batman

Freebie and the Bean - brainless, noisy, violent, 70s US buddy cop comedy-thriller with James Caan and Alan Arkin. Crap ... but entertaining crap.

Jingle bells Batman smells ... I heard that at school Daddy.

BAT QUIZ 16 HAS JUST BEEN POSTED IN THE COMPETITION THREAD - 06/01/09

Harleybloke

Prompted by comments on the forum, I got series one! It captivated me as a kid and it still does!!

Wonderful acting, great cast, great writing. Ah, they don't make 'em like that anymore.................................

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

batman

Part one of Sleepers. Just as good as I remembered it .... great performances by Clarke and Havers and a sharp script.

Jingle bells Batman smells ... I heard that at school Daddy.

BAT QUIZ 16 HAS JUST BEEN POSTED IN THE COMPETITION THREAD - 06/01/09

smudge

WATCHED LAST NIGHT AT THE THEATRE...

'See How They Run' - This classic wartime farce was very well staged and was a good laugh throughout.

All of the primary elements for farce were here - mistaken identity (lots - all of them vicars); running in and out of doors (again lots); a ludicrous conspiracy; an innocent abroad; an authority figure to be lead up the garden path (literally); a mistaken 'affair'; an escaped german POW and a catalyst to set the cat amongst the pigeons and cause much of the hilarity...

This revival had the audience with it all the way and there were plenty of 'laugh out loud' moments. Guy Siner (Allo Allo) as the POW had a classic moment of deja vu when he uttered half the immortal line, "Now listen very carefully..." The audience hung on his every word and he got a great laugh from the anticipation of the other half which never came.

This was everything you expect farce to be - madcap, frenetic and thoroughly confused. Great lynchpin performances from all of the ladies in this production - Helen Jeckells as the tee-total village snoop and catalyst to the action, Kathryn Dimery as the 'real vicar's' wife at the centre of the maelstrom and outstanding comic playing by Harriet Usher as Ida the maid, her co-conspirator who tries to keep a handle on everything and everything hidden away...

Add to this Michael Sharvell-Martin as the befuddled bishop and you have the makings of a great night out with a comedy which stands up remarkably well for its 64 year vintage!

The tour continues in Eastbourne and Guildford across the next three weeks...

Smudge

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

MrT

"Small Hotel" (1957) an under-rated little comedy gem with a late starring role for Gordon Harker. The film is short (58 minutes) and is essentially a filmed play about a wily old head waiter at a country hotel who manages to outwit the management. Also starring are old timers Marie Lohr and John Loder, newcomers Billie Whitelaw and Janet Munro, and a lovely comic turn from Irene Handl as the cook in the hotel kitchen. Highly recomended, anyone wanting a copy just send me a PM. (Taped from C4 in 1992)

Mike (MrT)

Keechelus

" ... Secret Service wanted those pictures back so much so they imposed a D-notice on all media coverage ... "

Aha, Jeannie and I did not miss much in this marvellous Donaldson caper flick, but D-notice was a puzzler. We figured it out in context, and all was well.

Yes! Suchet's vile Lew Vogel character was just right. He didn't exactly steal the movie, a fine ensemble piece, but his threat was very evident. Damn good, and Jeannie didn't recognize her TV hero Poirot as the porno king being kicked in the liver behind Paddington Station. I told her when it was over.

A serious note: Roger Donaldson is not always brilliant, but in top form, he certainly can handle a large cast in a complicated story. His THIRTEEN DAYS is the best political/military movie I have ever seen. I was 14 yrs old and very aware of events in October 1962, and became better informed in later years. The Donaldson movie is dead-nutz accurate.

THE BANK JOB is almost as good. The first 20 minutes jarred me with jump-cut editing and 21st-century techno music, but it settled into a good yarn, well told.

Another UK triumph.

Keechelus

Thanks for your kind recommendations.

No fear, SILVER FLEET is on my P&P completion list. Whether by legit DVD or trade it will get it here someday. I do appreciate the extra information about the background, which makes it more desirable.

Jeez, blinded by gunfire from Bismarck?

Joe Fraguela

Last evening I decided I would have another 1966 night.

Starting off with Episode 2 of Dr Who – The War Machines, first broadcasted on 2 July1966. William Hartnell plays the 1st Doctor with his assistant Dodo played by Jackie Lane.

This is also the first story to star future assistants Polly played by Anneke Wills and Ben played by Michael Craze.

Dodo having been hypnotized by WOTAN returns to the nightclub with the purpose of bringing the Doctor to WOTAN at the Post Office Tower, but her plans are thwarted. The Doctor, Dodo and Polly leave Ben outside the Nightclub as they depart in the taxi. The Doctor and Dodo are staying with Sir Charles Summer played by William Mervyn. The following day the Doctor reads an article in the paper about the death of a tramp who he had briefly met the previous night outside the nightclub whilst waiting for a taxi. Dodo suggests that the Doctor might like to visit Professor Brett, played by John Harvey, the Doctor rings the Post Office Tower Tower and Professor Brett answers, he switches on WOTAN and the Doctor reels as he is overcome by shock and feels some strange power has tried to abosorb his energy, Dodo thinking that he has been successfully hypnotized assures him that everything is OK, however the Doctor has not been hypnotized, he senses something is not quite right with Dodo, he sits Dodo down and realises she has been hypnotized, he then puts Dodo in a trance to unhypnotize her. Dodo is then sent to Sir Charles's house in the Country to stay with his Wife to re-couperate. Meanwhile, having been asked by the Doctor to investigate around the Covent Garden area, Ben finds himself in the Warehouse where War Machines are being built and tested, suddenly a War Machine suddenly homes in on Ben and approaches towards him.

Another excellent episode from the William Hartnell era, very enjoyable indeed.

Following on was an episode from Adam Adamant Lives! entitled The Last Sacrifice broadcasted on 18th August 1966. Gerald Harper plays the debonair sauve Adam Adamant, Juliet Harmer as Georgina Jones and Jack May as Simms his valet.

Guests appearing in this episode include the beautiful Jennifer Daniel as Esta Canfield, William Dexter as Lord Rufus Pearmain, Glyn Dearman as Statton, Hugh Dickson as James Denton and John Dawson as the Minister. A pleasant weekend party at Pearmain Abbey becomes a nightmare for one man when finds himself involved in a black magic ritual and a human sacrifice. Adam Adamant is called in to investigate the disappearance of the man.

Another entertaining episode from the cult TV show.

Following on, as there are limited televised recordings of music from 1966, I decided to dig out some 45's from my collection. The songs playing on the turntable were:-

The Appalachians - Look Away (Mercury label); John Barry - Theme from the TV Series 'Vendetta' (CBS label); Chippy - Another Time, Another Place (Polydor label); Georgie Fame - Sitting in The Park (Columbia label); Toni Eden - Finding You, Loving You (United Artists label); The Beatles - Paperback Writer (Parlophone label); The Bystanders - My Love Come Home (Piccadilly label); Gullivers People - Splendour in The Grass (Parlophone label); Tony Jackson Group - You're My Number One (CBS label); Neil Christian - That's Nice (Strike Label); The Gibsons - Hey Girl (Deram label); The Interns - Is it really what you want (Parlophone label); Graham Bonney - Supergirl (Columbia label); Deke Arlon - Hard Times For Young Lovers (Columbia label); Bobby Goldsboro - No Fun at The Fair (United Artists label); Dave Clark 5 - Try Too Hard (Columbia label); The Beach Boys - God Only Knows (Capitol label); The Graham Bond Organisation - St James Infirmary (Columbia label); The Animals - Don't Bring Me Down (Decca label); Los Bravos - Black is Black (Decca label); Len Barry - Like A Baby (Brunswick label); Beverley - Happy New Year (Deram label); The Troggs - I Can't Control Myself (Page One label); and David & Jonathan - Modesty Blaise from the 1966 film soundtrack of the same name (Fontana label)

Following on and rather aptly from the last tune, I watched Modesty Blaise directed by Joseph Losey and starring Monica Vitti, Dirk Bogarde, Terence Stamp, Harry Andrews, Rossella Falk, Michael Craig, Alexander Knox, Scilla Gabel, Clive Revill, Joe Melia, Tina Aumont, Saro Urzi, Oliver MacGreevy and Aldo Silvan.

Hired by the British Government via their representative Tarrant played by Harry Andrews, to prevent a diamond heist, Modesty Blaise played by Monica Vitti recruits her equally talented sidekick Willie Garvin played by Terence Stamp to help her battle their arch enemy Gabriel played by Dirk Bogarde.

There are some very attractive Mediterranean locations, outrageous outfits and groovy psychadelic designs and a catchy soundtrack by Johnny Dankworth.

Rounding off 1966 night was the sci-fi film Invasion released by Anglo Amalgamated and starring Edward Judd, Valerie Gearon, Yoko Tani, Barrie Ingham, Tsai Chin, Lyndon Brook, Eric Young, Glyn Houston, Jean Lodge, Anthony Sharp, Ann Castle, Ann Martin and Stephanie Bidmead.

An alien spaceship crashes near a rural hospital. When the aliens are taken to the hospital, a mysterious force field suddenly appears around it.

Despite the film being made on a low budget, it is still a very well made atmospheric sci-fi film with some very good performances headed by Edward Judd who plays Dr Mike Vernon and Valerie Gearon who plays Dr Claire Harland is sporting a very trendy Vidal Sassoon haircut!

All in all a very enjoyable night's viewing.

Chevyman

Well me and Mrs C spent the weekend in France doing our bit to empty the European Wine Lake. Nice trip....Room, en-suite with balcony £40, dinner £15.
Turned on the TV in our room to be greeted by the French version of "Weakest Link"

Ten minutes further on and "Jean de Florette" in French. A struggle but we got there. I still enjoy it

A Happy and Healthy New Year to all

"Don't tread on Greta Garbo, as you walk down the boulevard?"

Harbottle

Watched this the other night, agreed a delightful film.

ronald colman 1

just bought the first series of NEW TRICKS so watched the pilot and the next 2 episodes a sheer joy to watch actors so comfortable and enjoying what they are doing.

A Pemberton

Value for Money

Formulaic story of northern townsfolk with miserly factory owner(John Gregson) being led astray from his hometown sweetheart(Susan Stephen) by pretty showgirl from the big smoke (Diana Dors, looking here, in my biased opinion,incredible!)
Genteel in its comic approach,it was never going to be a classic but a splendid "Sunday afternoon" type film.

Slightly spoilt by Greek subtitles on the DVD which I could not remove for some reason and which for some other strange reason I could not ignore for the first 10 minutes.......(why does that happen?)

batman

Blind Spot - above average Butchers B movie which is a remake of Max's film Blackout. It suffers from not having Max in the lead, but is enjoyable and in some ways better than the original.

Jingle bells Batman smells ... I heard that at school Daddy.

BAT QUIZ 16 HAS JUST BEEN POSTED IN THE COMPETITION THREAD - 06/01/09

dremble wedge

Chaplin

Never seen it before and not a Chaplin fan but thoroughly enjoyed it despite it seeming rather fractured - presumably it was orginally meant to be much longer?

Windthrop

It was very poorly received when it came out and though IMHO it has more merit than some people suggested then it suffers from trying to cram his whole life into several hours.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !