Overview
A young boy finds adventure amidst the chaos of war-torn London, where every day is a new thrill.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- nostalgic
- witty
- warm
- reflective weekend viewing
- historical film night
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed the film's warmly nostalgic childhood viewpoint, meticulous period recreation, emotional richness, and balance of comedy with wartime danger.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bill experiences bombing raids, upheaval, and the destruction of his school as an adventurous disruption rather than through an adult military perspective.
The semi-autobiographical premise and warmly remembered London childhood turn wartime experience into a vivid memory of family life.
The plot emphasizes the liberating effect of the war on women left behind while Bill's father is away fighting.
Rationing, bomb shelters, suburban London, and family survival provide the film's concrete view of the Blitz.
Films like Hope and Glory, and why
The Railway Children
shared nostalgic childhood perspective, wartime home-front setting, and bittersweet coming-of-age tone
Empire of the Sun
shared child-centered view of wartime upheaval, family resilience, and affectionate period reconstruction
The Tree of Wooden Clogs
shared autobiographical coming-of-age drama, family conflict, and reflective memory of childhood
The Book Thief
shared warm comedy-drama treatment of war, domestic disruption, and the imaginative resilience of children
Movie Details
- Director
- John Boorman
- Release Date
- 1987-09-03
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (225)
Cast
- Sebastian Rice-Edwards
- Geraldine Muir
- Sarah Miles
- David Hayman
- Sammi Davis
- Derrick O'Connor
- Susan Wooldridge
- Jean-Marc Barr
- Ian Bannen
- Annie Leon
Common questions
- What is Hope and Glory about?
- A boy turns the London Blitz into a strange playground as wartime chaos reshapes his family and childhood imagination.
- What is Hope and Glory like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hope and Glory as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Hope and Glory violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Hope and Glory as mild.
- What did critics think of Hope and Glory?
- Critics broadly acclaimed the film's warmly nostalgic childhood viewpoint, meticulous period recreation, emotional richness, and balance of comedy with wartime danger.
- Which films are like Hope and Glory?
- Films with a similar feel include The Railway Children, Empire of the Sun, The Tree of Wooden Clogs, and The Book Thief.
- How long is Hope and Glory?
- Hope and Glory runs 113 minutes.
