billy bentley

I'm not trying to get into an argument here, just trying to make an observation. Of course there are equally grim places in the US, but most of the Americans I have met that have an interest in British films are college educated and white. They're backgrounds are generally not ones of hardship, their parents and/or grandparents were doing quite nicely by the end of WW2 as the Amrican economy was booming. Perhaps it's me and the people I've met. (I was going to end with something sarcastic but am learning to behave myself thanks to the good example many of you show).

TimR

I wasn't arguing. Not at all. I just enjoy comparing experiences and observations.

MB

It is difficult to generalise on a subject like this, reading different opinions is what I would expect - particularly from a country so vast and a subject so wide... still, you can gain a better perspective...


For example, I was horrified to learn that Benny Hill enjoyed a great deal of popularity with some in the US..kind of..bemused as to why 'Monty Python' was so popular with, presumably, quite a different group altogether (even though I quite liked it) and very glad that Bernard Manning never took the trip...

I did enjoy Seinfield and The Simpsons - although I just didn't understand some of it..cultural references and codes of behaviour..

Some of the people I admire the most are involved in the arts in the US - extremely open minded.. some US 'independant' film I particularly like.. and in terms of mindset I think the David O. Russell/Wes Anderson etc films are a huge relief to see. The subject matter is often 'universal' - about being 'human' and I think that is a way of appealing to people in other parts of the world without having to worry about the minor references too much. But I think there is room for locally based ideas and the universal subjects.

Keechelus

Class divisions in America are just as real as those in Britain, but are less-often treated with realism.

Popular USA movies often pander to suburban fear (and suburban teens' delight) with gangstas blasting inner city streets with fearsome weapons, while their leggy babes watch in admiration. Perhaps worse, some USA movies have dwelled on the so-called "trailer-trash" lives of hard-pressed working Americans without sympathy.

Some Brit films (*sigh* all of Guy Ritchie's recent work) follow that pattern, but there is a tradition of sympathetic working-class realism in UK cinema that began with HINDLE WAKES 80 years ago, and has continued in LITTLE VOICE, THE FULL MONTY, THE REAL JIMMY GRIMBLE, BILLY ELLIOTT and BRASSED OFF, to name a few.

In defense of American cinema, John Sayles is a notably honest writer-director whose depictions of ordinary Americans are both entertaining and dead-nutz accurate. See Sayles' SUNSHINE STATE, LIMBO, SILVER CITY and especially LONE STAR for a picture of American life without b*s.

billy bentley

I might disagree with you there Keechelus, not that there aren't class divisions in the U>S. but I don't think they were as pronounced as they were in Britain. I was about seventeen before i knew anyone that wasn't working class. The division of race, sadly remains on or sometimes just below the surface here in the U.S. and may be comparable to how things were in Britain. Having not lived there for over twenty odd years I don't feel qualified to comment. Obviously NYC isn't regular "America" but hardly a day passes when I don't see a person of colour trying to hail a yellow cab and getting passed by.

Greyandwhite

I think that this thread has become focused on the USA/UK relationship whereas the initial question included the rest of the world. Is part of the problem that both countries suspect themselves to be the main part of the world and so find difficulty with 'others' view of themselves?

Anyway, I was born in UK and lived there until late my late 30's. I've been in Aussie for 8 1/2 years. I visited the USA 3 times and worked there for several months...others will have to give opinion from different continents.

The Aussie attitude is complex and mixed. The ABC frequently shows "old" films after midnight during the week...some US some UK. Many of them would be loved by this site's fans (ie This Happy Breed tonight at 1 a.m ish). It also shows many BBC /ITV imports as prime time TV (although often months and months behind UK). Aussie still seems to have a love/hate relationship with UK. UK news gets lots of coverage..it also gets mocked. The Poms are the last legit target for a snide comment in these PC times but at the same time can be deferred to. In my experience Aussies rate UK comedy/music/drama very highly, Uk film middling and the sports as a running joke. UK Films rarely make a massive impact here though visiting stars get favourable coverage.

Confused ? I am constantly. It may be that older people with a connection to UK (and Adelaide is full of 'em) particularly like the TV aspect but younger people definitely love UK music. For some reason The Bill is tremendously popular. I think that the East Coast cities with their higher percentage of non-UK related communities are less likely to "look back" to the UK film industry for any sort of relevance or referance. I can't think that many 'old' UK pictures would be known by the 15-30 group.

I've probably not added anything definitive to this thread but it did ask for attitudes to UK films. Here in Australia it seems to be interest and fascination from a minority, indifference from many but hostility from very few. I think that this last point may be the difference between UK/US films in Aus. Many US films seem to be seen as propaganda or cultural bullying whereas this doesn't seem to apply to UK films. "American Trash" seems to be more often used than "Brit Crap".

Yeah, that's me. Billy Balthorpe, the man with no name.

billy bentley

Greyandwhite, I'm not trying to make this thread solely about the UK & USA, but I have no real experience of elsewhere concerning this issue. I have no idea how contemporary British films are received in NYC as I almost never see them at the cinmea. I do however attend a good amount of retrospectives and revivals. French films from the 50's and 60's are far better attended than British films from the same era. To my knowledge, apart from TCM, British films rarely appear on TV here.

Steve Crook

It wasn't in the original question, but after that very good description of the situation in Australia, how are Australian films and TV shows received there?
Do they get any better (or worse) reception than UK or US productions?

And how about those from the home countries of the various "new Australians"?

There used to be a thing they called the cultural cringe in Australia (also seen to an extent in NZ & Canada) where they automatically admired just about everything from any other country and dismissed just about everything home grown. I presume that's not as active as it once was.

Steve

kris20

I'm probably going to get my head kick for this but:-

surely for most people you have SOME insight to how other cultures are?
Australian culture is not like American or British. British is not like French though it is closer to France than Cairns, where I live, and Perth. I find it so strange that America in particular seemes so isolated in it's understanding of other cultures, and Britian too. Do your news and current affairs programs not cover anything other than your own countires?

Greyandwhite

My comment wasn't directed at one thread (or threader!) in particular Mr.Bentley so didn't mean to cause consternation there. Just thought that I'd bring in the view from elsewhere from my limited experience.

I'm not familiar with TCM by the way. I feel as if I should know it but cant place it.

Yeah, that's me. Billy Balthorpe, the man with no name.

Greyandwhite

G'day Kris20,
Thought that I'd answer you first. My experience of living in various countries I have described above. I have also visited many other parts of Europe and some parts of North Africa. In all of those places, except one, I have found at least a basic concept of others cultures and geopgraphy. The "one" was America. TV news, educated people's views, general education etc. all seemed to ignore the rest of the world.

Sometimes, however, familiarity can breed contempt. So UK/France relations can be as awkward as some QLD/NSW/VIC relations. We know what they mean but buggered if we're going to let on we do

Yeah, that's me. Billy Balthorpe, the man with no name.

Steve Crook

TCM = Turner Classic Movies
Broadcasts in the US, UK, Spain, France and other places. But it uses a completely different programme in each country so whenever people mention a film being shown on a TCM channel we prefer them to include the country like TCM (US), TCM (UK) etc

Steve

Steve Crook

People often argue more with their neighbours than with those they don't really know

Steve

Greyandwhite

G'day Steve,
I would have to say that Aus films and TV seem different. The Films struggle on the whole to get much of a release or big publicity but can actually turn out to have some longevity and praise. We are saturated at the mo' by Sex and the City but some Aussie films get scant regard. Most films get a review but few seem to get above a 3 star (from 5) rating. Alternatively, homegrown TV gets a big rap to start with but once the series starts (and...cynical comment to follow..the truth dawns) they are often moved to an off peak viewing time. A recent TV success was Underbelley which was about Melbourne gangsters. Based on truth and actually banned in Victoria whilst the rest of us could watch it as parts of the series touched on ongoing court cases! I think that Aussie product seems to have to go through some sort of extra hurdle when compared with UK/USA stuff to be accepted fully. When it does this...then it is loved for years. I can't say for sure why this is but it seems to need to have an authentic ring to it.

As for "New Australians" (which I think may be an old term now) then SBS is the clear winner. I stand to be corrected but I think it was developed as a TV channel to provide programs for a multi cultural society and stands for Special Broadcasting Services. From 7am to 1pm the news from all parts of theworld in the original language is broadcast i.e. Greek/Mandarin/Russian/Chinese/Spanish?German etcetc. Many programs are subtitled and this is a station policy to address worls wide issues. The main evening news is tagged "News From Home..If YOu Live In The World." It is, for my money, the most interesting free to air station. ABC runs second. 10 is cheap and cheerful nonsense (a channel 5 equivalent poss..not sure as I'm over here). Channels 7 & 9 are the heavyweights who seem to show endless US cop shows, big name TV and Gordon "F*****g Ramsey etc.

I think that the Cultural Cringe has lessened in that more confidence is felt about Aussie produced stuff. too much deference is given to some other stuff (see comments re The Bill). The main channels are owned by Packer and Murdoch and its all too cynically tied in for worldwide consumption for my liking. Rather than loving a new film, the channel that has the most shares inviolved with the studio does the most promotion, no matter what. I'm not sure that many people in Aus or elsewhere are aware of this. IN Aus it just seems blatant.

Yeah, that's me. Billy Balthorpe, the man with no name.

Greyandwhite

Thanks for that Steve, I don't have cable/satellite but is that the sort of place that I would find TCM (Aus) if it exists? I know I could probably find out for myself but other lazy buggers may be reading this too

Yeah, that's me. Billy Balthorpe, the man with no name.