Fairy Tale - A True Story

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As a Peter O'Toole fan I ran across this film and held it in my basket for close to a year, until I finally purchased it--and I am very pleased with my choice. My decision was based primarily on the Wikipedia introduction:
"Fairy Tale: A True Story" is a 1997 film from Paramount Pictures, very loosely based on the legend of the Cottingley Fairies [See Wikipedia for the "real" story]. It was directed by Charles Sturridge and starred Peter O'Toole and Harvey Keitel, with Florence Hoath and Elizabeth Earl as the girls, Elsie and Francis, Phoebe Nicholls and Paul McGann as the parents, Polly and Arthur Wright, and a brief cameo at the end of the film by Mel Gibson. Much of it was shot on location in the Cottingley area. The cinematography is by Michael Coulter the art direction is by Sam Riley."
I am always interested in movies based on "real" stories, and having O'Toole, Keitel, and Gibson in it was a clincher for me to go ahead and buy the movie (it is not available for rent in Helena; and on-line rentals get damaged by the USPS).

While my children are grown and I had to watch the film by myself, I was fully engaged in the film the entire time. My only complaint--as I have with so many movies--is that the sound track is too loud for me to distinctly hear the voices; especially with the "English" accents. While O'Toole's performance, as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was his up to his usual excellence, at times he seemed like he was not always "into" the role--almost distant. On the other hand, Harvey Keitel, as the audacious Harry Houdini, was an absolute joy to watch--he was no "heavy" in this film. The special effects were nicely integrated, and added to the story of Elsie Wrigth (Florence Hoath) and her cousin Frances Griffiths (Elizabeth Earl), whose faith in "guardian angels," "fairies," and such "children's" fancies restores hope to Frances' grieving parents over the death of her brother, to a war torn England, and to the young Elsie that her father will return. The real surprise performance was the brief cameo at the end of the film by Mel Gibson, as Elsie's returning father. Gibson is spectacular at "bring home" or delivering the perfect tone to such roles. It was like: "Can this get any better?"

Update--1 July 2008: If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.

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