Talk about a hard movie to find, this movie on DVD is one of the hardest to track down for purchase. The movie was produced in German and has Dutch subtitles which cannot be removed. I searched the Internet for its English version and found one. The cost was admittedly “not reasonably priced” (the Sellers own words) but has a German and English audio track, as well as two German subtitled tracks.

What’s it All About?

It is a tale of a settlement of self-indulgent British upper-class emigrants in the 1940s. Built on James Fox's novel (same name) and directed by Michael Radford, these small-minded, self-absorbed inhabitants of "Happy Valley" practiced a wicked search for self gratification through spouse swapping, cross-dressing, drugs, sex, alcohol and even a cocktail party in a cemetery. Greta Scacchi is superb as young and stunning albeit selfish and cynical Diana Caldwell Broughton. When Diana’s love interest Josslyn Hay (Earl of Erroll), played by Charles Dance, is found dead by gunshot; Diana’s aging husband, Sir John Delves Broughton (played by Joss Ackland), is immediately suspected. Fortunately for the husband, he is apparently not the only one “not fond” of the Earl. Aristocratic decadence at its finest.

A Cast of Thousands

Okay maybe not thousands, but the supporting cast is without a doubt worth mentioning. Trevor Howard, John Hurt, Geraldine Chaplin and Sarah Miles all provide compelling performances. It is my understanding that never again was Greta Scacchi this seductively resplendent. The scenery and sets are magnificent in and of themselves.

I have heard this movie referred to as “Life Styles of the Rich and Shameless” which I find very amusing albeit fitting. As I mentioned earlier this movie is apparently very hard to find, and even when found is usually littered with subtitles that are stubbornly irremovable. It is nonetheless, a wonderfully executed tale of overindulgence and something I never thought possible_ having just too much money.

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