Review of Cry of the Penguins

Expensive cinematography in the Antarctic and an original orchestral score is wasted in this trainwreck of a film adapted from a novel. John Hurt is a useless young wastrel, an unprepossessing young man who sexually assaults Hayley Mills early in the film before being sent on a mission to the south pole to observe penguins. Tony Britton ("Tinker" from Lovejoy) is a friend as is Jackie Gleason the daughter from "Bless This House". Mr Forbush lives above a bijou restaurant with baked beans in a big glazed pot which appears to be the same building as the home of Tara (Hayley Mills). Most of the cinematography, expensively shot at taxpayers expense, is wasted by Hurt's witless commentary.