These are a select number of our archived period dramas from previous contributors, preserved here in our Silver Petticoat Archive for longtime fans and new visitors.
Table of contents
PERIOD DRAMA REVIEW SNIPPETS
Astronaut Wives Club
Review by Rissi:
If you like 60s era period dramas (Call the Midwife) or anything heavy on promoting its female leads, adding this to your summer schedule should be a must. It’s based on a popular novel (of the same name) by Lily Koppel, and takes great strides towards the independence of its female protagonists. While I reserve some judgment until I see where these tangled plots may lead, I can honestly say I loved every second of their breezy, fun premise. If my suspicions are correct, there will be some poignant moments of friendship and strength. Among all the ups and downs these seven women are likely to encounter, they’re going to be pioneers in their rights. Add in some colorful, on-point fashion, and you’ve got a brand-new piece of guilty pleasure summer TV.
Christopher Robin
Review by Catherine:
On the whole, you will swim (willingly!) in the nostalgia that is Christopher Robin. Ultimately, you’ll walk out of the theater feeling like you just visited with an old friend. With its message of kindness and faith, Christopher Robin is the perfect, family-friendly summer movie.
Mr. Holmes
Review by Elizabeth:
Dementia can be a devastating illness, both for the patients and for their families, especially when the sufferer had an active mind in their younger days. So imagine if one of the most active minds in fiction – that of Mr Sherlock Holmes – was subject to dementia. That is the premise of this gentle, artistic period drama, starring Sir Ian McKellen as an aged Sherlock Holmes, living in retirement at the seaside in 1947 with his housekeeper and her young son, and peacefully keeping bees.
This is a gentle, touching story for the thinking cinema-goer, a touch of relief from high-octane summer blockbusters. Having said that, there are some upsetting scenes. We see evidence of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the bereaved families left behind. And without giving away spoilers, I was in tears near the end of the film, and very worried for the characters. It is a story about love, loss, and family. It also has beautifully recreated period detail of Britain both in the inter-war and post-war years, and of post-war Japan. I highly recommend it.
Oklahoma!
Review by Julia:
Sixty years ago, a film adaptation of one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most treasured stage musicals was released, becoming one of the most classic and beloved movie musicals of all time. Oklahoma! features some of the catchiest tunes the musical duo ever wrote and is probably most famous for introducing Shirley Jones to the public.
While the songs and dance numbers are what make this film memorable and fun to watch, the acting and dialogue is a little corny, particularly Jones’ lines. Still, Shirley Jones does a great job considering this was her first film, and the other actors do a magnificent job at keeping your attention, especially the scenes featuring Aunt Eller, Annie, Will and scene stealer Ali the peddler.
This is a movie musical that will always entertain film lovers for its old fashioned settings to its wonderful music and a story that has something for everyone.
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Review by Elinor:
While it was fun to see the writers pay homage to the original Holmes stories, it does remind you that people love the show precisely because the modernization made it fresh. Especially in terms of the latter half, viewers may be divided on how well the episode works as a whole. Some may have preferred it if it had continued to be a simple ghostly murder mystery. Others may prefer that Moffat and Gatiss take risks and give us something a little more experimental to tide us over until the next season. I am one of the latter, but I can understand why you might disagree. I suggest you give it a try and decide for yourself.
Up In Central Park
Review by Rissi:
In Up in Central Park, Deanna’s next-to-last film (a 23-credit career), she plays the plucky Rosie Dunn, a young Irish immigrant (sans an Irish brogue) moving to America with her uneducated father. Excited about immigrating to the land of the free, upon their arrival, Rosie and her father are swept into the web of William “Boss” Tweed (Vincent Price). The boss is a political giant who is gaming the system, running an incompetent mayoral candidate while actually making all the decisions. Using immigrants’ votes, Mr. Dunn is one of the few who blindly follow the instructions of Tweed’s men, nominating him to be their “yes man” candidate for the superintendent of Central Park.
If you’re a fan of the bygone era of Hollywood or black-and-white musical films, this is worth seeing. The pretty staging (including the romantic image of a couple “falling in love” while riding the carousel, all complete with him in a proper top hat) also adds great appeal and atmospheric quality. Though I failed to mention it earlier, I also liked Rosie’s relationship with her father; the cute way she constantly badgers him to wear his proper dress and his effort to learn to read make their on-screen scenes memorable. When all is said and done, Up in Central Park is like a lovely Sunday afternoon walk, one that one might enjoy visiting in a version of New York’s yesteryear, charming and iconic Central Park.
Viceroy’s House
Review by Rissi:
Director Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham) brings a personal story to the screen with her dramatized historical epic, Viceroy’s House, about India’s transition to independence in the 1940s.
While the movie invites viewer curiosity due to the historical backdrop, it’s the unexpected love story that sweeps you into a portrait of old-fashioned charm. That said, although the end is supremely romantic, it’s also very abrupt. However, we can forgive this small mistake since the end is still good.
Viceroy’s House is an impressive drama, especially for those who enjoy quality films. In all, it’s the perfect choice for any period drama aficionado!
Victor Frankenstein
Review by Clarissa:
The tale of Frankenstein is one that has been told and retold through the years. In Victor Frankenstein, we see the man behind the monster and the madness as told through the eyes of Victor’s friend, Igor (Daniel Radcliffe).
For viewers looking for a true adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this is not the film for you. But if you’re looking for a clever, campy film with the same inventiveness and similar aesthetic as Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films, then Victor Frankenstein will satisfy that need! James McAvoy looks entirely crazy for most of the film, but looks like he’s having a ball doing so. Daniel Radcliffe’s performance as Igor is very empathetic, and he does a good job of balancing melodrama with ironic comedy. Andrew Scott helps to round out the cast, with his inspector portrayed as obsessed with finding Victor and Igor, who are, in turn, obsessed with creating life. A romance does blossom between Igor and Lorelai, and it is a good counterbalance to the intensity of Victor’s chaotic breakthroughs. Their romance is quiet, but Radcliffe and Findlay have good chemistry, and their story helps to strengthen the backbone of a very enjoyable film.
Victoria & Abdul
Review by Jessica:
Victoria & Abdul is a biopic based on the real-life relationship between Queen Victoria in her last years and her Indian Muslim servant Abdul Karim…
Yeah, it’s not historically accurate. But what it is – is a heartwarming film about a lonely, aging woman finding a friend. And these two people enriching one another’s lives through their love and compassion and curiosity – despite their vast differences. It’s feelgood all the way. Plus, it’s cinematographically tip-top. The acting is superlative. Dame Judi Dench does not disappoint. Overall, you’re left with a warm, fuzzy feeling after having seen it. I like warm fuzzies.
The Zookeeper’s Wife
Review by Rissi:
The story follows Antonina Żabiński (Jessica Chastain), a woman living in Warsaw, Poland, on the cusp of World War II in 1939. A mother of one and devoted wife to her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh), Antonina’s family is a happy one. They operate one of Warsaw’s most prestigious zoos and live on the grounds where they house the animals. As the seasons change and they enter the 1940s, an increase in the Nazi presence inspires her husband to suggest she and their son leave. She refuses, and they carry on the daily operation of their lives until tragedy strikes.
If you haven’t seen this, I highly recommend The Zookeeper’s Wife. It’s not an easy film to watch but is worth every tear, milestone and moment. It’s a breathtaking journey of the risk and fights one family takes to save the lives of the innocent.