malmborgimplano-92-599820 Victoria Wood was reportedly concerned that the success of her stage musical version of her cult sketch series "Acorn Antiques" would ruin her chances of making a career as a serious playwright, and this TV adaptation of the war diaries of Nella Last proves (as did "Dinnerladies," come to think of it) that she really did have the chops for serious drama. Nella the bullied housewife who finds her own spine while participating in the war effort is also a brilliant role for Wood, a natural extension of her appealing, straightforward persona. Though everybody's good in this. I particularly liked Stephanie Cole as Nella's fairy godmother.

l_rawjalaurence Based on the wartime diaries written for Mass-Observation by Nella Last, HOUSEWIFE, 49 tells the story of a Barrow-in-Furness homemaker's experiences of living through World War II. Her life is not especially exciting, but the written account of the struggles with her mental difficulties, an uncaring spouse, and the day-to-day traumas of the Blitz makes for compelling reading.I wish I could say the same about Victoria Wood's play. Gavin Millar's production makes strenuous efforts to appeal to viewers, through a relentless focus on Wood's face as she plays the central character; through a deliberate use of contrast between her stoicism and the indifference of husband Will (David Threlfall); and through the way she battles through all obstacles, both physical as well as mental, to undergo a significant change of character. She begins the film as a rather mousy, insignificant person, dominated by her husband and frightened of her social superiors. As the action progresses, however, she acquires both self-reliance and strength of character, so much so that she forces the bossy Mrs. Waite (Stephanie Cole) to make an apology.And yet there remains a fairly unbelievable air to the whole enterprise; we never get the sense of historical empathy that is essential to the success of most period dramas. This is perhaps due to the stereotyped casting; the deliberate contrasting of Nella's down-to-earth manner with the over-the-top snobbery of Mrs. Lord (Marcia Warren in one of her familiar snooty roles). As Mrs. Lynch, Cole merely reprises the bossy woman role most obvious in her long- running sitcom WAITING FOR GOD. There is also the problem of the over-emphatic dramaturgy, most obvious when Nella's son Cliff (Christopher Harper) reveals his true sexuality to his mother, who still fails to understand. Whether this is a willful decision or not is left uncertain; but in dramatic terms the scene is so obviously sign-posted that we wonder why she should be so imperceptive. On another occasion Nella has an argument with her husband about the fact that no one actually talks to her; the camera cuts to a shot of his face, then back to Nella, and then the husband stumps upstairs. If we did not understand previously why Nella chose to write her diary, we certainly do so now.There is also a slight problem of tone: Wood insists on including scenes of little dramatic value, that enable her to incorporate some of her characteristic one-liners. In Mass-Observation's London offices Godfrey (Hugh Sachs) jokes about a bag of dough-nuts with Jill (Daisy Haggard). This technique works well in some of Wood's comic plays, but seems a little incongruous here.Granada Television's production is high on production values, with the usual precise emphasis on period detail (their recreation of a bomb-site immediately after an air-raid is especially good, even down to the little boy wondering whether or not to rummage in the ruins of his family home). Perhaps the historic cars are just a little too shiny, but nonetheless they look cheap and functional, a characteristic of British social life at that time.HOUSEWIFE, 49 is certainly watchable, but we are left with the feeling that it could have been scripted slightly better.

Steve Skafte "Housewife, 49" is a remarkable film in how it captures a picture of life that commonly goes unseen. Victoria Wood, the star of the film, is quite good. She offers a performance that's very easy to get into, full of emotional complexity and human depth. I was quite impressed by David Threlfall, who plays Wood's husband here. He convincingly captures a certain generation and personality of man that you don't often see on film. Not abusive or offensive, but emotionally distance and overly self-controlled. Stephanie Cole is good, but she isn't given much to work with here. The script tends to wander a bit too much at times. The entire subplot revolving around people reading the letters seems tacked-on and ultimately unnecessary.I'm glad I saw this. It offers up a close human insight. The TV movie format holds things down a bit, but the best is made of it. "Housewife, 49" is a good film.

pawebster Victoria Wood is wonderful. For this she provides a top script and performance in the lead role. The rest of the cast are all very good, too. I loved the scene in the railway carriage with the doctor, excellently played by Jason Watkins. It all seemed very realistic. It was involving and moving. And, unlike some wartime pieces (e.g. Foyle's War), the dialogue was convincingly of its period.Slight niggles: It is hard to believe that the son, Cliff, is a PT instructor. He does not look the part at all. The WVS ladies were perhaps a bit too caricatured. Also, there seemed to be no problems with rationing. People scoffed fruitcake and even doughnuts -- which I should think would wipe out the fat and sugar ration in one fell swoop -- as if this were quite normal. I also wish the film had not started with the words "inspired by" the diary of Nella Last. This is even less than "based on" and makes it sound as if a lot of the story we saw might have been fictitious.