P&P: A New Convert Testifies

[stevie boy]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook I often tell people that as obsessions go, at least it's fairly harmless - except to the pocket Steve

When Marty is next over here maybe you could organise a night out. I would love to see you two guys together.( I would happily run to the bar for you both & pay) What a night of conversation that would be from John Sweet to Joe Pesci.David Farrar to De Niro and Kathleen Byron to Lorraine Bracco.

[batman]

I don't any of us are obssessed .... we're 'enthusiasts'.

Bats.

[stevie boy]

Originally Posted by batman I don't any of us are obssessed .... we're 'enthusiasts'. Bats.

that are obssessed

[Ed Phillips]

I think my favourite is AMOLAD - first class!

[christoph404]

Originally Posted by Dave Rattigan A while ago I started a thread about Powell and Pressburger, and how I'd just never been able to get into their films. I am pleased to be able to say that, about nine months after buying the P&P set from HMV, I have finally seen the light. In the last month or so I've watched A Matter of Life and Death, A Canterbury Tale, Ill Met by Moonlight and The Red Shoes. Up until last night, A Canterbury Tale was my favourite, but it's just been pipped to the post by the wonderful The Red Shoes. I was really bowled over by it. Those sets! That music! Anton Walbrook's commanding performance! The heartbreaking final ballet! There's something about Powell and Pressburger and the world they create. It's a fantasy world, full of magical touches, even when it's firmly set in the "real world".

I guess you have managed to see Black Narcissus? The photography in that by Jack Cardiff is absolutley mind blowing, its my favourite of P&P's films, the acting is outstanding as is the set design, a truly inspiring film.

[vaggmk1938]

It is so difficult to say which of the P&P films is my favourite, practically each one becomes IT as I am watching it. But, certainly One of Our Aircraft is Missing is always at, or very close to, the top—the young Ustinov is marvellous, and Googie Withers as the cool, implacable organizer is superb. I Know Where I'm Going has long been a great hit with me—but then Wendy Hiller stole my heart with Pygmalion and Major Barbara when I was a teenager (when I first saw them in the 1950s), and recaptured it with Murder on the Orient Express and All Passion Spent when I was older.

[Dave Rattigan]

Originally Posted by christoph404 I guess you have managed to see Black Narcissus? The photography in that by Jack Cardiff is absolutley mind blowing, its my favourite of P&P's films, the acting is outstanding as is the set design, a truly inspiring film.

I saw it about 15 years ago, and the wonderful artwork and photography is about all I remember (oh, and the mad nun - was it Kathleen Byron?). Definitely one I want to revisit, though.

[Everett Sloane]

On a more or less related point, I was recently reading Jonathan Coe's new novel which is set in Shropshire in the 1940s, and there is a chapter where two girls become extras on the set of Gone To Earth. There is quite a long section about the making of the film.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Dave Rattigan I saw it about 15 years ago, and the wonderful artwork and photography is about all I remember (oh, and the mad nun - was it Kathleen Byron?). Definitely one I want to revisit, though.

Yes, it was Kathleen Byron, giving the best performance of her life and it's visually stunning, winning Oscars for cinematography and Art Direction.

It's been released on DVD quite a few times (see P&P films on DVD). The best transfer is probably the French one by L'Institut Lumière, but I don't know anywhere still selling new copies of those although a few second hand copies can still be found. A close second is the Criterion DVD still available from Amazon.com and probably other places.

But one of the few not to contain the notorious "Blue out" error is the Carlton DVD which is still available from the Amazon.co.uk marketplace

Steve

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Everett Sloane On a more or less related point, I was recently reading Jonathan Coe's new novel which is set in Shropshire in the 1940s, and there is a chapter where two girls become extras on the set of Gone To Earth. There is quite a long section about the making of the film.

Thanks, someone else mentioned that to me somewhere. I must get a copy.

It did use a lot of local people as extras. There was a local documentary made that interviewed some of them and we met quite a few when the film was shown in Much Wenlock

If you know the area, check our Then & Now photos

Steve

[Ed Phillips]

Never really been too aware of the P&P films until I read through this thread. Of course, I remembered the Archer's symbol and know now that I've seen some of their films [AMOLAD, Ill Met By Moonlight for certain].

Had a good look at Steve's PAPAS site and now I'll try to get hold of some more of their films.

Thanks.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Ed Phillips Never really been too aware of the P&P films until I read through this thread. Of course, I remembered the Archer's symbol and know now that I've seen some of their films [AMOLAD, Ill Met By Moonlight for certain]. Had a good look at Steve's PAPAS site and now I'll try to get hold of some more of their films. Thanks.

The Battle of the River Plate is shown quite often on UK Gold and Peeping Tom gets shown every so often on Film 4. Their major films aren't usually shown so often although whenever they are, we usually announce the fact here.

Or check the list of films that have been released on Video or DVD. Even if they aren't currently available from retailers, their being on those lists means that they have been commercially released so can probably be found second hand.

And the IMDb has some good information about them all as well as what you might find on my site.

Steve

[Ed Phillips]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook The Battle of the River Plate is shown quite often on UK Gold and Peeping Tom gets shown every so often on Film 4. Their major films aren't usually shown so often although whenever they are, we usually announce the fact here. Or check the list of films that have been released on Video or DVD. Even if they aren't currently available from retailers, their being on those lists means that they have been commercially released so can probably be found second hand. And the IMDb has some good information about them all as well as what you might find on my site. Steve

Thsanks for that. Hadn't realised that The Battle of The River Plate was one of theirs - seen that for sure.

[vaggmk1938]

Last night the States had a P&P event on TCM—guest selector was Thelma Schoonmaker and she began at 8 p.m. with a non P&P, Green for Danger, and then gave us the following three:

1. The Edge of the World which I had never seen and which I loved—John Laurie and Finlay Currie in their comparative youth were a treat, having loved them both in later films; I was also very glad to see Belle Chrystall in action, as she had been the subject on another thread recetly.

2. Colonel Blimp most of which I snoozed through as I have it and had watched it very recently—I did this in order to conserve my energies to watch No. 3!

3. The Age of Consent. Had no idea that so much nudity was allowed in 1969! The color was fabulous and there wasn't a hint of Lolita in the treatment, and apart from a good deal of scene-grabbing by the older women in supporting roles, I thought the whole thing held together well and was well worth watching—I particularly liked Jack MacGowran.

By this time it was 4.30 a.m. and my animals were extremely fed up with me. But what a Brit treat for starved U.S. viewers—actually I do think they are getting much better, we also had Kes and Withnail & I recently.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Ed Phillips Thsanks for that. Hadn't realised that The Battle of The River Plate was one of theirs - seen that for sure.

That's why everyone (except those already dedicated to them) should check that IMDb list. Their style and genre covered such a wide range that people often don't realise that they are all made by the same people. I know I fell for that at first

Steve