Butley and In Celebration

[ollie]

Has anyone seen these two films? Butley 1976 starring alan bates,directed by harold pinter,and In celebration 1975,again with alan bates,brian cox,james bolam,directed by lindsay anderson.Ive read the blurb on the imdb but would like a personal recomendation,are they plays with a camera put in front of them?or do they have the feel of a film ie,the interior shots of say Spring and port wine,or The family way.One more thing is there incidental music?

cheers Ollie wink



[ 01. August 2004, 13:05: Message edited by: DB7 ]

[Christopher Matheson]

I've seen Butley and found it totally enjoyable. It's more than a filmed played including shots of Bates at an undergroud station and riding in a smoking carriage. Bates is also seen entering Queen Mary College, Mile End Road, and later crossing that road heading for the pub opposite the college. There are also a few internal shots, presumably Queen Mary College, of Bates and others in a hallway. There may be some other shots too but I cannot recall at this moment. The bulk of the film is in Bates' office which is a studio set. I haven't seen the other films you mention.

Christopher Matheson

[ollie]

Thanks christopher,

for you informative comments,i am quite intrigued by this film,dont know why but i've devolped this idea that butly's office is going to be like michael caine's study in educating rita?? any way might just take a punt on it as i never tire of alan bates performances, a sad loss indeed.

cheers Ollie.

[glyn horton]

I saw In Celebration last year at the Chapter cinema in Cardiff and there are some location shots at the beginning and the end, to depict the characters heading up north. There is a scene where James Bolam picks up Alan Bates by the side of a main road and some shots around the terraced streets of a northern town with a colliery nearby - looks very much like Nottinghamshire or South Yorkshire. Alan Bates gave a good performance of the rebellious but ultimately tragic son,although Cox and Bolam are very good in support and there is a moving performance by Bill Owen as their father which proves there was more to him than Compo. Apart from the location shots mentioned though it is very much a filmed play.

[ollie]

Thanks for the great comments GLYN,sounds like another robbing of the piggy bank then!

cheers Ollie.