DB7

Quest for Love (1971)

As it popped up in the Wyndham thread I gave it another airing. It's a bit of an oddity from the Carry On team and sci-fi romance's are thin on the ground - the nearest to it is probably Journey to the Far Side of the Sun, which puts more emphasis on 'sci-fi' element. Despite veering into a love story mid-way thru the film remains engaging, chiefly due to Tom Bell's earnest performance and Joan Collins remaining remarkably understated.

DB7

The Third Alibi (1961) [courtesy of MoEW]

A cracking little love-triangle thriller superbly executed and with a fitting twist in the tale.

Harbottle

Live Now Pay Later (1962) Very entertaining film starring Ian Hendry as an "Alfie" several years before Michael Caine.

mysteriesofedgarwallace

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

It's a belter!
One of a number of titles shown as part of a series shown in the States called, strangely, 'Kraft Mystery Theater' in the early 60's.
Some details here

I have some titles from series1, but would sell my sole to the devil to get some more!
A strangle collction of films, from a variety of years, strange.

Merton Park

Wonderful Film, as I remember it Hendry was superb in the role as a door to door salesman selling everything on the never never. Think it was June Ritchie as his long suffering girlfriend. He was greatly underrated.

Used to see him with his old drinking pal Ronald Fraser, another great old actor, at the Old Bull and Bush pub in Hampstead.

Billy Liar

Keeping Mum

My partners choice, but I was pleasently surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Maggie Smith is superb! Reminded me of vintage Ealing with a touch of the Hitchcock thrown in for good measure.

smudge

CONTRABAND (1940)

A cracking wartime spy yarn from Powell & Pressburger.

Cleverly constructed and well paced, it kept Mrs. Smudge and I absorbed on this overcast Sunday afternoon. A great cast (incl. some wonderful light touches of comic relief from Hay Petrie & Co.) amd some subtle yet effective lighting by Mr. F.A. Young.

Great stuff ! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

SMUDGE

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

Steve Crook

One of my favourites. I've often thought (and said) that Contraband should be nominated as one of the sexiest movies P&P made. Agreed it's quite a lightweight piece of work but it has hidden shallows [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Everyone first thinks of BN, TRS (or maybe GTE) when they think of P&P's sexiest movie, but consider ...

It starts when Andersen (Conrad Veidt) calls Mrs. Sorensen (Valerie Hobson) to his cabin & asks if she wants to be chained up ("clapped in irons")

When Capt Andersen is looking for Mrs Sorenson on board the ship, first he nearly gets ensnared by the young lady doing the exercises on her bed - "You can read the newspaper here."
In fact she's Mrs. Abo (Olga Edwardes), the young, beautiful wife of Prof. Abo (Eric Berry) who's seen in the dining room with her. She's also his ex-student so the Prof isn't as frail and doddery as he looks.
Then Capt Andersen goes into Mrs Sorenson's cabin and while he's looking for clues as to where she might be he's fondling the stockings that she's left on the drawer.

When Andersen tracks Mrs Sorenson to London he nearly follows her into the ladies toilets !!

When they get to London he follows her in the blackout by keeping his torch shining on her long legs & high heels.

There's all the "flirty banter" and touching while they play with his watch and sing the song in the restaurant.

Mrs. Sorensen: Did you ever try being married? That can be quite a big adventure.
Andersen: [sighs] Why do women always say that? Marriage ends adventure.
Mrs. Sorensen: [copies sigh] Why do men always say that?

When Mrs S. is being interrogated she's about to be undressed in front of the assembled company but doesn't seem to mind. Maybe she thinks those MASSIVE shoulder pads will hide her?

Then when they're captured and tied up she has to "use her long legs" to help get him free his feet.

Andersen then stands up to free his hands

Andersen: "I shall have to hurt you"
Mrs. S: "Go ahead" <winces>

Then he ties her up again - does she enjoy that a bit too much? He goes off gallivanting leaving the damsel tied up - not the act of a gentleman and what about that "stolen" kiss just before he went?

After the battle, Andersen rescues her (and Mr Pidgeon) and leads them up to the top floor where he can shine the torch on her legs again as she walks across the beam (or whatever it is).

Then there's that final scene back in his cabin where they hold each other close. He tells her to drop the lifejacket and it tumbles to the floor - what happens next?

As I said sexy with a bit of kinkiness thrown in [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]
All very risqué for 1940.

BTW The film also has what I consider to be one of the cleverest lines in a film of the period.

Mr Pidgeon (Esmond Knight) is a talent scout looking for new variety acts to bring to Britain. When they are all being interviewed by the Royal Navy inspection party they say to him that that must be hard work.

Mr Pidgeon: Oh, Per Ardua Ad Astra.

"Per Ardua Ad Astra" is of course, the motto of the Royal Air Force and means "Through adversity to the stars".

Well I thought it was clever [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Steve

Harbottle

Agreed Hendry gives a superb performance in this one, mind he he usually did! Such a shame he had problems with the sauce [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif[/img]

smudge

I must agree Steve -

Frisson would not be the word ; there's something almost tangible in the film. Mrs. Smudge commented on the kinkiness in the stocking fondling bit. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blushing.gif[/img] I didn't know where to look ! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

The film certainly has something - I always think of GTE as a little more earthy - elemental, but CONTRABAND has a lightness and sophistication somewhat akin to the sparkling Garbo comedies from the US, despite the tight little thriller plot.

I though the 'turn and turnaround' scenes, leading up to our discovery of who the Brothers Grimm truly are, were very well done indeed. Also the matter-of-fact way Andersen has kept tabs on his journey ; something which would come naturally to him and seemingly a throwaway remark in the taxi (when asked what he was looking at) but certainly ingenious once you realise. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Yes - Per Ardua was very cheeky - good though.

It has quite set me in a P&P mood ; might revisit AMOLAD later in the week - or NARCISSUS. Wonder if I can FIND me copy of GTE.... ? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

SMUDGE

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

Steve Crook

<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Let Him Have It (1991)</span>

Shown on FilmFour. Stunning film. Brilliant performances all round, especially from Christopher Eccleston as the man-child Derek Bentley and Paul Reynolds as Chris Craig the young, war-hardened tearaway. All the supporting cast were excellent and quite a roll call of famous names.

And what a story! It shows what happens when society demands the Old Testament punishment of an eye for an eye. It just leaves everyone blind (thank you Mohandas K.)

Steve

Steve Crook

There's a very good DVD released by Pearson. That is the recently restored print and it also has a short interview with Prof. Ian Christie and some "behind the scenes" footage take on a hand-held camera while they were making it. Although that doesn't have a soundtrack (they've added some music) so it's hard to identify everyone unless you recognise them from other documentaries. But it does give a good idea of what they went through to make it, lugging those big cameras and wind machines up and down those steep Shropshire hills.

If you're ever over that way, just south of Shrewsbury, a lot of the area is still very similar to how it appears in the film. The countryside is almost another character in the cast. There are some reports of the various trips I've made there and some good "then & now" comparisons.

Steve

Rob Compton

The Constant Gardener (2005), Fernando Meirelles film starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. Stunning performances from the two main stars and good back ups from the others. I thought the camera work and editing were dazzling. The film lingers over the Kenyan scenery just as much as it prowls around London and the German scenes. The themes of big drug companies leeching the world, and particularly Africa, aided and abetted by the UK government, are just a touch overdone, however.

There are many striking visual images in the film, including the big white UN relief plane arriving like a huge alien bird in the desert, among people who can hardly imagine a world outside their own.

Well worth seeing, if you haven't already. I would be interested in any others view of the film.

For an interesting critique, see

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...840129,00.html

rgds
Rob

Harbottle

Jigsaw (1962) Quite a gripping detective story, with an excellent use of locations well acted and directed with a host of familiar faces, including a surprisingly brief but powerful appearance by John Le Mesurier. Thanks Mr Guest.

smudge

THE SQUEEZE -

Michael Apted's 1977 gangster thriller starring Stacey Keach, Stephen Boyd and David Hemmings.

A very "realistic" style of filming (not surprising given Apted's pedigree and the fact that we are some time after GET CARTER.) This gritty drama maintains it's momentum throughout, with a great 'turnabout' (in several aspects) ending.

A decent script by Leon (MINDER) Griffiths and a strong central performance by Keach, which considerably redresses the balance against Boyd's scenery-chewing OTT job. A creditable mention should also go to Freddie Starr, who more than holds his own against the film's principals, playing the gutsy little sidekick.

Not bad at all.... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

SMUDGE

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