Sky West and Crooked (1965)
A young, lonely, emotionally challenged teenage girl finds solace in burying dead animals after the sudden traumatic death of a childhood friend 10 years earlier.
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A brilliant film that helped define a genre
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
A rather improbable stoyline, but the movie is well worth wacthing for Hayley Mills alone ! She is so luscious-looking amd proves herself to be a very fine actress. Ian McShane is an odd choice for her love interest, doesn't come across as anything other than a peeping, dangerous pervert, and not appropriate for Hayley's character who is extremely vulnerable and child-like. He looks coarse and crude, to be blunt, as well as at least 15 years her senior. The cinematogrpahy is excellent, direction expert, and lesser cast members play their parts well, especially the children. I recommend this film highly... if only for Hayley Mills!
I found this movie to be listed recently under the tile of "The Gypsy Boy". Being a long time Haley Mills fan I was delighted to find a film that I had not seen yet. "Sky West and Crooked" is the original much more aptly named title. Haley Mills in one of her best performances! This movie is one of those wonderful films from Great Britain that features an entire cast of great character actors providing great performances. A young teen from a small village flounders in her maturity. Suffering from acknowledged amnesia, she knows something happened but can not remember what. The adults in the village are exasperated with her immaturity but do nothing to help her. They have long left her to her own devices and the haphazardly and abusive care of her alcoholic mother. Soon she meets a young man from a Gypsy encampment. His friendship helps her focus and claim her right to the love they eventually find.
Enjoyable movie, with a happy ending. Just shows how sometimes society can mean well but can be so wrong at the same time. Obviously when her mother dies Bridie is much better off on the road with robin & the traveling life, than to be sent to an asylum or hospital supposedly for her own good, as the doctor would have it. The vicar realizes this and is happy that she is free & happy in the end. Amazingly this film was in 1966 and today in 2007 the attitude of society has not changed regarding its discriminatory attitude towards traveling people. Have to say i thought that actor playing playing Robin was Oliver Reed, he is the image of him.
This movie is such a gem. I loved it as a young girl, and love it now as an adult. It is a simple, yet moving movie. Hayley mills gives a fine performance....much deeper than most of her other movie performances. The English countryside is quite breathtaking in this movie. I was in love with Ian Mcshane after watching this movie as a child.