So I'm watching Peeping Tom... - Page 3 - Britmovie

Keechelus · 08-05-2008, 09:27 AM

It is possible that Powell had reached his creative peak with Peeping Tom, though I don't entirely agree.

Another brilliant man of his type, Preston Sturges, wrote and directed eleven films between 1940 and 1949. Three were awful turkeys; of the eight contenders for greatness, THE GREAT McGINTY, THE LADY EVE, PALM BEACH STORY, MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK, UNFAITHFULLY YOURS and especially SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS are now considered superior examples of off-centre Hollywood movie making.

Sturges' flame burned too brightly, perhaps -- and by the mid 1950's he was a dissolute hack, exiled to Paris and writing crap for Eurotrash films. He died in 1959, only 61 years old.

By contrast, Powell had a lot more to contribute. I do wonder if PEEPING TOM's failure ended his effective career.

I don't agree with some folks who say it was a horror movie - it was a cleverly written and well acted psycho-drama, equal to Hitchcock's contemporary PSYCHO and superior to most until VERTIGO.

Steve Crook · 08-05-2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m35541

I have seen the list of BBFC cuts to Peeping Tom (from the Worldwide DVD Forums website) and it doesn't add up to anywhere near 8m. Plus, several of the proposed snips are present in the Optimum DVD (and presumably the previous releases as well).

I would guess the running time discrepancy is down to last minute distributor/MP edits. It was pretty common to submit a film to the BBFC before the final editing was done back then.

I wouldn't call that an exact list of the BBFC cuts. It's much too vague. More like a rough description of them, possibly second or third hand

It is possible that the distributor or Powell himself made some last minute cuts of their/his own. But he doesn't mention them anywhere. Neither in his autobiography nor in his private papers. Prof Ian Christie and many others have been through those papers with a fine tooth comb and everyone's still puzzled as to what else might have been in it.

Steve

m35541 · 09-05-2008, 08:23 AM

The info comes from the BBFC and is pulled by their staff from their records.

The reason that is is vague/unspecific is:

(a) that's the way the BBFC records were - they are often not too sure now what they even cut. You should see some of their other cuts info - "reduce this" "reduce that" without saying what exactly. The filmmakers then cut what they thought and the BBFC said whether it was enough or not. Until the VRA in 1985 they didn't have a statutory duty to keep information on cuts.

(b) cos the records are in various bits of paper the BBFC person transcribing the cuts sometimes gets the info wrong

(c) Sometimes cuts were wither waived in appeal (and they don't have a proper record of it) or the filmmakers never appeared to have made the cuts at all.

There is always the possibility that the 109m running time is a BBFC typo error (what does the MFB say?).

penfold · 09-05-2008, 07:38 PM

The trade papers reported the length as 9,789 ft, 109 mins....does that tally up at 24 fps??

howard 65 · 09-05-2008, 08:34 PM

VERTIGO was made before both PSYCHO and PEEPING TOM.

08-05-2008, 09:27 AM	#31
Keechelus Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Westminster, BC Canad Posts: 27 Country: iTrader: (0)	Peeping Tom: The end of Michael Powell? It is possible that Powell had reached his creative peak with Peeping Tom, though I don't entirely agree. Another brilliant man of his type, Preston Sturges, wrote and directed eleven films between 1940 and 1949. Three were awful turkeys; of the eight contenders for greatness, THE GREAT McGINTY, THE LADY EVE, PALM BEACH STORY, MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK, UNFAITHFULLY YOURS and especially SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS are now considered superior examples of off-centre Hollywood movie making. Sturges' flame burned too brightly, perhaps -- and by the mid 1950's he was a dissolute hack, exiled to Paris and writing crap for Eurotrash films. He died in 1959, only 61 years old. By contrast, Powell had a lot more to contribute. I do wonder if PEEPING TOM's failure ended his effective career. I don't agree with some folks who say it was a horror movie - it was a cleverly written and well acted psycho-drama, equal to Hitchcock's contemporary PSYCHO and superior to most until VERTIGO.

09-05-2008, 07:38 PM	#34
penfold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 2,799 Country: iTrader: (0)	The trade papers reported the length as 9,789 ft, 109 mins....does that tally up at 24 fps?? __________________ Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-05-2008, 08:23 AM	#33
m35541 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London Posts: 49 Country: iTrader: (0)	The info comes from the BBFC and is pulled by their staff from their records. The reason that is is vague/unspecific is: (a) that's the way the BBFC records were - they are often not too sure now what they even cut. You should see some of their other cuts info - "reduce this" "reduce that" without saying what exactly. The filmmakers then cut what they thought and the BBFC said whether it was enough or not. Until the VRA in 1985 they didn't have a statutory duty to keep information on cuts. (b) cos the records are in various bits of paper the BBFC person transcribing the cuts sometimes gets the info wrong (c) Sometimes cuts were wither waived in appeal (and they don't have a proper record of it) or the filmmakers never appeared to have made the cuts at all. There is always the possibility that the 109m running time is a BBFC typo error (what does the MFB say?).

09-05-2008, 08:34 PM	#35
howard 65 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Redcar Posts: 166 Country: iTrader: (0)	VERTIGO was made before both PSYCHO and PEEPING TOM.