Films involving Learning Difficulties

Learning Difficulties (Mental Retardation): Major Films

Title	Let Him Have It (1991)
Alternative/Original Title
Disability	Learning difficulty
Country	UK
Length	115
Genre	Crime drama
Rating	3
Director	Peter Medak
Cast	Chris Eccleston Paul Reynolds Tom Courtenay Tom Bell Eileen Atkins Clare Holman
Notes	Film of true events in Britain in the 50s when two young men breaking into a building were trapped by police. One, Craig, shoots a policeman while the other older one, Derek Bentley, is already in police custody. Bentley who had learning difficulties was hanged while Craig who was only 16 got prison. The prosecution rested on Bentley having shouted 'Let him have it'. They insisted Bentley was egging on Craig while his defence claimed he was telling Craig to give up the gun. A case which was an affront to British justice. Bentley was recently, I believe, given a pardon. ********************************************** The whole film is heading for the trial and execution of Derek Bentley who though under police arrest at the time his partner killed a policeman is hanged. Craig who did the killing was only sixteen and got life imprisonment. But the characterisation of the people and events leading to the murder show how Bentley who as someone with learning difficulties wanted to be a part of something with people he wanted to call mates. A highly biased and motivated film whose audience is unlikely to know if there is another side to the story.

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