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Longford
Poster for United States release
Approx. run time	88 minutes
Genre	Drama
Written by	Peter Morgan
Directed by	Tom Hooper
Produced by	Helen Flint
Starring	Jim Broadbent Samantha Morton Lindsay Duncan Andy Serkis
Music by	Rob Lane
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Original channel	Channel 4
Release date	26 October 2006 (UK) 17 February 2007 (US)

Longford is a 2006 drama television film directed by Tom Hooper and written by Peter Morgan. The film centres on Labour Party peer Lord Longford and his campaign for the parole of Moors Murderer Myra Hindley. It was produced by Granada Productions for Channel 4, in association with HBO, and stars Jim Broadbent and actress Samantha Morton. The film was first broadcast on Channel 4 on 26 October 2006 and was the Official Selection for Best Dramatic Picture at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Broadbent won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor for his part.

Plot summary

The film begins at the House of Lords, with Lord Longford, a regular prison visitor, presiding over a reception for a number of ex-convicts whom he had visited and corresponded with when they were incarcerated. Among them is one who has become an acclaimed painter, with work exhibited at the Royal Academy.

It transpires that Longford often receives letters from convicted criminals asking for help. Soon afterwards, he receives a letter from one of the most notorious criminals in Britain, the so-called Moors Murderer Myra Hindley. When he visits her, she asks for books but also for him to arrange for her to meet her boyfriend and accomplice in murder, Ian Brady. Longford is shocked and tells her that it would be in her own best interests to have no contact with Brady; while the trial judge had said that Brady should spend the rest of his life in prison, Hindley would be eligible for parole after a number of years. Hindley seems equally shocked at the idea that she would ever be allowed parole. Thus begins Longford's campaign for Hindley's release.

The question remains of whether she is indeed reformed and sincere -- for example, in her decision to convert to Longford's own Roman Catholic faith -- or whether she is merely manipulating the gullible politician. Brady himself tells Longford that she is manipulative and that he should turn his back on her. Longford, driven by his deep religious belief that all people are ultimately good, decides to continue on his course, despite heavy public, political, and family criticism and even though it turns out that Hindley has not been honest with him.

Cast

• Jim Broadbent as Lord Longford
• Samantha Morton as Myra Hindley
• Lindsay Duncan as Lady Elizabeth Longford
• Tam Dean Burn as Roy
• Robert Pugh as Harold Wilson
• Kate Miles as Rachel Pakenham
• Lee Boardman as Talk Show Host
• Andy Serkis as Ian Brady
• Roy Barber as Father Kahle
• Alex Blake as Paddy Pakenham

Reception

Awards and nominations

Longford received the Official Selection for Best Dramatic Picture at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The film won for Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the 2007 Australian Independent Awards. It also won Best Picture and was nominated for Best Director at Home Theatre Award.

2007 59th Primetime Emmy Awards

• Nominated - Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie - Jim Broadbent
• Nominated - Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie - Samantha Morton

2007 2007 Sundance Film Festival

• Official Selection - Best Dramatic Picture

2007 Australian Independent Awards

• Won - Best Actress — Samantha Morton
• Won - Best Actor — Jim Broadbent
• Won - Best Supporting Actress — Lindsay Duncan

2007 Home Theatre Award

• Win - Best Drama Movie
• Nominated - Best Director — Tom Hooper

2007 BAFTA Award

• Won - Best Actor — Jim Broadbent

2008 65th Golden Globe Awards

• Won - Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Won - Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television - Jim Broadbent
• Won - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television - Samantha Morton
• Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television - Andy Serkis

External links

• Longford at HBO
• Longford at the Internet Movie Database
• Longford at Allmovie
• Longford at Rotten Tomatoes
• Longford at Allmovie
• New York Daily News Review