The Most Over-rated British Film

[scholes]

Originally Posted by penfold It's a pro-reform tract, so it's anti the fagging system (Someone else can explain that to our American posters) and the worst excesses of the punishment regimes and pro the more enlightened - for the times - regime of Arnold at Rugby. For a Victorian anti-public school rant, try Dickens' Dotheboys Hall in Nicholas Nickleby. Part of my antipathy towards if... may be because the place I went to, the location of the film Unman Wittering and Zygo...was, in the seventies, yet more horrendous. I thought Tomkinson's Schooldays was a documentary...

Unman wittering and Zygo. I remember watching that...vaguely. Is it available on DVD?

[CaptainWaggett]

Originally Posted by penfold It's a pro-reform tract, so it's anti the fagging system (Someone else can explain that to our American posters) and the worst excesses of the punishment regimes and pro the more enlightened - for the times - regime of Arnold at Rugby. For a Victorian anti-public school rant, try Dickens' Dotheboys Hall in Nicholas Nickleby.

Hughes wasn't anti-fagging as such, but Flashy wasn't actually authorised to have a fag - it's really about bullying (though the book does have a veiled reference to homosexual exploitation of fags which finds its way into the 1970s tv version). You're right about the reform business - Hughes clearly though the reformed Rugby was every boys' ideal. Though I have read that Armold used a lead-weighted cane. Not quite sure how you put lead in a cane but it sounds extremely unpleasant.

Another for American posters to sort out - Nicholas Nickleby is, of course, anti-private not public schools. I don't think Dickens had enough dealings with public schools to write about them (I think David Copperfield goes to one when is adopted by Betsy Trotwood but it's not described in detail).

[Steve Crook]

And for our American, and other non-British readers,
we should explain:

In England the first schools were Church schools and only there to teach people who were going to become clergymen (this was way back in the dim & distant past). The first non-church schools were set up by various worthies so that anyone could get an education. These were called "Public Schools". I say anyone, but really mean "anyone who could afford it". Most offered grants to help pay the way for those who could prove their worth by passing an entrance exam. Those who do are usually known as "scholars". Michael Powell was a scholar at King's School, Canterbury.

So when the state set up the first schools where everything was paid for by the state they decide to call them "Private Schools" (because they weren't Public Schools)

The way we call schools "public" or "private" is just about the exact opposite to how they call them in America

Steve

[GRAEME]

Originally Posted by nandywell It has become very cliché to say that but I partially agree with you; I doubt however that the film could have been bettered.

Not true!!! Kubrick could have kept the original (ambiguous but redemptive)ending for a start and resisted the temptation to sex up the rape scene.

Why is the "starry old pitsa" widow woman with the cats he does in turned into a glam sex kitten?

Generally this is a more conventional and a less interesting work than the novella.

A missed opportunity.

[Lady Skelton]

A more recent example of a wildly over-praised and yet totally shit British film, for me at least, would be The History Boys, which I thought was both aesthetically and ideologically rancid - such ugly shot compositions and crappy cutting, such scant characterisation that even the best cohort of actors could not do anything with, such easy and stupid alignment of homosexuality, pedagogy and paedophilia, such unquestioning devotion to the importnace of Oxbridge, such disregard for film as a medium except as a camp diversion in between bouts of 'proper' culture, such a lack of feeling for the early 1980s...I could go on - and the moment I lost all confidence in Philip French's critical judgement. If he could think this was any good, he must have lost his bloody marbles.
Total shit, and every time I think about it (and, moreover, the great reviews it got) I find myself wondering what the hell is going on.

[penfold]

Originally Posted by scholes Unman wittering and Zygo. I remember watching that...vaguely. Is it available on DVD?

No, but someone hereabouts may have a copy to trade.

[stevie boy]

Originally Posted by Lady Skelton A more recent example of a wildly over-praised and yet totally shit British film, for me at least, would be The History Boys, which I thought was both aesthetically and ideologically rancid - such ugly shot compositions and crappy cutting, such scant characterisation that even the best cohort of actors could not do anything with, such easy and stupid alignment of homosexuality, pedagogy and paedophilia, such unquestioning devotion to the importnace of Oxbridge, such disregard for film as a medium except as a camp diversion in between bouts of 'proper' culture, such a lack of feeling for the early 1980s...I could go on - and the moment I lost all confidence in Philip French's critical judgement. If he could think this was any good, he must have lost his bloody marbles. Total shit, and every time I think about it (and, moreover, the great reviews it got) I find myself wondering what the hell is going on.

you were not impressed then??

[jamesharris]

I've never understood the hype around Layer Cake

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by jamesharris I've never understood the hype around Layer Cake

What hype, is it a film we should have heard of?

Steve

[jamesharris]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook What hype, is it a film we should have heard of? Steve

not if you're lucky

[GRAEME]

Originally Posted by jamesharris not if you're lucky

A bit snide.

I thought Layer Cake was great. Great acting all round, stylish direction and a lot of cool.

Nothing special - just a fine British crime drama.

[jamesharris]

Originally Posted by GRAEME A bit snide. I thought Layer Cake was great. Great acting all round, stylish direction and a lot of cool. Nothing special - just a fine British crime drama.

but it wasn't worthy of the hype therefore its over-rated

[Azanti]

It is in the interest of any film to create as much hype as possible in order for it to create the best revenue it can - somewhat stating the obvious.

I don't think a film should ever be judged on how much hype it gets but purely on its own merits, after all - believing in the hype is after all, up to the consumer.

Personally I thought it was, exactly as Graeme described.

[stevie boy]

The Elephant Man, what a waste of time

[batman]

Originally Posted by stevie boy The Elephant Man, what a waste of time

I found it interesting from an historical point of view and quite moving with regard to the character of Merrick.