Ascoyne D'Ascoyne

I find the "Radio Times Guide to Films" an invaluable tool in guiding me in my choice of films - anything it slags off or is lukewarm about I know I will thoroughly enjoy.
It is, of course, thoroughly tepid about two films starring Tommy Steele (probably, with apologies to fans of Messrs. Richard, Faith, Fury et al, the most versatile of the British entertainers to have come from the Rock era) which I have watched and enjoyed recently, "Light up the Sky" (1960) - a wartime comedy drama also starring Ian Carmichael, Benny Hill, Sidney Tafler, Victor Maddern and a very young Johnny Briggs- and, more particularly "It's all Happening"(1963). The plot of the latter is, it is true, paper-thin; Tommy works for a recording company where his unscrupulous boss is played by Michael Medwin. He also helps out at the orphanage where he was raised and, as might be easily guessed, much of the film centres round Tommy's efforts to put on a musical show on its behalf. Although several character actors appear throughout the film (including Bernard Bresslaw who spend all of his time trying to get Tommy's trousers off - not nearly as kinky as it sounds because he's looking for a birthmark on Tommy's leg!) the main interest of the cast is in the list of musical stars of the day; they include Marion Ryan, Geoff Love, Russ Conway, Shane Fenton, The George Mitchell Singers (relax-theyr'e not in minstrel make-up) and The Clyde Valley Stompers. It's noticeable how classy these performers were; the artists really did sing then in contrast to the shouting, braying and bleating that, all too often, has been acclaimed as high vocal art since that time. I much enjoyed hearing again the voice of Danny Williams and was pleased to make the acquaintance of Johnny deLittle, who I'd never heard of before; he didn't have the "pretty-boy" looks of some of his contemporaries which might explain why he never made the big time, but what a voice he had!

Stu

If you like these type of films then take a look at Matinee Movies & Bad Movies (Sky Digital channel 336 & 339) as they often show "Live It Up" (1964) and "Be My Guest" (1963) both directed by Lance Comfort.

Ascoyne D'Ascoyne

Thanks Stu
I'd love to- but can't afford Sky I'm afraid. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nopity.gif[/img]

arty-dave

Both Bad and Matinee are free to air - I know because I cancelled my contract with sky last year and still have access to many channels.

Open Access seem to be getting in on the classic brit films early mornings

Rob Compton

Sorry to be thick arty-dave - but what do you mean by "open access"? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]

rgds
Rob

arty-dave

Hi Rob

Open Access is the name of a tv channel (262 on the sky box)

Rob Compton

OK thanks, still thinking about getting sky, the "freeview" version at least - though knowing my luck, I'll just have forked out the hard-earned, and these channels will stop broadcasting.... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]

rgds
Rob

Steve Crook

If it's any indication, most other channels that mainly did old films (Bravo, Carlton Cinema, UK Arena) have either been closed down completely or have rebranded (like Bravo) to do something totally different.

The only ones that still mainly do old films that have been around for a while are TCM (UK) and FilmFour.

Steve