Let Him Have It (DVD)

Director: Peter Medak. Writers: Neil Purvis and Robert Wade. Producers: Jane Frazer, Luc Roeg, Robert Warr and Jeremy Thomas Stars: Christopher Eccleston, Paul Reynolds, Tom Courtenay and Eileen Atkins. Released in 1991 this near two hour film, based on the true events in Croydon on November 1952 which changed a families life forever as one man is sentenced to death for his part in the shooting of a police officer... only for a total miscarriage of justice to be uncovered. ** BRIEF PLOT ** Derek Bently, (played by Christopher Eccleston) is a mentally challenged young man, coming from a very nice family, but he ...  Read the complete review

'Let Him Have It', a 1991 British Film based on the true story of the case against Derek Bentley, who was hung for murder under controversial circumstances. A mentally unstable young man with epilepsy called Derek Bentley faces the gallows for a crime he did not commit, while the accomplice, Christopher Craig, who did fire the fatal shot, only serves time at Her Majesties Pleasure. The story of Derek Bentley's fight for justice is just one example of many other victims at that time that faced the death penalty despite their innocence. The family contributed towards the making of the film, so we can trust that the facts are accurate, and that the emotion expressed ...  Read the complete review

WARNING: This review contains spoilers - if you don't already know the real story and want to see the film without knowing what happens, don't read any further. Introduction I imagine it will only be the very young who will not have heard of the case of Derek Bentley, the 19 year old who was hanged for his involvement in the shooting of a policeman, although he did not pull the trigger and was retarded. His court trial caused public outcry and efforts to reduce his sentence and eventually led to the abolition of the death penalty. Having studied criminology, I have studied a lot of cases of criminal misjustice over the years, and so was pleased to see ...  Read the complete review

Throughout the entire duration of the film, the viewer is left thinking one thing, HOW? How on God's Earth was this atrocious miscarriage of justice ever allowed to happen. It was apalling that Derek Bentley even made it to the Crown Court, but absolutely unbelievable that the sentence was ever actually carried out. So much so, that it's sometimes easy to forget that this film is based a true story. Derek Bentley, a young man with intellectual difficulties in his late teens, gets in with the wrong crowds. Being easily led, he will do anything they do, which ranges from robbery to general badness. However, his close friend Christopher Craig, developes a ...  Read the complete review