Let Him Have It
Let Him Have It

Movie spotlight

Let Him Have It

1991
Movie
115 min
English

In 1950s England, slow-witted Derek Bentley falls in with a group of petty criminals led by Chris Craig, a teenager with a fondness for American gangster films. Chris and Derek's friendship leads to their involvement in the true case which would forever shake England's belief in capital punishment.

Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes85%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users88%
Director: Peter MedakGenres: Biography, Crime, Drama

Plot Summary

The film recounts the true story of Derek Bentley, a young man with learning difficulties who was wrongly convicted of murder and executed in 1953. Bentley was arrested for involvement in a botched robbery and shot by police, but his accomplice, the younger and more dangerous Christopher Craig, was the one who fired the fatal shot. Despite Bentley's apparent lack of direct culpability and pleas for clemency, he was hanged.

Critical Reception

Let Him Have It was met with generally positive reviews, with many critics praising its sensitive portrayal of a tragic miscarriage of justice and the performances of its cast, particularly Christopher Eccleston. Some noted the film's deliberate pacing and its powerful emotional impact, solidifying its place as a significant British drama.

What Reviewers Say

  • A powerful and moving depiction of a historical injustice.

  • Christopher Eccleston delivers a breakout performance as the doomed Derek Bentley.

  • The film effectively captures the social and legal climate of post-war Britain.

Google audience: Audiences found the film to be a deeply affecting and thought-provoking drama, with many highlighting the tragic nature of the story and the compelling performances. The portrayal of Derek Bentley's vulnerability and the injustice he faced resonated strongly with viewers.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of Derek Bentley, whose posthumous pardon in 1993, over 40 years after his execution, sparked significant debate about the death penalty and the justice system.

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