalities & feelings, & it distills the mood or essence of DHL perfectly, including clear undertones of misogyny. If you're prepared for a slightly more detached & arty kind of romantic drama then this film is for you. More emotionally engaging than it may look, with its emphasis on the visual rather than the dramatic, as always with Russell. But what saves this becoming a mere art piece is a great piece of acting from Jacksonin particular, but also a deep & broodingly memorable performance by Reed, which was probably coaxed out of him by his great drinking partner, Russell.
For fans of the book - By: E. Griffiths, 14 Dec 2004 
This is a film that now looks unfortunately dated but it still has something to offer fans of Lawrence. I had a love/hate relationship with the book & so was desperate to see the film. It gave me a better understanding of the characters & their motivations which,in the book, seemed quite unreal & strange at times but make more sense when you see them acted.
Great performances from the whole cast, especially Glenda Jackson & Oliver Reed, although both characters are jarringly annoying (as I suspect they are intended to be).
Buy The Region 1 release for Ken's commentary - By: Paul Sutton, 16 Aug 2004 
The five stars is for the film, but the DVD itself only rates as a 3. The picture quality is superb &in the correct non-anamorphic ratio, but, as usual, British customers have been stuffed because the disc releasedin Britain has been shorn of the extras available on the American Region 1 disc. The British disc does not have the commentary by Ken Russell; it does not have the commentary by the screenwriter, Larry Kramer; & it does not have the excellent photo gallery containing many previously unpublished photographs from the set.
