Watched last night (2004-2008)

[batman]

Here he is .... he is the bloke who isn't Mark Kermode.

[CaptainWaggett]

He had a lot more hair when he was carrying Ken's spears.

[smudge]

Only the hairline has changed...

Instantly recognisable.

Thanks Bats.

Smudge

[Jackdaw]

Originally Posted by batman Here he is .... he is the bloke who isn't Mark Kermode.

I think you'll find that title is reserved for Jesse Birdsall.

[Joe Fraguela]

Last night I watched the following:-

Double Exposure from 1954 a british b-film starring John Bentley, Rona Anderson, Garry Marsh, John Horsley, Alexander Gauge, Ingeborg Wells, Ricy Rydon, Frank Forsyth, Ronan O'Casey, Doris Hare, Alan Robinson and Eric Berry. Rona Anderson plays Barbara Leyland a photographer who unknowingly has photographed a man who seconds later has just murdered someone. A very good british b-movie.

Following on was The Tall Headlines from 1952, released by Grand National Pictures and starring Flora Robson, Andre Morell, Jane Hylton, Mai Zetterling, Michael Denison, Dennis Price, Mervyn Johns, Naunton Wayne, Barbara Blair, Celia Lipton, Olive Sloane and Peter Burton.

An extremely well made drama film focusing on the lives of the Rackham Family whose Son has been hanged for murder. It deals with the aftermath and their attempt to carry on with their lives. Excellent portrayals all round from the main cast. Also, featured in the cast in a bit part is Joan Hickson who plays a cafe waitress and Sid James who plays a kindly neighbour.

[Steve Crook]

The new Criterion DVD of The Thief of Bagdad (1940). Or large parts of it, there's so much on there that it'll take a few sessions to watch it all.

* Special Edition Double-Disc Set Features:
* New digital transfer, from restored film elements
* Two audio commentaries: one featuring renowned directors Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, and one with film and music historian Bruce Eder
* Visual Effects, a documentary about the technical achievements of The Thief of Bagdad, featuring interviews with special-effects masters Ray Harryhausen, Dennis Muren, and Craig Barron
* The Lion Has Wings (1940), Alexander Korda's propaganda film for the English war effort, created when The Thief of Bagdad went into production hiatus
* Excerpts from codirector Michael Powell's audio dictations for his autobiography
* Excerpts from a 1976 radio interview with composer Miklos Rózsa
* Stills gallery featuring rare images of the film's production and photos shot in Dufaycolor Optional music and effects track
* Theatrical trailer
* PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by film scholars Andrew Moor and Ian Christie

The colour on the main film is just stunning. Superb Technicolor, on the verge of being over-saturated, but staying just on the right side of it.

It's a great story, very well put together despite having about 6 different directors. You can hardly see the join between their different styles because Korda kept his guiding hand on all of them.

The special effects are very well done, even by today's standards. Many of them are so good you don't even realise that it is a special effect. The documentary with Ray Harryhausen and others goes into a lot of detail about the effects used.

I love the way that Coppola even interrupted himself while he was talking about something else just so that he could join in singing the line in the sailor's song
"I want to be a bandit,
Can't you understand it."
We had heard that he was a fan of the film and particularly of that song and the terrible rhyme in it.

I think this double DVD will keep me occupied for the next few evenings

One odd thing, they don't mention it anywhere in the promotional material but it does have optional subtitles on the main film.

Steve

[batman]

We watched the third episode of the 1975 Public Eye series. Excellent as always with more terrific acting and writing on display. This was followed by Blackout with Max and Dinah Sheridan. A pretty good B-thriller this, written by John Gilling and directed (as a kind of proto-Saint) by Robert S Baker. To complete the evening we enjoyed Bond of Fear, another Gilling writing effort with Dermot Walsh and John Colicos. We had intended to watch They Made Me A Fugitive but sleep beckoned all too soon.

[Third Man]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook The new Criterion DVD of The Thief of Bagdad (1940). Or large parts of it, there's so much on there that it'll take a few sessions to watch it all. * Special Edition Double-Disc Set Features: * New digital transfer, from restored film elements * Two audio commentaries: one featuring renowned directors Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, and one with film and music historian Bruce Eder * Visual Effects, a documentary about the technical achievements of The Thief of Bagdad, featuring interviews with special-effects masters Ray Harryhausen, Dennis Muren, and Craig Barron * The Lion Has Wings (1940), Alexander Korda's propaganda film for the English war effort, created when The Thief of Bagdad went into production hiatus * Excerpts from codirector Michael Powell's audio dictations for his autobiography * Excerpts from a 1976 radio interview with composer Miklos Rózsa * Stills gallery featuring rare images of the film's production and photos shot in Dufaycolor Optional music and effects track * Theatrical trailer * PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by film scholars Andrew Moor and Ian Christie The colour on the main film is just stunning. Superb Technicolor, on the verge of being over-saturated, but staying just on the right side of it. It's a great story, very well put together despite having about 6 different directors. You can hardly see the join between their different styles because Korda kept his guiding hand on all of them. The special effects are very well done, even by today's standards. Many of them are so good you don't even realise that it is a special effect. The documentary with Ray Harryhausen and others goes into a lot of detail about the effects used. I love the way that Coppola even interrupted himself while he was talking about something else just so that he could join in singing the line in the sailor's song "I want to be a bandit, Can't you understand it." We had heard that he was a fan of the film and particularly of that song and the terrible rhyme in it. I think this double DVD will keep me occupied for the next few evenings One odd thing, they don't mention it anywhere in the promotional material but it does have optional subtitles on the main film. Steve

Yes, just waiting for mine to touch down any day now, I 've been waiting in anticipation for this release for quite a while, just picked up their 'This Sporting Life' release as well very nice--- lots of extras..

Simon

[Shaun]

I watched a very enjoyable short feature, Behind the Headlines 1953. Something of a cliched representation of those days it features the workings of Scotland Yard. Gilbert Harding playing the part of a crime reporter smoothly discloses the tricks of the trade and story line to an obliging stooge who asks all the right questions.

As I like to say, they just don't make them like this anymore.

Shaun

[ronald colman 1]

Triple Bill for me yesterday firstly THE GUINEA PIG (1948) I particularythought that Robert Fleming was excellent as the school teacher that cares.then off to the cinema,the first time in 3 months to see the latest INDIANA JONES I did enjoy it but it seemed to lack the magic of the originals.

Then I shocked myself something I have not done for over 25years went stright into another screen to see DOOMSDAY.
I know it has had some dodgy reviews but i enjoyed it immensely and worth seeing for Rhona Mitri who was very good in the lead role.

[smudge]

Watched an old DALZIEL & PASCOE - Mrs. Smudge watches them all the time but I rarely pay attention. This was the one with Prunella Scales, set in a University. I rather enjoyed it and wished that Warren Clarke had been given something as good to do in THE INVISIBLES, which is what I shall be watching tonight...

Smudge

[dpgmel]

Watched IMHO one of the better episodes of Journey to the Unknown- The Madison Equation starring Barbara Bel Geddes, Allan Cuthbetson and the lovely Sue Lloyd.

[Joe Fraguela]

Last night I watched the recently released DVD of The London Nobody That Nobody Knows from 1967 with James Mason then following on was the 1968 short film Les Bicyclettes de Belsize from 1968 with Judy Huxtable and Anthony May.

[dpgmel]

I really love The London That Nobody Knows, very evocative of it's time. Something I can watch time and time again.

[Windthrop]

Watched a double bill of

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace - let down by dubbing and confusion as to when it was set - Edwardian costumes and 30s cars. Lee looks physically right as Holmes but Terence Fisher (co-director doesn't generate much atmosphere.

and

Endless Night - the last in the trilogy of Haley Mills/Hywel Bennett films that got increasingly darker. Nice attempt at a Christie but let down by excess length and plodding pace.