Travels With My Aunt

I gave it 2 stars just because Maggie Smith is in it.It is unwatchable on a TV. Modern TV. It is so grainy and the texture is rough. It looks like an old VHS tape that you got a copy of a copy of a copy from a copy.I feel sorry for the actors who have this version out for release.

As this is my review, this is my bottom line: Book by Graham Green or not, all of this my aunt is a scandal and that’s why I , and you love her was much better written, and directed in the better movie Auntie Mame.Travels with My Aunt comes down to a one woman show. Fortunately, the one woman is Dame Maggie Smith. When she is at her best, the movie is a showpiece for her. These moments may be enough for Dame Maggie Smith Fans.She flounces into this move as an aging member of demimonde named Augusta Bertram. She is in need of her just re-discovered nephew, middle level bank employee and basic British nebbish. He is under-played by someone or other. It hardly matters because the rest of the cast exist for no purpose beyond being living stage props. Aunt Augusta is in a flutter because the only man she had ever loved is being held for ransom and she is the only person likely to lift a finger to help.At least one finger has already been lifted, apparently from the kidnapped, back from the old days, lover. Aunt and nephew begin a transit across Europe on the Orient Express in various efforts to raise the required money. There is an abortive romance that might have been played for comedy, sex or something as Auntie Augusta leaves what’s his name, the nephew played by Alec McCowen in the hands/arms of an American hippie girl Tooley, played by Cindy Williams. Her work like the work of sometimes present, loyal companion Woodsworth, played by Lou Gossett Jr. could have made this into a much better movie, but there is only time for Dame Smith.End to end there are lots of suggestion of sex, always done demurely and offstage. Augusta was in a version of ‘show business’ and continues to rely on past acquaintances to raise money. You have just been rollicked.

Heard about the book from a friend. Haven't finished it, but it's enjoyable.

I was apprehensive when there was mention of DVD-R transfer of this title and being dubbed to order, but I decided to take the risk as its one of my all time favourite films. There was NO need for trepidation, this is a wonderful, vibrant transfer, in 16:9, not some crappy pan and scan 4:3 effort from a dodgy VHS. Very well packaged as well. The colours jump from the screen, the sound is pretty much stock standard for the day. Maggie Smith is over-the-top hilarious, Alec McCowen is wonderful, its silly, sad, laugh out loud and heart wrenchingly poignant, all at the same time. A real classic, and a must for any fans of classic cinema. Directed by the great women's director George Cukor....what more would you expect! Four star rather than 5 as there are some (very) minor black wea and tear marks on the print used for the transfer, but they are almost unnoticeable, and well and truly overcome by the great content. Buy without hesitation if its one of your favourites too.Its fascinating to look at the output of Graeme Greene, and compare the film versions of his books: THE QUIET AMERICAN, THE END OF THE AFFAIR, BRIGHTON ROCK, THE FALLEN IDOL, THE THIRD MAN.....just so prolific.

If you liked Auntie Mame you'll like this. Identical plot, slight twist. Same farce. Whether Graham Greene ripped off Patrick Dennis or vice versa (Dennis published his in 1958 so think Greene may have been the copy cat) Enjoyable.

Travels with My Aunt (1972) is a U.S. drama film directed by George Cukor. The story was written by Jay Presson Allen & Hugh Wheeler, loosely based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Graham Greene. The film stars Maggie Smith & Alec McCowen. Here are the pros & cons of this film as I see it, I hope this helps you.Pro:1. Descent acting by Alec McCowenCons:1. Very poorly directed & edited2. Poorly written3. Although loosely based on the novel of Graham Greene, it is so poorly modified that the plot is not even the same4. Not one of Maggie Smith's better films

no issues

I haven't seen this film in decades, and I got it manufactured on demand here at Amazon. The quality ot the transfer for this 1972 film is astoundingly excellent; though a lot of the credit would have to go to the original cinematographer of the film, Douglas Slocombe who lensed it (and got an Oscar nomination for it.) The film looks superb in it's widescreen format. A lot of talent is behind this film starting with George Cukor's sure handed Direction. Anthony Powell's Oscar winning costumes just amaze you throughout. But, it is Maggie Smith who's the star here and she carries the entire film, effortlessly. She's a woman you'd love to travel on The Orient Express to Istanbul with as Alec McCowen does here with her. It's a genuinely FUN film and you won't be disappointed with this from Amazon. You won't see it on Netflix or in the stores as of this writing on New Years Eve, Dec. 31,2011

Being a Maggie Smith fan I was disappointed by this movie, a bit too silly, but well worth buying the DVD for old times sake.

The story about the excentric, ageing aunt, who is partly streetwise, but vulnerable and with one blind spot: her great love Mr. Visconti - is amusing, but sad.The principal characters suit one another by contrast: conventional "nephew" (Henry) , and rather confusing companion/ lover/magician/business associate ( Wordsworth) with many functions .Maggie Smiths acting is very good, but in some episodes perhaps slightly too much on the hysterical side for my taste.I shall not tell you how it ends.Good film, worth seeing.

Great DVD - despite the Spanish cover; it played nicely in English. Another great Maggie Smith movie. Thanks very much.

I saw this movie over 40 yr ago. Had thought about many times over the years, but it never seems to play on TV or revue cinema. So it was a treat seeing it again and being able to share it with my wife. We are fans of Maggie Smith, it is fun discover her career prior to Harry Potter.

I first saw this film when it was released in 1972 and loved it. The role of the aunt was probably intended for Katharine Hepburn, who is thought to have contributed to early versions of the script. Apparently it was given to Maggie Smith because, being younger than Hepburn, it would be easier for her to play the character's schoolgirl self. These flashback scenes don't quite work for me: a child actress and a younger male actor for her suitor would have been better. The plot too is fairly light, but the adventure is on, with Maggie Smith in irrepressibly eccentric form throughout, stunningly attired in Anthony Powell's Academy Award winning costumes.