Review of Hanover Street (1979) by Jesper J — 22 Dec 2009

This movie could have been a classic if only it didn't take itself too seriously. It starts off with blue skies and billowing clouds, a sweeping, romantic score (which turns out to be the most annoying thing about the picture) and a written forward which shamelessly begins "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.".

If you can get past that, this is actually a pretty decent picture as far as tragic romances go. My idea of romantic movies leans more toward "The Crow" (I told my Baby if she were ever raped and killed, I would come back to life and take bloody revenge...sometimes I just don't think she gets me).

Harrison Ford plays David Halloran, a WWII pilot stationed in London. He meets and falls instantly in love (a little too instantly, maybe) with a British army nurse played by Lesley-Anne Warren. He knows she's married but the two begin an intense affair.

The more interesting part of the story, for me revolves around how their relationship affects Ford's duties as a bomber pilot. When we first see him in action, he is openly mocking his superiors and flying fearlessly into battle, dropping bombs on the Germans as artillary shells explode all around him. The deeper in love he falls with Warren, however, the more concerned he is about losing his life. He wants to live to be with her. Eventually his nerves fail him and he bails on a mission.

Things take a turn for the worse when Warren's husband, Christopher Plummer, takes an espionage mission that will send him deep into Nazi territory. Plummer is brave and smart, but he is also bland compaired to Ford's character. Still, he loves his wife and she knows it. As fate would have it, Ford is picked to fly him to his destination. When their plane is shot down and they are presumed dead, She feels as if she is being punished for her infidelities.

From here, the story turns into a fairly straitforward WWII movie. Ford decides to help Plummer complete his mission when it becomes evident that Plummer is not as prepared as he believed. There are some close calls and tense moments as Ford resolves to get Plummer back to his wife.

I give this movie an 80% because I'm a big Harrison Ford fan, especially his work in the 80s. Also, the espionage plot and the scenes with Ford and his bomber crew are good. And then there is Christopher Plumber, whose character is complex and believable.

Only 4 out of the 7 critics who reviewed it on here gave it a fresh though, so fair warning. Still, if you're a Harrison Ford fan or you like your romances with a touch of gunplay, check this one out.