Review of Four Minute Mile, The

Introduction

This is a BBC/ ABC(Australia) co-production about the race (if you`ll pardon the expression) to beat the four minute mile. As the blurb says, it was the sporting equivalent of climbing Everest, and in 1954 the barrier was broken by Roger Bannister.

At 152 minutes (originally shown as a mini-series in 1988), it takes some wading through - especially as Bannister`s record-breaking run is reserved for the very end of the picture (what, like you couldn`t guess the ending?)

Video

Shot entirely on location on 16mm film, this mini-series is presented in its original 4:3.

Audio

Sound is in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo.

Features

You`ll be pleased to learn you can`t run this disc without being forced to watch a lecture from the Federation Against Copyright Theft before you can do anything.

There are no subtitles whatsoever. The "About The Film" turns out to be an onscreen text expansion of the jacket blurb. There are text filmographies for the stars and a set of three trailers for other titles on the Odyssey label.

Conclusion

An extremely worthy piece of television, but a crashing bore if you`re not into the whole "Chariots Of Fire" vibe. It`s very well-made but lacks soul when compared with similar (and contemporary) fare such as the tv movie about Crick and Watson`s discovery of DNA "Life Story" (1987).