The History Boys (DVD) Reviews

Did anyone ever tell you that your schooldays would be the happiest days of your life? Anyone who still continues to subscribe to such nonsense will love this veritable tuck shop full of golden reminiscenses, of sixth form chumminess, matey teachers and lessons that involve no work at all. The premise is of a group of eight students at ...  Read the complete review

Initially I went to see 'The History Boys' as 'homework' for my English A level coursework - I was studying Alan Bennett and preparing for the Oxbridge admissions process which seemed to make it very apt. Perhaps this wasn't the best idea - a film of boys working on essay after essay in preparation was slightly intimidating to say the least! But ...  Read the complete review

This film focuses on eight boys who have done extremely well in their A levels in the early 1980s in Sheffield, and so who thus decide to stay on and do an extra term in the hope of gaining a place at Oxford or Cambridge. It was adapted from an Alan Bennett play, and there are certainly times when you can see that the dialogue to very much more ...  Read the complete review

Directed by Nicholas Hytner Play/Screenplay by Alan Bennett Comedy / Drama Released 13th October, 2006 (UK) MAIN CAST: Samuel Anderson as Crowther James Corden as Timms Stephen Campbell Moore as Irwin Richard Griffiths as Hector Andrew Knott as Lockwood Russell Tovey as Rudge ...  Read the complete review

When I sat down over Christmas 2007 to watch a BBC showing of "The History Boys", I did so with no real expectations. I was aware it was written by Alan Bennett, who was someone I was aware of, but whose work had largely passed me by. I also knew that it had started life as a highly successful play, but that was about the extent of my ...  Read the complete review

The History Boys are a group of grammar school lads set on going to Oxbridge after their A-levels. Set in Sheffield back in 1983, their intellect burns brightly fueled by the unorthodox teaching methods of their general studies tutor, Hector (Richard Griffiths). The headmaster (Clive Merrison) is keen to get as many of the lads through to the best ...  Read the complete review

The chance of a northern comprehensive six former getting into Oxbridge when Alan Bennet wrote his iconic stage play was about 16-1. Today, where one in three kids are going on to higher education, that ratio has actually risen to 20-1. If you're working class and living in a tower block it rises to 100-1. Nothing, it seems, has changed in ...  Read the complete review