Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Toby Stephens, Samuel West, John Baddeley, Janie Dee, John Standing, Julian Sands, Jared Harris, Patricia Hodge, Katherine Kingsley, Nigel Anthony, Simon de Deney, Jon Glover, Ian Ogilvy, Matthew Wolf, Darren Richardson, Kenneth Danziger, Martin Jarvis.

There are many reasons for which a story needs to be altered dramatically to make it stand up the cinematic scrutiny in the modern age, and whilst the original tale might be in itself one of beauty, of fascinating intrigue, its very premise in the age of the blockbuster and the need for revenue return would not see it become an instant best seller, or indeed a memorable film in which, in the case of the James Bond franchise, to captivate an audience so they will keep coming back for more.