Sunday, Bloody Sunday (1971)

[billy bentley]

The Film Forum here in NYC is showing John Schlesinger's "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" for one week. For some reason I have a vaguely negative recollection of it. Is it any good ?
All opinions much appreciated.

[julian_craster]

Pobably John Schlesinger's best film....it is much better than the over-rated (esp in the USA) DARLING .........

[christoph404]

Schlesinger's own favorite film is "Day of The Locusts" My personal favorite is "Midnight Cowboy". Schlesinger came to Dundee in Scotland in the early 80s to film locations for his TV film "An Englishman Abroad" with Alan Bates, both Dundee and parts of Glasgow doubled for Moscow. I was a student at the time at Art School in Dundee and Schlesinger came to college to give a talk which I attended and a special showing of "Day of The Locusts" followed by questions from the assembled art students. Very interesting man and great to hear him talk about his work. Anyway, I think "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a very good film, Peter Finch is superb and I believe the film stirred quite a bit of controversy as it featured a full on snog between Finch and Murray Head, something not really seen before in cinema at that time.

[sippog]

Although no longer as controversial as it was - a subtle film, worth catching. Nice script by Penelope Gilliat.

[AdrianTurner]

The bit I remember from Sunday Bloody Sunday is the extraordinary, yuk-shudder-inducing moment when Glenda Jackson makes a cup of instant coffee from the hot water tap. Doesn't someone also keep their breast milk in the fridge? It did have the taste of life this one, though as with most 70s pictures it probably hasn't aged that well.

The first time I met Schlesinger - I'll never forget it - he said this. "Now, Adrian. Which of my films do you love the most?"

[stevie boy]

Originally Posted by julian_craster Pobably John Schlesinger's best film....it is much better than the over-rated (esp in the USA) DARLING .........

disagree strongly

[Keechelus]

SUNDAY, BLOODY ... awful.

A shame, with all the talent in front of and behind the camera -- but this was a pretentious failure in every way.

[Bruce]

Generally, I find most of Schlesinger's films very frustrating. They would have been much better if he had been content to use the excellent actors he worked with to simply tell a story instead of constantly trying to demonstrate what a clever trendy director he was. I think it might have been Howard Hawks who once defined a good director as "someone who doesn't annoy you". On that criterion, I'm afraid Schlesinger too often fails for me.

That said, 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' is probably one of his relatively low-key films. But, for example, why must we be shown repeated "clever" shots of the inner workings of a telephone exchange (an analogue one of course - this was the early 70's)? It's just distracting and unnecessary.

The film is very much of its time, and looks quite dated now. I suppose the scene of two men kissing was considered pretty daring stuff in the early 70's, but it wouldn't raise an eyebrow these days. By far the best thing in it is the performance of Peter Finch, and the final scene where he and Glenda Jackson meet is still quite touching. I remember enjoying the film when it came out (it seemed very sophisticated then), but time has not been kind to it.

[stevie boy]

Originally Posted by Bruce Generally, I find most of Schlesinger's films very frustrating. They would have been much better if he had been content to use the excellent actors he worked with to simply tell a story instead of constantly trying to demonstrate what a clever trendy director he was. I think it might have been Howard Hawks who once defined a good director as "someone who doesn't annoy you". On that criterion, I'm afraid Schlesinger too often fails for me. That said, 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' is probably one of his relatively low-key films. But, for example, why must we be shown repeated "clever" shots of the inner workings of a telephone exchange (an analogue one of course - this was the early 70's)? It's just distracting and unnecessary. The film is very much of its time, and looks quite dated now. I suppose the scene of two men kissing was considered pretty daring stuff in the early 70's, but it wouldn't raise an eyebrow these days. By far the best thing in it is the performance of Peter Finch, and the final scene where he and Glenda Jackson meet is still quite touching. I remember enjoying the film when it came out (it seemed very sophisticated then), but time has not been kind to it.

Peter Finch was truly a great actor, he seems to be overlooked when we talk about late actors but he was right at the top of the tree.

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by AdrianTurner The first time I met Schlesinger - I'll never forget it - he said this. "Now, Adrian. Which of my films do you love the most?"

So what was your reply, Adrian?