Review of Sir John Mills` Moving Memories

Introduction

Sir John Mills began shooting 16mm home videos in 1946, and now, over 50 years later, the footage has been re-discovered, and presented to us on good old DVD.

The footage comprises of behind-the-scenes looks at some of his films (although the films may have been shot in monochrome the footage has been shot in colour), home videos featuring his family (such as Mary, Juliet, Hayley and Jonathan), and an interview with the man himself about his career.

It runs for around 55 minutes, and is packed full of anecdotes and information about the man`s life.

Video

It is presented in 4:3 Fullscreen, and there are various prints used in the feature, varying in age. However, all of them are clear and free from dust and grain, with just the odd blemish, which is acceptable considering just how much variation there is. Fortunately, the whole feature is free from compression signs.

The varying film footage is good, and even from the short snippetts you can feel a sense of atmosphere building up which almost defines each film. Apart from that, not much else to say - after all this really is just a long interview with Mills, with clips of his work!

Audio

A DD 2.0 track is on offer, and the main audio stream is crisp and clear, with the dialogue represented well at all times. There is really no need for a 5.1 track here, so stereo is perfectly acceptable.

The interview is interesting, and there isn`t really a dull moment...it is clear that Mills draws attention due to his good vocal skills and screen presence.

Features

Since the nature of the disc is to inform you, the extras are understandably sparse. All we get is a photo gallery (comprising of Mills family snaps and some film stills), a 6-page static biography, and finally a filmography of all of Mills` films (and that`s a hell of a lot!).

The menus are static with music in the background.

Sir John Mills` Moving Memories is presented in a clear Amaray case.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of Sir John, then this will be a worthy addition to your collection. But, the disc isn`t packing much, as the feature clocks in at just under an hour, and has sparse extra features.

But, it is enjoyable even for someone like me who isn`t an avid follower of his work. Worth a purchase if it crops up in a bargain bin somewhere.