This is the sort of production I grew up seeing, and that made me wary. However, the story of Florence Nightingale ("the lady with the lamp") and her reform of nursing is a story worthy of telling; and this movie is presented in a moving way.First of all, to the carpers. Sure, there are differences. In 1985 they could not on network television depict the true horrors of the "hospital" in Crimea as Florence Nightingale found it. I'm just a bit squeamish and even though I knew the wounds and burns were makeup I fast forwarded through those scenes. And a simple comparison between photos of the real Florence Nightingale and Jaclyn Smith, queen of the television movies at the time, make the differences obvious enough. Florence Nightingale was a genuine hero in the realm of hygiene, cleanliness and nursing, but hardly a Charlie's Angel. Smith is not as glamorous as usual, but she's still made up and lovely.But you're a dope if you get your history from movies. Movies have to have heroes and villains, good guys and bad guys. History is neutral. It simply is, and is depicted well or badly.Supporting Smith is a powerhouse cast, but not, unfortunately, a deep one. It features a James Bond (Timothy Dalton, who also does the offscreen narration) and Jeremy Brett, television's preeminent Sherlock Holmes. Always a cagey actor, Brett delights the aficionado with familiar flashes of Holmes. Also in the cast are the always welcome Timothy West, in a blink-and-you'll miss him role as the journalist who gave Florence Nightingale her sobriquet; and "Downton Abbey" producer Julian Fellowes.Unwelcome to some will be the persistent Christian imagery. However, as a practicing Christian (one is never perfect) I welcome setting Florence Nightingale in her proper context. After all, she did receive a call from God to follow the calling of serving others through nursing, and that sort of thing gets you written off as a right-wing fundamentalist lunatic these days. This movie does not back away from Florence Nightingale's strong faith, and not in herself but in God. Commendable.I'm an easy mark for movie-makers. I once cried at an episode of "Love, American Style." But I found this movie extraordinarily moving, which is a rare thing to say about a television movie.Is it absolutely one hundred percent accurate? Certainly not. But one of my favorite movies is "Amadeus" and there's hardly a word of truth in it. "Shakespeare in Love" won the Oscar and it's a load of codswollop. "Florence Nightingale" tries to tell this story as accurately as is possible in 140 minutes, but it takes a lot of shortcuts. Still, if you don't want to read a genuine historical tome, this movie will give you the general outline. Worth a look in.

Like many older Englishwomen, I grew up with the story of Florence. And the one thing this movie does is strike me as distinctly unrealistic.There is, of course, some truth in the story itself, although even that is prettified. However the production values are simply ridiculous. Everything is too neat, too clean, too pretty. To include white lace on Florence's costume - and, for that matter, mascara on her face and clean white sheets on her bed - is simply nonsensical. Even the very wealthy with countless servants in those days were lucky to have such luxury. Florence was a desperately hard working and very practical woman in the middle of a war zone with no luxuries whatsoever; her primary battle was to obtain beds for her patients, preferably ones away from cess pits, rather than keep her lace spotless.

This is one of those films that you remember, as it makes a great impression on any viewer. The story of one of the greatest women in History, who left her mark on the world, this film stays with you. Jaclyn Smith shows that she's more than one of Charlie's Angels, she is one very talented actress. She makes the story of Florence Nightingale really work. This is a story of sacrifice, humanity, tenacious drive and humility. A great supporting cast: Claire Bloom as Fanny Nightingale and Jeremy Brett as William Nightingale, Timothy Dalton as Robert Milne, the love of her life, Brian Cox and Stephen Chase as doctors who become Florence's allies in battling the stubborn British military. We've all heard the name of Florence Nightingale, but few know just what a great woman she truly was. I love biopics simply because they make me hunger to know more about their subjects. This is a perfect example. I must give kudos to director Daryl Duke and writers Rose Goldemberg and Ivan Moffat for a brilliantly made TVM.

Jaclyn Smith gives an excellent portrayal of Florence Nightingale, the proper English lady who left her prim, aristocratic lifestyle to provide care and treatment of injured soldiers in the poorest conditions. Although this is a movie based on the life of The Lady of the Lamp, Ms. Smith brings to life the history of nursing and the birth of sterilization and sanitation. This is a most enlightening movie which is entertaining as well. I highly recommend the movie.