Exploration of How Peter Medak Gains Viewers' Sympathy for Derek Bentley in the film Let Him Have It!

Exploration of How Peter Medak Gains Viewers' Sympathy for Derek Bentley in the film Let Him Have It!

Peter Medak chose to make a film about the case of Derek Bentley

because he wanted to get across his views on capital punishment, as he

thought it was wrong and wanted other people to see why he felt this

way. His film is based on a case that really happened in the 1950's

where Derek Bentley was accused of murder and hung. He chose to use

this case as he felt that Derek was wrongly accused and did not

deserve the sentence given to him.

Derek Bentley was a boy with a low I.Q who became mixed up with the

wrong crowd and got into trouble with the law in his youth. He was

then sent away to Borstal, a place where young offenders were sent. As

he became older he did not leave the house and lived with his parents

who he was very close to. Derek began to venture out though after his

sister encouraged him to go buy a record. This is when he got involved

with Christopher Craig's "gang". As Derek was easily led he did

exactly what they said and became involved with all of their crimes.

The story is so controversial since there are many people with

different views and opinions on the death penalty and whether it was

right or wrong for Derek to be hung. Also it is very biased as Peter

Medak is showing the whole story from his point of view and is trying

to persuade others into thinking the same way, therefore it is very

one-sided. I think film directors use bias when making a film to make

it more effective and powerful. If they use bias successfully they

will not only will it make the film more effective but will get their

view across and are more likely to change peoples opinions.

I personally think Derek was wrongly hung as he was like a child

trapped in a grown-ups body. He was mentally younger and less clever