If you fancy a night in watching a DVD, then take a look at the selection available at Island Libraries. At just £1 per night, they’re a great bargain. Ed
Originally released cinematically in 1971 and set from 1944 to 1949 respectively, Ventnor Library offers an opportunity to witness ’10 Rillington Place’, a film so authentically dark and foreboding that if it had not been based on a true story, its genre would be distinctly horror instead of drama.
Although this is a film based on the dark subject matter derived by Ludovic Kennedy in his novel of the same title, it is not only macabre in its setting, but also expertly acted throughout in a manner that elevates the work within.
With a dedicated and unusually small cast, Richard Fleischer has directed ’10 Rillington Place’ with a noticeable air of sadness and the air of doom that is expertly acted throughout does generate sympathy with the victims as well as with the instigator John Reginald Christie and also the characters of Timothy Evans and his wife Beryl.
Insight into Cristie’s mind
Both Richard Attenborough and John Hurt act so determinedly in this film to not only be believable, but along with Judy Geeson create a rather unique work that also educates on the why and how of Christie’s obsession and mad determination to destroy the lives of so many people.
The film ’10 Rillington Place’ could be viewed as merely yet another Christmas edition of ‘Eastenders’ comparatively, with far superior acting. However, it is a study not only on truth and naivety, but also holds a strong argument towards keeping capital punishment secure in its box.
It could be argued that Christie’s actions were instigated by the knowledge that he knew he would eventually be hung, but the case of diverted blame to Timothy Evans has to be one of the reasons to remember ’10 Rillington Place’ as being a well made and truthful piece of cinema.
