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As Good As It Gets

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

"The Malta Story" isn't a particularly memorable War film. It is rather routine and ordinary and Alec Guinness isn't exactly having to stretch his acting muscles that much. That isn't meant as a criticism necessarily. I'm guessing the actor felt that "The Malta Story" was a bit less demanding after reading his copy of the script. Therefore, his approach to the film was to make enough effort with his performance to be professional. If that were the case, his approach was the correct one. The story concerns the R.A.F being stationed in Malta (and filmed there) and Alec Guinness playing just one of many pilots who have been posted. The narrative doesn't seem to rise above the ordinary, just as with the dialogue. It is the kind of dialogue that has been repeated many a time in War films but with more imagination. Jack Hawkins does his usual as the posh, stiff upper lip character whilst cast as a commanding officer. He was never one of the most exciting actors in the world but is ok here. The two leading ladies have little to do or to offer. The romantic subplot is utterly pointless and adds nothing to this film. Anthony Steel - totally forgotten these days - is merely a "pretty boy" name with no acting ability whatever. He soon faded from public memory by the early 1960s and good riddance! The location photography may benefit "The Malta Story" from a technical standpoint but it can't disguise the boring script and pace. Luckily, such a distinguished actor like Alec Guinness will be long remembered for his defining films. There is no way that the above War film can be mentioned in the same breath as "Ice Cold in Alex," "Dunkirk" or "I Was Monty's Double."

I never thought I'd see Alec Guinness and cringe! His romantic scenes are unintentionally laugh out loud funny. With his spindly arms and legs sticking out of his tropical khakis, all he can talk to his gorgeous young beloved about is how she's to serve tea when he brings her off Malta to Cambridge after the war, how marvelous the ancient ruins are and how unimportant it would be if they all died. Alone in a dark romantic passage saying goodbye, possibly going off to his death: "Shan't be able to see you for awhile", "Take care, darling", "Bye, then", and he KISSES HER HAND before loping off! Catch me before I swoon! When it comes to the military scenes, the hotter it gets the more boring the Brits act, either ironic or depressed. Old war buddies saying goodbye to each other, possibly forever, act like they are catching a train for the weekend. My goodness, Reginald, what a bunch of lip upper stiffs! From Here To Eternity, this ain't. What a relief to have Jack Hawkins on hand. He's the only full blooded human in the thing. Even the great Flora Robson is hobbled by the stiffness of the style. It will make you appreciate what a genius David Lean was to take Hawkins and Guinness and use them in the cause of brilliant filmmaking.

Bought this one today as the price was right and I was pleasantly surprised.As has been stated by many of the other reviews of this film, no great performances in this one. None of the cast stand out and the characters are not particularly memorable.The real star of this movie is the story, one which certainly deserved to be told. I found it enthralling and certainly very tense in parts, a good Sunday matinée type film which is why I give it a 7/10.The use of stock footage was fine given the age of the film and for me it didn't detract from the action. I did see the same plane perform the same turn a couple of times though.Great to see George Cowley..oops I mean Gordon Jackson, so recognisable, in what must have been one of his earlier roles.Not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think this would disappoint anyone who isn't expecting bullet time

Someone else unfortunately used the title, location, location, location, in his film review. It's not only the plot of the movie, it's the history of Malta.Malta located south of Sicily and right in the middle of that Mediterranean bottleneck between Sicily and Tunisia has had the misfortune by geography to be smack in the middle of supply and trade routes since ancient times. That made it desirable real estate. Malta's been occupied by every conqueror operating in that area, most recently the British during World War II.And at that time that island with its air and naval base was doing a lot of damage to Erwin Rommel's supply route in North Africa. With unbelievable courage the British garrison held on for over two years and was never really out of harm's way until the Allies took Sicily.Lots of black and white combat footage used and together with the performances of the male leads, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, and Anthony Steel the film has a nice documentary feel. Guinness who plays so many quirky type characters on the screen is for once a very straightforward lead as Peter Ross aerial reconnaissance photographer. He has a romance going with one of the locals and her mother is played by Flora Robson.There is an interesting subplot there in which Flora Robson's son is taken prisoner as a spy for the Italians and sentenced to be executed as a spy. He tells his British captors that he is in fact a Maltese patriot and that they are the occupiers and it's their occupation that is bringing death and destruction to his people. Not that he wasn't right. The Maltese finally do have their independence now.A film that is a great tribute to the heroism of the British forces on the island of Malta.