The Iron Lady: The Story Of Margaret Thatcher [DVD]

First of all, the run time is not 90 min but only 55. Secondly, the synopsis is wrong in saying that this programme describes the career of MT. It only chronicles her last few days in power, and in a very uninspired and incomplete way too. (Viewers don't get to know anything about how exactly she was succeeded, for example, although the third candidate in the second ballot, Douglas Hurd, is one of the interviewees in this film.) Thirdly, the French writer and director has come up with an inaccurate, superficial script (Longest mandate of a PM? Major had put her in the shade? Westminster = Palace of Westminster? Hardly. And what is it with the scenes from Spitting Image?). Fourthly, the narrator (French, I suppose, like the writer and director etc.; the IMDB doesn't list any details on Michel Papineschi) has a pseudo-American accent and, in this film, is mispronouncing words (iron, Dulwich; Geoffrey Howe becomes Hoe). Fifthly, the producers haven't even managed to adapt the old British TV footage in 4:3 to the rest of the film's 16:9 aspect ratio. All in all, a huge disappointment.

I would agree with the first reviewer. This is no substantial analysis of Margaret Thatcher's life or downfall. How could there be in 55 minutes? It is rather a superficial look at her last couple of days in power with former cabinet ministers reflecting on this time (although the producer has managed to gather together a formidable array of former colleagues to air their views). Neither does it analyse or reflect upon the massive impact of Thatcherism or the affect of her downfall on the Conservative Party.Rather, Mrs Thatcher is depicted as an unliked, passive, almost pathetic figure at the end of her rule, which is clearly not the case to anyone who knows the real story of Margreat Thatcher. The Spitting Image scenes may be useful in depicting common media and cultural portrayals of the events at the time, but add little else. If you've got money to throw away (on a 55 minutes programme, not 90 minutes) do so, but one would be better off obtaining Youngsor Campbell's biographies or the Downing Street Years, only available still on VHS.

The title is misguiding, as this DVD focuses on the end of her premiership.The political commentaries and the views on her action are clearly left wing.However the description of the rebellion against her inside the Conservative party is interesting and well documented.

X ********** DONE MAGGIE GOOD TO SEE THIS IRON LADY AGAIN.

I bought this believeing the title. Don;t, it is a repackaging of an old film covering the fall of Thathcer.

enjoyable historical nostalgia that focuses on the final days and the inevitable downfall of the Iron lady!

Very good DVD. Very informative on the last few days of Margaret Thatcher in office. Very interesting look inside her life and her downfall from grace pushed out by her own party. Learned a lot from this DVD. Wasn't that interested before in British politics before as it was my husband's choice but found it very good. I am now interested in finding out more about Margaret Thatcher and her history as this DVD only covers the end of her reign and not what she did while in office during her time.

This is a completely biased and totally untrue account of Margaret Thatcher's last days as Prime Minister.My DVD went in to the bin where all copies of this fictional account should go.Margaret Thatcher faced her last days in power as she had the rest of her premiership - with total professionalism and unwavering courage.Her final speech in the House Of Commons made it very clear what a terrible mistake those who caused her downfall had made.Just a few years later the Conservative Party paid the penalty for this treachery - out of power and in the wilderness for many years.