User Reviews

Christopher Lee gives a splendid performance in one of the most charming films made in Great Britain in recent memory. A Feast at Midnight is one of those warm family entertainments that manages to delight both children and parents alike.

Young Magnus Gove (Freddie Findlay) is sent away to an austere boarding school that manages to serve the most unpalatable of meals. Even the Headmaster (Robert Hardy) can barely stomach the overly healthy menu. Magnus' father (Edward Fox in a short cameo) sends him a number of enticing recipes, which spur Magnus and his oddball group of friends to venture, in the dead of night, into that forbidden no-boys land of "The Kitchen". There they discover the true meaning of friendship as they concoct the most unlikely of meals. The interaction between the boys that make up "The Scoffers" club is priceless. All handled with just the right tone by director Justin Hardy (son of The Wicker Man's Robin Hardy), to avoid falling into the bottomless well of gushing sentimentality.

Christopher Lee handles the key role of Latin Master, V. E. Longfellow aka Raptor, with great aplomb. His stern features belie a warm and fun-filled heart as is evidenced by the exchange of low-key double entendre with Miss Plunder (Carol Macready) the housekeeper over her home-cooked meals. One of the most memorable moments is of course, the kitchen scene homage to Jurassic Park. I can't even begin to explain just how pleasing this scene is. There is no question that Mr. Lee's character lives up to and deserves the Raptor moniker! To check out a clip of the Raptor sequence, visit the Multimedia page here at the site. There is also a very gentle homage to Hammer, as Raptor wakes in the night upon hearing a noise, his eyes pop open in a darkened room, in a way that is very reminiscent of a Transylvanian Count. Truly one of Mr. Lee's best and warmest performances. An excellent demonstration of why Christopher Lee is far more than simply a horror icon, but a multi-talented actor capable of a wide range of characterization! Enjoy...

I have such fond memories of this film (if you can have fond memories before you're 40), it was like the realisation of a childhood fantasy, which, let's face it, is everything a movie should be. Identifying with the characters was no stretch at all, and neither was the situation which I can give testament to from several similar pantry-raids with friends in the boarding house. Christopher Lee is the perfect villain cum headmaster, and I will never forget that little boy at the mixing bowl, enthusiastically covering himself in flour. This movie is pleasantly nostalgic (at any age!) way to spend an hour and a half (I would recommend with a nice helping of some of your favourite comfort food). After all who doesn't love food and children besting the grown- ups? Just insert your old headmaster/mistress's face here and enjoy the show...

A cute and not too taxing film about the nature and importance of friendship. One wonderful moment involves a re-enactment of the "raptors invade the kitchen" scene from Jurassic Park. Would recommend for children between the ages of 8 and 10 and for adults who are in the mood for a light snack.

Why oh why is this delightful movie not available on Region 1 DVD or video? WHY??????? I long to own it. This movie is so wonderful! It was directed by Justin Hardy, son of *the* Robert Hardy, beloved by all Jane Austen fans for his roles as General Tilney and Sir John Middleton. Robert Hardy has a role in this masterpiece as well. This is a film about boys in an English boarding school. The outcasts of the school band together and create a secret cooking club, where they bake the most delicious, forbidden treats imaginable. The main character has a correspondence with his father, who has been in ill health, that is touching, humorous, and beautiful. This correspondence heartens and inspires the boy and helps lead to and support the creation of his secret cooking club. Oh, I just want to take a moment to BEG!! BEG, I tell you!! BEG the powers that be to release this film on REGION 1 DVD!! Please!!!!!!!! If you can watch this movie (it's available on PAL video) you should -- you must -- it will add such joy to your life!!

Non-horror but next in my list of Christopher Lee movies comes A FEAST AT MIDNIGHT (1994), which was directed by Justin Hardy, the son of THE WICKER MAN's Robin. Lee gets a nice supporting role in this one as the headteacher of a strict public school. The film follows the misadventures of a newcoming pupil as he battles rivals and forms a friendship group with a gang of misfits who enjoy raiding the kitchen at night.

This is one of Lee's better 1990s movies although he made some dire stuff during that decade. He plays a character who seems strict on the outside but gradually reveals hidden warmth along the way. TV personality Lisa Faulkner plays his daughter and there are small roles for Robert Hardy, Samuel West and Edward Fox. Bizarrely, Michael Gove has a minor role too and I was astonished to see him! He's about as good an actor as he is a politician.

I went to this kind of school and only wish we had had the opportunity to have this much fun. Of course the head was very strict in the movie as he was in my school and we would not have dared to break rules in that way. The sensual part was deftly handled and gave no cause for concern. This was in every way a family movie.

I enjoyed it immensely because I guess I am still a kid at heart and I love to cook. What a great relationship this kid had with his Dad and with the other boys in the school. Edward Fox was very believable as the English gentleman gourmet father of our hero, Magnus.

Kudos to the writer, the director and the boys who did all that fine acting especially Freddy Findlay. Definitely a film that can be watched more than once.

This is a "hidden gem" of a movie. It has all the elements of a fun and wonderful movie experience for idealists and cynics alike! The movie has good pacing and wonderful minor twists and turns on the plot that actually have you saying to yourself "hurray!"

This movie is absolutely delicious, as light as one of Magnus' (the main character's) own confections. Nevertheless it has held my interest through many viewings and even brought me to tears near the end, every single time.

Not only is the acting of brilliant veterans Robert Hardy, Christopher Lee, Carol MacReady, and Edward Fox as perfect as you would expect, but the children put in brilliant, subtle performances as well, with Freddie Findlay showing true star promise. The lush Dover location and surprisingly poignant music also add dimensions of richness to a very simple, honest story.

The focal characters are realistically bad and good boys -- realistic because often the same boys are both bad and good under believable circumstances -- who learn about the real meaning of friendship, teamwork, and even honor through, well, cooking. Do have fattening and decadent snacks on hand when you watch, because what the boys whip up will certainly make you hungry.

Incidentally, this film also managed to charm my boyfriend and to hold his interest throughout, and since this is such a tiny little dessert of a film, and since said boyfriend generally goes for the gamut of action flicks from Jackie Chan to Akira Kurosawa, or 2-hour Chow Yun-Fat/John Woo bloodbaths, this is really saying something. Because of the way the film gets right into the world of children, while not abandoning entirely the world and motivations of adults, I would also certainly recommend it for children age 8 or 10 and up; but there are still enough jokes and subtleties for grown-ups only that it won't bore parents.

I saw this movie on a rainy afternoon when I was sick. Such a delight! Christopher Lee has top billing here, but the boys, particularly the Freddie Findlay as Magnus, make the movie. A secret society is started at an English boy's boarding school, but instead of making mischief, they make delicious delicacies! Not exactly a kid's movie, what with the not so subtle sexual tension between Raptor (Christopher Lee) and Mrs. Plunder (Carol MacReady). But it's a fun, if slightly naughty film. Samuel West is a standout as Chef, the taste challenged antagonist of the film. He steals any scene he's in. If you happen upon this title, enjoy being a member of "The Scoffers" if just for a little while!

In this age of megabudgets, digital wizardry, and mindnumbingly bad plots, A Feast at Midnight stands out as a refreshing alternative.

The story is one that anyone can relate to whether or not you ever attended a British public school. Friendship, love, and the desire to break out of "establishment" boundaries make this film so much fun to watch for children and adults. It's also nice to see Christopher Lee playing a charming villain.

As good as A Christmas Story without the BB gun and all that snow. As good as Chocolat without the tooth ache. As good as Hear My Song without the Blarney. This is a great family movie, touching,well acted and great cast. 2 plums on thumbs up.

"A Feast at Midnight" is a family feast at any time. The story centers around Goff, a young boy sent to boarding school in England, whose favorite illegal pastime is cooking. Letters from his father offer paternal wisdom, recipes from L'Escoffier and encouragement for his deliciously naughty behaviour.

Goff (Aled Roberts) develops a small band of friends who sneak into the "No Boys Allowed" kitchen late at night, cooking up sophisticated desserts. Will they get caught by Chef, who is clearly frustrated by the Headmaster's desire to feed the school a healthy, low-fat and basically tasteless diet? Or will they get caught by the Major, a stern taskmaster whose daughter, Miss Charlotte (Lisa Faulkner) is employed in many servile capacities at the school?

The very scary Major is drolly portrayed by Christopher Lee, whose deep set eyes and basso profundo is know to viewers in an assortment of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes movies.(He also narrated "The Rocky Horror Picture Show.)Lee is the uncle of Harriet Walker, who coincidentally appeared with Headmaster Robert Hardy in "Sense and Sensibility". (Fanny Dashwood, Sir John Middleton.)

Goff's friendship with Miss Charlotte changes the nature of her relationship to the school and her father, and gives her the courage to declare her own independence.

The anal retentive Chef is superbly portrayed by Samuel West, who moviegoers will recognize as Julia Robert's co-star in "Notting Hill".

Director Justin Hardy and Cinematographer Tim Maurice-Jones use a wide-angle lens to emphasize Goff's sense of aloneness and feelings of being overwhelmed.There are a number of humorous visual and plot puns that film buffs will recognize, such as a play on "Oliver" in a dining hall scene.

Goff's relationship with his father, and his unique method of rebellion make this a film that stands out as an alternative to the usual violent fare aimed at children, yet it is sophisticated enough to be enjoyed by all.

This movie is freaking great movie if you are going to die or if you are held hostage, then ask your captor to show you this movie! YOU WILL LOVE IT! The movie gives food, fun, and fat British boys( plenty to laugh at) Blah blah blah, great British accent, blah blah blah, i am trying to pad the comment with ten of the longest lines of my life, blah blah blah, the head master is a very magnificently large prick, blah blah blah, Filling up ten lines is unbelievable hard. But it is an amazing movie. PLease go and buy the movie, it is called A feast at Midnight, 1994, a really good movie from the Limeys and yeah .... THAT IS ABOUT TEN LINES, ALRIGHT, PEACE, LOVE,AND CHICKEN GREASE. stephanie

According to the IMDB trivia for "A Feast at Midnight", Christopher Lee agreed to work on this movie for free and called it one of the best pictures he's ever made. Can the movie be THAT good? After all, Lee made nearly 200 movies!

The setting for this film is a residential school...which would make this story a bit more familiar to British audiences than those in countries where such schools are a rarity, such as here in the United States. Still, bullying is something pretty universal, so I think kids watching this movie would still connect with the characters.

Magnus is a sad kid. His parents have broken up and his father, who he really adores, has some sort of illness and cannot care for him. So, he's sent to a prep school which is supposed to make him a better person...that is if 'better person' means someone who is cruelly bullied. This is made worse by the teacher in charge of his class (Christopher Lee), as he's not exactly sympathetic towards the bullied of kids who don't fit in with his notions about sports. You can assume that he feels childhood trauma apparently builds character. As for the Headmaster (Robert Hardy), he's generally a decent sort...but what can he do to mitigate the damage done by the bullies?

One thing Magnus really dislikes about the school is the food. It might be good, I have no idea, but it IS institutional food and is a far cry from the gastronomic delights Magnus used to share with his father. Eventually, Magnus comes up with an idea during a weekend when he and a couple others are the only kids at the school. They sneak into the kitchen to cook up delights and soon they form a sort of society for the outcasts, one that becomes all the more audacious as the group grows. What is to become of this club? See the film and find out for yourself.

While normally I am NOT a big fan of films where kids are the stars of a movie, I thought this one managed to do a very good job with its mostly kids cast. The director was able to get realistic performances and the kids seemed more like real kids than they often seem in other movies...though their behaviors are hardly those of kids as far as their club goes!

Overall, I really enjoyed this film and I particularly liked Lee's tough as nails performance. Think of this as a kids film and "Iron Chef" or "The Great British Baking Show" combined.

Delightful comedic film about a bunch of playful boarding school boys who form a secret society based on . The film serves as a happy reminder of all those fulfilled adventures we all had as unexperienced children exploring the world. This film is entertaiment for adults and kids alike. Pwang!!!