The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain

"The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill..." is an EXCELLENT movie, based on a true story. It was filmed on location in Northern Wales. A nearby village had to be substituted in the film, because Taff's Well - the real name for the fictional "Ffynnon Garw" in the movie - was too built up to resemble a rural Welsh village from 1917. When I found this movie available on Amazon, I ordered two copies of the DVD, after seeing the "The Englishman..." as a TV broadcast in April 2015. I don't know why I had never come across this film before, or heard of it 20 years ago when it had first appeared. Though Roger Ebert really liked this movie, other 1995 reviews are rather tepid. My own opinion is that this quirky, funny production is well done in all respects. The DVD quality is flawless, too. I am happy to have my own copy now, to watch again and again (I got one copy for myself, and one to give as a gift.)

American moviegoers, I am sad to say, have a tendency to think of comedy only in broad terms. If a film isn't filled with bawdy jokes or slapstick humor, then it can't possibly be really funny, right? Wrong. "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain" is a gentle comedy about simple people in a small Welsh village during World War I who take great pride in the mountain in whose valley the town is located. But when two British surveyors come to measure the mountain as a part of the war effort, the townsfolk are dismayed to discover that -- at least by the British standards -- their mountain is only a hill. Of course, the Welsh will do anything to ensure that their mountain is deemed a mountain. Underlying the humor of this film is the poignancy of a community that is trying to hold on to its identity in the face of a war that has devastated the population and has left the community something of a shadow of its former self. They have lost men in war -- some killed, some who come back shell-shocked -- and so they do what they can and what they must in order to hang on to their identity. The scene in which a shell-shocked young man journeys up the mountain during a thunderstorm is particularly moving. Although the Brits can do broad, over-the-top comedy as well as anyone else (Monty Python comes to mind), they also have the knack of doing small, gentle comedies as well as, if not better, than anyone else. And the scenery of Wales is absolutely breathtaking.

Excellent condition and wrapping

Although it’s a pretty long title, when someone asks what my favorite movie is, it’s always “The Englishman That Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain”. It’s endearing, sweet, comical in spots and shows the determination mankind can have. I highly recommend it!

This movie always makes me smile. Even in rough times, I can rely on this great movie to lift up my spirits. A true classic. Cheers!

This is a charming story of two rival community leaders, the preacher & the bartender, who inspire the townspeople to raise a hill into a mountain. There are lots of chuckles as the Welsh make fun of the English and vice versa. There's a bit of sadness too, as the story takes place during the Great War, and we feel the loss of the men who are away to fight as well as those who have returned home shellshocked. The movie is fairly clean, although there is innuendo and occasional mild language.

"Perhaps it would have been different had there been no war. But this was 1917 - and people were exhausted by loss." So the tale of a small Welsh village is told thru the voice of the last living participant to The Day Ffynnon Garw Built A Mountain. A result of the newly invented airplane entering the battlefield, and by order of his Majesty, a nationwide geographical survey is undertaken. Two-man survey teams are sent out across the land to accurately map the significant features - mountains, hills and valleys. One particular team has been tasked with western England. Way off the beaten track, a rural village lay in the shadow of Mount Ffynnon Garw, the so-called First Mountain Of Wales. A quiet little hamlet whose townsfolk are made up of the ubiquitous mix of funny, sympathetic, and quirky peoples. Country folk for whom hard work is the Lord's work. Understandably curious about the official Crown Survey, lively debate surrounds how big their mountain actually is; congregating at the town pub to discuss the matter, laughter and good cheer abound. Supremely confidant "the English" will find nothing untoward and will quickly move on - the news they deliver comes as shock. The surveyors make the terrible pronouncement that their mountain, their singular claim to Welsh pride, the stone embodiment of their combined hearts and souls - is technically a hill. Their calculations are accurate. At 884 feet, short by sixteen feet, their mountain - isn't. And once recorded into the national charts it will be forever known as Ffynnon Garw Hill. One couldn't have done worse to the already decimated people had they dropped a bomb directly into the center of the village. Already emotionally and physically devastated from supporting the war effort and the omnipresent life-devouring coal mine - the people will brook no further wounds. Especially from two Englishmen. Determined to reclaim their 1,000 foot "mountain" status, the residents embark on a massive collective effort to close the 20 foot gap - by building upon Ffynnon Garw's summit with freshly tilled earth, back-breaking sweat, and even tears. Johnny Shellshock, broken survivor of the French trenches, whose battlefield experiences have left him mute, speaks for the first time in over a year to enjoin his fellows to take on the challenge. The quest becomes a race as the townsfolk have to devise various ploys to prevent the cartographers from leaving before they can bridge the shortfall. Suddenly, the team's automobile breaks down; the broken part cannot be secured for several days. The cheapskate pub proprietor suddenly supplies them with an unending stream of alcohol. And even a comely maiden is secured to entice the handsome Mr. Anson; the young veteran who begins to sense, unlike his drunken disinterested partner, the magnitude surrounding their seemingly simple task. A wonderful light comedy with Hugh Grant at his dry best. Kudos to Colm Meaney who, despite a faltering accent, was enjoyable as the pub proprietor and town "father". Movie Notes: - As pointed out at the beginning of the film, given the few family surnames in their village, sharing a name is both commonplace and confusing. To address that situation, one is given a nickname usually associated with one's profession or significant personality trait. So John Evans might be Evans The Butcher or Evans The Clerk, and so on. Also explaining how one resident was given the longest name in Ffnnon Garw history: The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill, But Came Down A Mountain. - I would be remiss and cursed if I did not highlight the *amazing* performance of late UK actor Kenneth Griffith. A potent delivery of character as Ffnnon Garw's guiding pastor, Reverend Jones. Genuinely hilarious as the overseer and protector of the town's collective soul, and the character who first foresees the horror that will befall the village should their mountain be downgraded.

great movie

Je comprends pourquoi le mari d'une de mes contacts a vu ce film au moins 15 fois. Tout un village qui se réunit pour le bien de tous, c'est rafraîchissant.

Unterhaltsamer Film mit englischen Humor. Kurzweilig und lustig lässt sich‘s bei dem Film entspannen. Immer wieder schauen wir uns den Film gerne an.

A really good story. I am so sick and tired of these gratuitously violent, full of evilness character movies, where there is more blood, guts and gore than there is words, where the essential elements are big guns, more big guns, ridiculously unreal bumper-car chases and barely articulate beomoths of muscle pounding around for 90-120 minutes. By contrast....The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain is perfect. It tells a real story, about real characters with their beautiful mix of flaws, desires, needs, and finding courage and community, showing that when people come together, their collective achievement, their stretch to give of themselves restores the soul, spirit, of everyone, and radiates a sense of what is good about humanity. Yes, I know you might, uck, just bring on the exciting, heart-pumping violence. But no, take this move and understand a little more about the inner workings of your fellow human beings, enjoy a heart-felt and really well written story/script and join this Welsh valley community as they restore their pride, their sense of self, and their joy of success.

The DVD was used and in excellent condition. I was very pleased with my purchase and how quickly it was delivered.

L'ordine è arrivato prima del previsto, in un imballaggio molto accurato. Il dvd è intatto e come descritto dal venditore, nuovo in blister, quindi il disc è senza una sola macchia o graffio. Complimenti al venditore!