Day 210 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

You can almost see Phil shaking from the symptoms of movie withdrawal. So today, after meetings in Plymouth, we set out to a local cinema to catch the mid-afternoon showing of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

The cinema in which we watched the movie deserves a bit of story telling. It's now part of the Reel Cinema chain, but had been known as the ABC.  In 1937, Plymouth's old Theatre Royal was razed and the Associated British Cinema's (ABC's) cinema was built on the spot. It was one of only a few buildings that survived the Blitz on the city. In 1963, the Beatles played here.

What is most fascinating is that it's considered one of the most haunted places in the city. It seems that there are three old burial grounds in this area used to bury prisoners from the wars with Napolean. We didn't notice anything too unusual...although I did note that when I went to have some of the popcorn, it had completely disappeared!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is based on the the book of the same name. It was written by Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece Annie Barrows, and was published after Shaffer's death. If you haven't read it, it takes place shortly after the end of the World War II and covers the Nazi occupation of Guernsey. After being invaded in June 1940, the Channel Islands were the only British territories to be occupied by the Germans during the war ... an item of history often overlooked. You may be interested in a quick read of the history.

In the film, you will recognize the actress Lily James in the lead. She played Churchill's secretary in the latest biopic, Darkest Hour. You may also recognize Jessica Brown Findlay who played the youngest daughter Sybil in Downton Abbey. It's an interesting story line although some of the plot links seem a bit forced. Generally well acted, great scenery. On the Smith/Walsh scale it earns 3.5 out of 5.