Peter Madak’s film Let Him Essay Example
Peter Madak’s film Let Him Essay Example

Peter Madak’s film Let Him Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (789 words)
  • Published: December 17, 2017
  • Type: Analysis
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During the 1950s in Britain, society was poor with a high crime rate due to the aftermath of war. There were widespread issues caused by the availability of guns, which were easily accessed by children.

During the post-war period, obtaining luxury items such as perfume, alcohol, cigarettes, or clothing was difficult. These products were sold at markets due to their scarcity. Some gangs aspired to imitate the gangsters portrayed in movies they had watched and obtained firearms to appear like them, possibly even using them. There were numerous films produced, such as Dance with a Stranger (Ruth Ellis), 10 Rillington Place (Christie Murders), which reflected the living conditions and point of view of those who lived in this era. One of the well-known cases was the Christopher Craig and Derek Bentley case, in which Derek Bentley was wrongly executed fo

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r murder after uttering the words 'Let him have it.'

In the 1950s, the case of Derek Bentley and Christopher Craig sparked outrage among locals and the press. Bentley was being punished for Craig's actions, despite Craig being too young to hang. Craig was sentenced to prison for killing a police officer, and other officers wanted justice for their fallen colleague. As a result, Bentley was punished, despite not being directly involved in the crime. Peter Medak's film, 'Let Him have It,' features Christopher Eccleston as the 19-year-old Bentley, with Tom Courtenay and Eileen Atkins portraying Bentley's parents. The film portrays a typical gangster setting with Craig and his gang acting like gangsters, leading up to a dramatic reenactment of the night that PC Miles was shot on the rooftop.

Upon watching the film, my initial impression was that

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the director effectively constructed a well-crafted story with strong character development. Despite the incorporation of factual events, there were elements of exaggeration evident throughout. Nonetheless, the film was compelling, thanks in part to impressive special effects that enhance its overall appeal. Notably, the two main characters featured in the film are presented in contrasting ways. Derek exhibits a more relaxed disposition and tends to follow the crowd, while Christopher Craig assumes a leadership role and exerts control over his comrades. In a pivotal scene where the gang decides to rob a factory, Christopher convinces Derek to go along with the plan, even as the other members remain hesitant. Christopher takes charge and tells them to leave if they are unwilling to join in.

In my opinion, Christopher Craig's character lacks sympathy because he is manipulative and childish. On the other hand, Derek is a kind-hearted character who displays weaknesses and vulnerability. This is evident in scenes where Christopher Craig persuades him to carry out a robbery after they climbed onto a roof. The film initially focuses on Derek's character, portraying him as mentally unstable when he refuses to leave his room and is seen smoking. Christopher's character is introduced to contrast with Derek, and the film highlights his troubled background. Overall, their relationship is shown as negative and one-sided.

In addition to exploring the court case, the film depicts the country's support while also showing Derek's family in turmoil. As the hanging approached, his family appeared terrified and distressed, continuously checking the time. The scene then shifts to Derek consuming rum to alleviate the pain during the execution, which was completed quickly as his head was

covered with a bag. In conclusion, after watching the film, I believe that Christopher Craig is responsible for the tragedy. He should have been imprisoned until he reached 18 years of age before being hanged, rather than an innocent man being executed for simply uttering the words "let him have it."

After watching the Thames Documentary, my perspective on the film's intentions has shifted. Rather than blaming Christopher Craig for his actions, I now believe the director wanted viewers to sympathize with Derek but also feel sorry for him. Despite previously thinking Derek meant for Craig to shoot the victim, I now see how genuine Craig seems when discussing the situation. He claims to have never heard Derek utter the phrase "let him have it," and states that his actions were entirely his own decision, not influenced by Derek. Overall, I found the film to be very good.

The special effects were impressive, while the director adeptly conveyed the story and brought the characters to life with clear emotions that elicit real empathy. Despite this, some argue that the film may not be an accurate depiction of events- in the Thames documentary, Christopher Craig claims that although he aided in its creation, the final product was quite different from what he envisioned.

His desire was to prevent the release of the document because it was not entirely factual.

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