The Good Soldier Movie Review

Since this is the only filmed version of Ford Madox Ford's classic novel, it deserves a video release. Originally made for Granada television, it was nominated for an international Emmy and featured on-target performances by the late Jeremy Brett in the title role, the late Susan Fleetwood as his long-suffering wife Leonora Ashburnham, and Robin Ellis and Vickery Turner as dense John and despicable Florence Dowell. The novel was light years ahead of its time in tone and structure, and director Kevin Billington took extraordinary pains to preserve both its dark humor and its bitter irony. Acting throughout is first rate, and Elizabeth Garvie is especially affecting as Nancy Rufford. John Ratzenberger, then a British resident, makes a surprise cameo appearance, not long before his tenure on Cheers. Lushly filmed on location at Bad Nauheim, Marburg, and Wiesbaden, as well as Holker Hall, Cambria; Croxteth Hall, Liverpool; Stanway House, Gloucestershire; and Chetham's Library, Manchester.

1981 113m/C GB Robin Ellis, Vickery Turner, Jeremy Brett, Susan Fleetwood, Elizabeth Garvie, Pauline Moran, John Ratzenberger, Geoffrey Chater, Roger Hammond, John Grillo, Alan Downer, Waldemar Ruhl, Kenneth Midwood, William Merrow; D: Kevin Billington.