The Best of Men (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews

An utterly pleasant family feel good movie

[mike-ryan455 · 7/10 · 11 October 2013]

This was darn good television, and it was family safe. A few cuss words, a couple of sexual innuendos, some drinking and more than a little smoking but it did take place during the lung cancer generation.

The story was about a Jewish refugee doctor in World War II England who truly revolutionized the care of paraplegics and was the founder of the Paralympic Games and was knighted in 1966 by Queen Elizabeth II.

You may think that the story is too nice to be true. I looked Dr. Ludwig Guttmann up on Wikipedia and they repeat the same basic facts.

The production values were adequate and the cast was quite good. The story is also quite inspirational.

The amazing Ludwig Guttman

[peterrichboy · 9/10 · 28 July 2017]

The best of men is a really high quality production from the BBC about the remarkable life of Ludwig Guttman. The man credited with being the founder of the para Olympics, but there was far more to this man. His treatment of spinal chord injuries both during and after WW2 helped save and change people's lives the world over. Not only keeping them alive but giving them a purpose and a will to live whether it be through sport work and the arts. The best of men really only scratches the surface of this mans contribution to medicine and the world in general. Nevertheless this is a terrific piece of work. 9/10

Truly Terrific Movie

[redproton88 · 8/10 · 29 November 2015]

I had this saved in my queue on Netflix for quite some time and finally watched it this evening. I'm very glad I finally got around to checking it out. I was surprised to come to this site and see only two reviews.

Based on a true story, it describes the pioneering work of Dr Ludwig Guttmann with paraplegic patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. It is a made for TV movie but in my opinion it had more of a major motion picture feel.

I'm really not much on writing reviews, but felt compelled to do so for this title. Well written, well shot and an unbelievably inspiring story. I can't recommend it more highly.

Amazing Inspirational movie

[ctyankee1 · 30 March 2014]

This is a movie based on a real life story of a doctor. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann/Eddie Marsan a Jewish doctor that escaped Nazi Germany who gets sent to work with paralyzed soldiers in a hospital. The doctor makes many changes. The soldiers have little to do. They stay in bed all day mostly on their back. They are given pain killers and that is about it. They have lots of bedsores from not being able to move and not being turned by staff.

Dr Guttmann reduces the meds they get to make them more alert and communicate more. He request more nurses and wheelchairs, more medicine and mattresses for stretchers for soldiers to lie on when they are brought in. He orders the staff to turn the men over every two hours because of their bedsores.

The doctor has entertainment brought in for the soldiers, and games to uplift their spirit. He also gives the ward his radio. Dr Guttmann wants to get them more active and starts them exercising their arms while in bed. He has the nurses talking with them because he says they are "hurt in their heart and head". He tells the nurses to get to know the soldiers and what they want. He introduces sports to the surprise of Dr Cowan who just wants to treat the soldiers as crippled patients and nothing more. The soldiers start playing golf while in the wheelchairs, throw Javelins and play basketball. They are treated as a whole person with a future by the doctor and nurses and not just a paralyzed patient with no future. He arranges for them to compete in sports with other wheelchair bound people like in the Olympics.

There is swearing in this movie and some minor crude talk it is usually from injured soldiers in pain or frustration from the doctor. I think the movie has a lot of valuable things to see and learn. You will see things you never thought of before because they happen in a hospital. It will make you laugh and cry. You will see hurt and fears but more than anything you will see the changes in the soldiers because of the love of the doctor and the demands he made on them and his staff to make the future life of the soldiers better for themselves and their loved ones.

It is a very rewarding movie to see.

Phenomenal Eddie Marsan in an inspiring feel-good film

[maccas-56367 · 10/10 · 25 January 2019]

Eddie Marsan would have to be in my top 10 favourite actors. He seems to put out strong performance time after time and surely destined for an Oscar one of these days.

The Best of Men is a TV movie, but has nothing in common with other TV movies - it really feels like an actual film. Albeit one that is perhaps a little too short.

It's one of the most feel-good and inspiring films I've seen in a long time. Highly recommend it!

I wish Dr. Ludwig Guttmann was my doctor.

Amazing movie about an even more amazing man!!!

[mainekim · 10/10 · 13 August 2018]

As I try to find the words to accurately describe this incredible true story, I realized that I was at a loss for words. Dr. Guttmann was ahead of his time and a truely remarkable man. One of the best movie's I have seen.

Moving and funny biopic (from a time when the BBC was still reliable)

[Bobalopacus · 8/10 · 17 February 2023]

Based on a true story, this is a well acted, moving and occasionally funny drama with a great cast. Eddie Marsan rarely disappoints and is typically good here - I can't attest to the quality of his German accent - but he presents Dr Guttmann as a somewhat obsessive and eccentric but highly dedicated champion of individualised medicine. Rob Brydon is good too as the acerbic Welshman who hides his fear in humour. George Mackay is perfectly cast as the young soldier on an emotional journey, struggling to cope with his new disabilities.

What stands out most, for me, is the realistic interaction of the men and women on the ward. There is plenty of banter and innuendo and the sexual politics seem relatively realistic for the time period.

I note that this was made by the BBC in 2012. My suspicions are that if this was made today the Diversity police would render it farcically ahistorical in order to be 'sensitive' - this would not only dishonour those portrayed, but given that the message of the story is that compassion sometimes involves tough decisions and not treating people like victims, such contemporary representation would make the story pointless.

Excellent story!!

[klmreview · 10/10 · 25 April 2020]

Excellent story!! What a wonderful true story!! I love all the actors/actresses..they made it all believable!!

Best in Men

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 7 April 2021]

The will to survive is one thing - the will to keep going on, to really make the best of ones situation a completely different one. One can "live", but actually not really be "alive" for many reasons. And I don't even mean depression and other stuff like that.

This is an encouraging story about people who lost quite a lot (literally) during war time ... but were encouraged by a (jewish) doctor to bring new meaning to their lifes and give them new goals to achieve. Something to look forward to ... so quite inspiring story, with some things that may offend people, but considering the mind set the individuals were under ... and the stress and all that ... you should be able to understand and feel for them.

Inspirational Rare Find

[cdmllm · 9/10 · 17 October 2020]

This movie was the telling of a story of a man dedicated to repairing broken bodies, broken mental/emotional minds and broken spirits. It is a movie that shows what offering hope can do to help heal the ravishes of devastation. It's hard to find a movie today that provides inspiration. Story tellers and movie makers today like the shock and awe effect, believing they have created "art" when in reality it's just another pathetic formula story. So my hat is off to the story tellers and actors of this movie. You made me feel good and to realize there are good people out there!

Outstanding! Must see!!

[redheadediowagirl · 10/10 · 27 December 2020]

Excellent acting, true and extremely interesting storyline. Glad this story was told and pleased that it was done so well. This is a must see.

A gem of a film

[SimoCummings · 9/10 · 12 January 2021]

Beautiful story and wonderful film. I happened to come across it and it was just amazing. Great actors and based on a true story to boot! One to watch!..

A very personal opinion

[jrsaston · 23 February 2021]

My father was lucky enough to learn from the Dr in the 70s, and went on to be chairman of the International Year of Disabled People, for which he was Knighted. He knew just how good a man Ludwig was. My Daughter was born in 1995 and has all of my love and Down syndrome. I found the mixture of Humour, Tragedy and Frustration illustrated in this film just right. Will watch it many times, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to see what it really means to "think outside the box".

Brilliant film of a great man

[charmedwitch978 · 9/10 · 16 November 2018]

Great film that catches your interest right at the beginning Dr Guttberg is funny and entertaining who will not give up on his patients treats them as humans and not as useless fodder a truly great English Film

How is this so unknown?!

[LNABRIE · 10/10 · 18 November 2023]

I was surprised when this came up as having been released over a decade ago and I'd not heard of it, let alone seen it; then I came here and saw there were only 14 reviews?!

I threw it on as something to watch and likely fall asleep to, but once the first 10 minutes had warmed up I was invested.

This is a cracking film; somehow giving classic wartime stoicism whilst also being vulnerable and full of feeling.

I won't give any spoilers, so will just say that an absolute smasher of a cast, a beautiful story line, and really great writing made this a true pleasure to watch.

I genuinely can't find a single thing to pick at with this film; so glad I gave it the time.