WiseFilms

Immortality denied!Jean Vigo, Michael Reeves even. If Roeg had only died after a few movies, maybe, but now we must consider that mess he made in the 1980's.

WiseFilms

Fell, I know I must sound silly and all in a tangle trying to split these hairs, but I need more than one movie by a filmmaker to choose from as the Great One. As much as I love and admire 'Cold Heaven', it's no match for the direct brillance of 'Walkabout'. There has to be some tension, a real question about it. Ask me what my favorite early Hichcock is, and one day I'll say 'Young and Innocent', the next 'Sabotage', then 'The Ring', it's something to ponder. Clearly, whatever coomes of Roeg's next movie, 'Walkabout' must stand as his suprime high peak.

David Brent

As a lover of many British films, old and new, I get perplexed at times at the lack of exposure they receive on television around the world.
Over the last few months I've been checking the pay movie channels here in Australia to see how many Brit films have featured.
I receive 7 movie channels on pay. Other pay channels also show the occassional films.
Each month, between all channels, there is an average of 1,100 films shown on subscription television here in Australia.
Of those less than 50 titles a month are British made.
Out of these titles less than 12 were made prior to 1970.
I would dearly love to see a channel devoted solely to British films, especially many of the classics made prior to 1970. There is already a UKTV channel here devoted to British television programs, so why not a Brit film channel?
It's not so much who makes the films, its the worldwide exposure they receive that is the most important factor in the continued success of British films.

Dave.

Moor Larkin

On the other hand, I have noticed that ABC has shown "Life for Ruth", "High Tide at Noon" and "The Gypsy and the Gentleman" in the last year or two. To the best of my knowledge none of these has appeared on British TV so far this Millenium. Nor do they seem likely to do so..........

Fortunately Jean Claude Van Damme's master-classes in movie-making are screened on a Quarterly basis.....Nothing wrong with our scheduling........

I wonder how much of these issues revolve around percieved popularity and how much upon the fees demanded by the 'Rights' holders.....

[code]http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487363@N02/sets/72157606700675506/code]

PS68060

It would be nice to have one of those here :

I once wrote to the Beeb and asked if the would consider doing a Brit themed
week. They wrote back saying that I didn't like American TV progs.

That wasn't what I said but I clearly touched a nerve.

Britain produces some good television but I think that this is sometimes to the
detriment of our film industry.

Apart from the snobbery against British films the critics always seem to want every
film to be either a classic or a massive "box office" success and they aren't always
happy with the latter.

I am not saying we should churn out rubbsih but if you make 10 films instead of 1
then the likelihood of making a succesful classic is better.

"Oh! Pete!"

Steve Crook

They weren't all brilliant. The ones that tend to have been retained for this long are usually the better ones. They made bad films back in the old days as well.

But with the coming of sound a lot of people dismissed all silent films as rubbish and with the coming of colour, some people dismissed all B&W films as rubbish.
I think that says more about the people than the films :

Steve

ChristineCB

Good! I will - FOR ONCE - agree with Steve (sorry! sorry! 'twon't happen again!) that this says more about the people than anything else.

BUT I want to add our very own corollary to this - People don't know what People don't know, and a good portion of blame for the masses' ignorance falls at the doorstep of certain copyright holders.

As long as the copyright holders bury so much of 'their property' and refuse to let the public see it, then the trinkets and baubles that are doled out may always be considered as celluloid tidbits.

It's no wonder there is less and less interest in older films - new viewers are not assured of any success in exploring great portions of our cinematic history. "Why bother? There's no future? I'll always find more paths blocked and unattainable - I might as well learn all about Hollywood pyrotechnics and learn to enjoy mushroom cloud explosions with each car crash. I can learn to enjoy fart jokes and Dumb & Dumber Shauns. It's not like I can see all of Will Hay's films, after all. It's not like OH MR PORTER or STEPTOE have any future."

I think this is one of the results that the corporate copyright holders are fomenting - intentionally or not.

noglea

I think one of the most overlooked British directors is Walter Forde. He may not have made a film as good as 'The Lady Vanishes' or 'The Edge of the World' but I think he is one of the best directors of the 1930s.

Steve Crook

I'm sure it won't

Steve

ChristineCB

I always want to post that little clip of Eric Idle with his mustache, sitting next to the chap going, "Is she a go'er? Nudge nudge, wink wink! Eh? Eh?"

Isn't it terrible to imagine that such a sane person as I (insert "was", "is", "could be", or "(d) none of the above") could have such a video-clip as a landmark to her formative years?

George Fry

The lead article was great. What everyone (not you Guys) seem to forget is that there is a generation , like me, who grew up on and were inspired by Brit films in the forties, fifties and sixties. They defined us and set us goals and standards. Look how we all keep coming back to praise the Archers, who opened our eyes.
As a second thought, you should live in Canada where we produce beautiful and poetic films which never or rarely get a showing even in our own cinema chains.
George.

ChristineCB

George, if there's anything good for the burial of so many artistic jewels, it could be that it brings out the archeological rewards for someone like me. The fact that so many of you sicko's continually bombard me with dozens of great film titles I've never seen doesn't escape my notice, either! I was almost CERTAIN my collection was 'complete' last year. Grrr..

As long as people don't bring up another Stanley Baker type that I suddenly have to track down... or that darned Ivor Novello... lordy, why am I even getting hooked on Silents?!!

Steve Crook

And now it's the cool cat in the hat
You change your appearance so often I think I'd better start recording some of these. I wonder if this will work?

Let's see

Steve

ChristineCB

Well, this one is NOT my fault! Blame Robert and Aitch! Just wait'll next time!

mel walton

Seems like half the films shown on Turner's channel are black and whites from the thirties (hope they continue to be), they don't show very many British, 'tho (I sure miss Jessie Matthews ) I, once, wrote to the channel with suggestions (they requested it), of course, nothing came of it. guess they asked for suggestions just to see how many people watched the channel.