DB7

Korda's anti-war adaptation of HG Wells (Shape of) Things to Come.

A marvellous piece of sci-fi, the acting can be hammy and the script creaks but for the 1930s there's some excellent special effects and polished sets. I'd have preferred Raymond Massey and Ralph Richardson to have swapped roles tho.

Rob Compton

There are some great stories on the background to the film in the BFI Film Classics book "Things to Come". Such as the fact that contracts for the production were signed by Korda and HG Wells on a postcard over a plate of sardine sandwiches in a Bournemouth teashop. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img] Korda came to regret this contract very much, as Wells was not exactly a natural when it came to making films.

rgds
Rob

DB7

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

Or Mike Hodges Get Carter MKII. Yes, a one-time gangster sets out to avenge his brothers death yada yada yada... [falls asleep].

Hodges film stars Clive Owen as the chief protagonist and he's supported by the likes of Ken Stott, Charlotte Rampling and Malcolm McDowell - but sadly the latter trio are all underused. Unlike the original, the storyline (from a tv crime scripter) is greatly underdeveloped and the ending is anything but satisfying.

Aenima

Films this weekend:
DVDs
The Man Who Haunted Himself - Roger Moore (with fantastic eyebrow actions)
Harlequin - Robert Powell - Supernatural clown shows off his powers with floating pianos, drum symbols and board games. It all ends in tears and bad makeup.
TV:
Aces High - Malcolm McDowell - WWI flick from 70s

I'll 'av 'arf

Steve Crook

The Man Who Haunted Himself does have some good eyebrow action but is also one of the few films where Roger actually does some real acting. For that alone it's worth watching.

Interesting story as well.

Steve

DB7

Watched last week's best selling DVD.... involved 11 men from oop North running about kicking a ball. :clap:

Also,

The Mother (2003)

Another of Hanif Kureishi's suburban tales made for the Beeb this time by the helmer of Notting Hill. Following the death of her husband (Peter Vaughan) sixtysomething Anne Reid (of tv's Dinnerladies) beds her daughters married lover (the thirtysomething Daniel Craig) in double-quick time. Cue lots of family hysteria when their secret is uncovered.

Credibility is stretched just too far and the love scenes can only be described as "ewwwwwwwww." :wacko: A failed attempt to pad out what is little more than a tv drama into a film.

sanndevil

PICCADILLY (1929)

The restored print that was broadcast on one of the digital channels last week. Finally got round to watch it and whilst the plot (as much as there was) was plodding, the film had a vibrancy largely due to the efforts of the enchanting Anna May Wong. The print itself was in prinstine condition - and here's the surprise for me who has a natural aversion against silent films - the movie was in duotone - black and yellow (NOT sepia) for the internal shots and duotoned black and blue for the exteriors. Worked a treat - I guess this wasn't added by the restorers and was always in that condition?

DB7

Spivs

Yes, it's another British crime flick (smarts suits and German motors), although this one has the novel twist of introducing the contemporary theme of people smuggling into the equation.

The second feature effort from a BBC director at it shows. The direction is functional at best, the script terrible, plot full of holes and only an idiot would kill off Nick Moran and Kate Ashfield midway thru proceedings yet leave Paul 'Dennis Pennis' Kaye alive till the end. Jack Dee is has a cameo as a construction company boss and is as wooden as the majority of the cast [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bangin.gif[/img]

smudge

Last night a clutch of ITC's THE BARON (as the discs just arrived from Aus...)

This evening, a handful of the original series of TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED. A little welcome familiarity to brighten the day now that the sun's gone [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

SMUDGE


[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/devil.gif[/img]

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

DB7

Creep (2004)

Ah yes, Death Line proved there is more to the London Underground than meets the eye, and Creep picks up on that with an operating room theatre deep in the Undergrounds labyrinth of passageways. Essentially, a girl is chased all night by an experimented-upon man, and most of the passers-by and interlopers she encounters are killed in a variety of gory ways. Standard unintelligent slasher pic that leaves you asking who? why? what?

Hackett

The first couple of episodes of "THE BUCCANEERS" with most of the cast playing more than one part. Which starred Alec Clunes, Martin's dad, before 29 year old Robert Shaw took over.
Also some"WILLIAM TELL" episodes with Conrad Phillips as Tell being overshadowed in more ways than one by Willoughby Goddard, what a fantastic villian. And during a crossbow fight on a lake, in the background on land a guest appearance of a Thames Trader Lorry.
I love this stuff and the more I watch the more my mouth waters for the likes of "IVANHOE" with Roger Moore and the Danzigers produced "RICHARD THE LIONHEART" starring Dermot Walsh. Bring it on PLEASE bring it on.

Aenima

Early 80s BBC mini series "The Nightmare Man".
I won't tell you how it ends.

I'll 'av 'arf

mysteriesofedgarwallace

Fantastic stuff!

Shown only once circe 1981 IIRC.

It scared me shedless back then, but I just couldn't not watch it.
How does it measure up now?
Laughable by modern standards, I would guess.

Aenima

I loved it. It's got a good atmosphere and brings back many memories. It's been nearly 25 years since I watched this!! As you said they only broadcast it once as far as I know. I don't think it's been on BBC4. I couldn't believe it had been released. I thought it was longer than it actually is. It's only 4 30 minutes episodes.

It's "The Omega factor" next for me.

I'll 'av 'arf

mysteriesofedgarwallace

Thanks for that Aenima.
I'm 99% certain its never been repeated, I wonder why?
The Nightmare Man's breathing used to make me laugh, like a Darth Vader wannabe.
He used to see the world with a red hue, IIRC.
Am I right that you only get to see him at the end, getting into his spaceship on the beach or something?

Come to think of it, I don't think The Omega factor has ever been repeated either.
Now I *will* be buying the Omega factor.