DB7

Jack Rosenthal on TV

Received this 5 disc set over the weekend and decided to make The Knowledge (1979) my first viewing as I'd never previously seen it. An amusing comedy-drama charting the trials and tribulations of four Londoners attempting to lean the cab drivers 'knowledge.' All four provide light-hearted moments but Nigel Hawthorne steals the show as their inspector, aka The Vampire, who regularly evaluates their progress whilst carrying out a bizarre series of actions to distract the apprentice cabbies.

Steve Crook

I think that The Knowledge was the first of his that I saw. I still love it. It's so poignant the way it ends.

Which other ones are in the set?
I really like most of his work, especially the classics like The Evacuees, Bar Mitzvah Boy, Eskimo Day, Another Sunday and Sweet F.A. etc.

And when Maureen's in it, that's a bonus.

Steve

DB7

A c&p from Play.


Disc 1:

Another Sunday and Sweet F.A.: Two amateur football teams clash in a local needle match.
Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill: It's a great day in the life of film extra Joe McGill.
The Lovers: Beryl and Geoffrey encounter marital bliss.
Coronation Street: Swindley organises a trip to Blackpool (16 October 1961).
Spaghetti Two-Step: A restaurant experience is enlivened by emotional problems.

Disc 2:

Your Name's Not God, It's Edgar: Edgar has a pretty miserable existence. Then he meets Trevor the student.
Mrs. Thursday - You Don't Have to Book Buckingham Palace: A cockney charlady becomes the main beneficiary to a retired tycoon's estate.
Village Hall - Mr. Ellis versus the People: It's Election Day in the village and the hall is turned into a polling station.
About Face - Bag Lady: A moving monologue from a female vagrant who lives on London's streets.

Disc 3:

Village Hall - There'll Almost Always be an England: A gas leak forces the residents of Quigley Street to live in the hall.
Pardon the Expression - The First Day: Will Swindley manage to last the day at his new job?
Pardon the Expression - The Headmistress: Mr Swindley tries his hand at super salemanship.
The Dustbinmen: A skiving bin gang are on high alert when their new Inspector takes an interest.

Disc 4:

London's Burning: Blue Watch are set off-balance when a female firefighter joins the team.
Bootsie and Snudge - Being Nice to Bootsie: Bootsie chances his arm when he takes to his bed and won't leave it.
Moving Story: Asif's first day on the job as a 'furniture man' is one of enlightenment and discovery.

Disc 5:

The Knowledge: Four men attempt to acquire "The Knowledge" and qualify as a London taxi driver.

Steve Crook

I'd forgotten London's Burning, the TV play that led to the series. Great stuff.

Jack was a great writer of the classic TV drama. But sadly there seems to be little room for them these days. If fact towards the end of his life he was finding it harder to get his work performed because TV stations didn't like drama as much - unless it was costume drama based on classic books.

Maureen led a very nice obituary programme about him soon after his death.

Steve

DB7

Watched Ken Annakin's The Informers (1963) which was an excellent little crime drama starring Nigel Patrick as a Scotland Yard DI investigating a series of bank raids masterminded by ex-con Derren Nesbitt and a particularly impressive Frank Finlay. Also The House in the Woods (1959) but sadly succumbed to tiredness and nodded off halfway through.

Steve Crook

I've been watching the re-runs of Brush Strokes on Paramount Comedy 2.
A great British series. Nothing too flashy, just good scripts and good acting.

And talking of flash, how did Karl Howman end up being best known for advertising kitchen and bathroom cleaners? He's a good actor. He should be, he was one of the young lads trained by Alastair Sim.
But I suppose it pays the rent.

Steve

DB7

On something of a limited dialogue tip at the moment, watched Eric Sykes' tv remake of his own 60's short Rhubard and Mr H is Late; maybe one of the most cameo-packed half hours of telly. Also found there are some Sykes aficionados on P2P and managed to grab It's Your Move.

smudge

Currently watching the latest rash of NETWORK TV releases ; KINVIG, BUDGIE and THE JACK ROSENTHAL COLLECTION. The former being very entertaining - I only have a very vague memory of it originally and the other two are excellent !

SMUDGE

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

DB7

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004)

Would have been interesting to hear Gibbie's comments on this one. The documentary on Fox News in the US and their right-wing Murdoch agenda and twisting of the truth to show events in a good (Iraq war) or bad (John Kerry) light. My favourite excerpt was the link below of heavyweight anchor Bill O'Reilly tearing into anti-war campaigner Jeremy Glick (who lost his father during 9/11). Near the end you see O'Reilly waving his hand - this was for security take the interviewee away.
YouTube - Jeremy Glick vs Bill O'Reilly

Rob Compton

Trouble Brewing (1939) George Formby, directed by Anthony Kimmins - typical fast moving "romp" and, though the songs are not quite up to scratch, the pace of the film and the charm of the star means it was very entertaining. Great support from Googie Withers and the ever-reliable Garry Marsh and Joss Ambler, with Martita Hunt. Small part for Basil Radford as "guest".

I throroughly enjoyed it, but (bad news) Mrs C didn't:eek:. I think I might be watching any more on my own.....:rolleyes:

rgds
Rob

PS I've remarked before that Joss Ambler was an interesting actor, in films from the 1930's until his last film "Dunkirk" in 1958. Never a star, but had one of those faces which somehow belonged in British films, and nearly always played a somewhat irascible character, often a businessman, policeman or aristocrat. I think one of the charms of being interested in films is studying the byways as much as the highways - I often look at the background in a scene and wonder which of the extras was later to get a big break, what their names were, how much they were paid, and so on.:)

Rob Compton

Just further to this, one of the extras in "Trouble Brewing" was a lady who I have also seen in other Formby films - she's quite distinctive: a rather large lady with a jolly face - she was the cook alongside Esme Cannon's maid in Trouble Brewing - and I recall was on the train in "No Limit". She was always portrayed enjoying the songs, smiling and mugging in the background. She was never credited, as far as I know.

Does anyone know who she was and anything about her?

rgds
Rob

Steve Crook

The trouble is that "journalists" like O'Reilly and others on Fox News are the only story that many Americans get to hear.

Steve

MrDrakesDuck

The Love Match (Arthur Askey).

Never seen it before, great stuff.

"I thought I had to shoot Germans, not chew 'em"

MrDrakesDuck

Olivier's Richard III.

Long but well worth it.

"I thought I had to shoot Germans, not chew 'em"

Steve Crook

And with Pamela Brown as the silent mistress, Jane Shore. She says more with a glance that all those other people do chattering away for ages.

Steve