Fame Is the Spur

A politician from an impoverished background's life is examined, showing the battle fought and compromises made on the way.

This film is very loosely based on the life of Ramsay MacDonald, but there are significant differences too. It examines the conflict between idealism, principles etc and political pragmatism when the nation is in a state of crisis.

When this film was made Britain had just elected its first post-war labour government, arguably the most radical of the twentieth century. Politicians and citizens alike had largely put their differences aside during the war years and the nation as a whole was straining at the leash for change to occur. This film would have struck a chord with anyone who had any interest whatsoever in politics or the future of the nation. The plot of the film follows just one strand with little in the way of plot or character development outside of that. Michael Redgrave would have been about 38 years old when the film was made; nonetheless he manages to play a range of ages/stages from a young political firebrand to an elderly member of the establishment. It is in this respect one of his finest roles.

Today it is difficult to fully appreciate its political relevance so this film is probably best appreciated as something of a period piece, one for fans of Michael Redgrave certainly.

Seven out of ten from me.