Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Kidskycom It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

krocheav This strange British Film-Makers production, has as its weird premise a story based almost unbelievably on fact. Writer Jerrard Tickell based his book on a story told to him by an officer involved in such an actual event. While the Island of this film is fictitious, it is thought the real events took place on the Isl of Sark (Channel Islands) during the German occupation of '40 - '45. Unfortunately for this film, the screen play by Nicholas Phipps (who also has a small acting part) tends to waver between comedy and propaganda. This is a pity, as there are many suspenseful moments throughout this terrific looking film. I suppose with a situation as crazy as this, it could be difficult to fully know just how to treat it, and do it full justice. Both the Director: Ralph Thomas, (Conspiracy of Hearts '60 ~ Clouded Yellow '51 ~ Wild and the Willing '62) and his Director of Photography: Ernest Steward (The Assassin '52, aka: The Venetian Bird) were versatile artists indeed. Both were comfortable working with either solid drama or comedy. And while they are mostly remembered for their various British comedies, these men were certainly well capable of injecting a little more drama into this film, had it been a better script. The cast is varied and interesting; the wonderful and very talented Glynis Johns gives a thoughtful performance, and with her big doe eyes and smooth husky voice, is fully believable as the Island girl being brought back to her homeland on a military mission. David Niven is warm (maybe a tad too warm) as the Major. Barry Jones is suitably serious as the Provost of the Isl. Kenneth More in a rare dramatic role (pity they didn't give him more) fully convinces as the pacifist artist who has turned his back on the war. It's his character that is let down badly by the screen treatment - maybe a slight spoiler here but vital info: In the film, More's character ends up joining the cause and flees to England, but in the book he remains to defend his Island colleagues from serious German retaliation --being a direct result of the part he played in the military operation-- If this film was made during the War years you would say it's home spun propaganda, but this is six years on, in 1951. What were they thinking...? George Coulouris' German officer is treated rather humanely, given he disciplines his men for any mistreatment of the Island inhabitants. Some of the incidents portrayed too lightly, involve the 'cow' of the title, these tend to be given over to stretched situations. The end is simply tacked on as a British moral booster. Could have been very good, as is, it's good to look at, entertaining, and should please as a rainy day time passer that looks back at some resent history. The Masterpiece Collection DVD I looked at, is basic, but offers good quality image and sound for it's modest price.

mark.waltz The Nazi's have taken over the Channel Islands, and they are after the native's prized cow, Venus. The islanders, determined to prevent this, gather together to foil them, and utilize every means necessary to stop them. What this is really telling us is that what may seem silly to us on the surface is really much more important than it seems. Venus, expected to give birth any day, and the islanders utilize British intelligence (lead by David Niven) to get Venus out of the country before she is given into the Nazi's hands. Glynis Johns ("Mary Poppins") plays a native of the Channel Islands, the sister of a controversial artist, who returns to her home not only to rescue Venus but get her brother out of there as well. This light-hearted drama reminds us that what is sometimes taken for granted or seems inconsequential can really make the difference when an innocent land is pummeled into war and taken over by a nasty force such as Nazi Germany. There is a revealing scene about the German Officer who disciplines one of his soldiers for cruelty, slapping him then telling him that he is one of the reasons why the world hates the Germans. They don't sugarcoat this officer; he is still determined to do his job, yet he shows a softness that is sometimes missing from portrayals of a people who were not all stereotypically hard-nosed or evil.

Robert J. Maxwell A 1951 trifle about a team stealing a prize cow from under the noses of the Germans who have occupied one of the Channel Islands.There's no other animal in the world like it, we're told. And, further, it was recently impregnated by a prize bull, now demised. It's a symbol of national pride as much as anything else, the ultimate ungulate.So a team is organized to abduct the cow, named Venus, from its island and bring it back to the green fields of England. It's a diverse group, as these teams always are. Led by Major David Niven, they include wide-eyed Glynis Johns, rescued from a kitchen in Wales because she is a native of Amorel Island, and Noel Purcell, an Irish fisherman who is suddenly taken drunk from time to time, but who is able to navigate among the rocks, channels, and kills of the moral Amorel.There are moments of slight comedy, and some tension builds towards the end when the torpedo boat carrying the team and its prize are pursued by a Nazi E boat, but it's all pretty schematic. Kenneth More is an islander who now pays no attention to politics and glumly devotes himself to his painting. He opposes war and violence, but he's won over.There's nothing much to applaud in the film. We see a lot of rugged islanders talking. We see a civilized German commanding officer who doesn't want to see anyone get hurt. We see the team disguised as simple farmers or fishermen dashing about, sometimes tugging a cow behind them. We see Venus give birth and everyone's face glows with a sort of pleasure that strikes me as a little perverse. What's so hot about a new-born calf? In Samoa, nobody would even be allowed to WATCH the calving because it's considered dirty.At any rate, there's never any real doubt that Venus will be rescued from the Huns. It's not especially funny and it's not very dramatic. What's all the fuss?

errbusa Who in their right minds would mount a commando raid to rescue a cow ?Only the Brits. Venus was in fact a Gurnsey Cow. A champion milk producer.And the envy of Hitler, who wanted to breed her capabilities into the Teutonic herds that he had proclaimed to be the world's best.Thus for reasons of morale the Brits mounted a commando operation to snatch Venus right from under the noses of the German occupiers of her island home. A wonderful movie Starring David Niven and Glynis Johns,recreated this exciting story of the successful operation. I was lucky enough to have seen the movie in a theatre when it first came out,at the tender age of ten .I loved it then and I loved it on late night TV 35 years later. I wish it would play again. I'd make a point of staying up to tape it. A splendid paean of praise for the indomitable Human Spirit. If it comes your way take time to enjoy.