samkydd

I've received the DVD and there is a bonus documentary about the making of the film and interviews with Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Anna Massey and the screenwriter. There are home movie type shots of some of the film's shooting plus a snippet of the original Henry Mancini score.

Covent Garden as it was then was a great location, and Hitchcock's father used to do business there for his greengrocery. Although the film was quite a low budget affair and it seemed as though all the action took place within a few yards of each location, it did manage to capture the final days of the old London that hadn't really changed much sinced the 19th century. Last time I went to Covent Garden it was a little too trendy with horrible soul-less wine bars and pretentious restaurants ashamed to put anything English on the menu!

My only criticism of the film was that it was a single plot and the characters weren't that interesting. I'd like to have seen more of Barry Foster's home life with his mum Rita Webb, and more of Bernard Cribbins lusting after his barmaid Anna Massey. It felt sometimes that the audience had joined in a bit too late to get to know the characters properly.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

reginafelangie

This may be set in the dawn of World War 1, but why not the Thirty-Nine steps starring the wonderful, charismatic, would-make-a-wonderful-007 Robert Powell?

And Anthony Hopkins starring in the Mclean Adventure of Intrigue and Suspense, When Eight Bells Toll?


1st one made in 1978, the 2nd one made in 1971. It is worth buying just to see anthony Hopkins with COLOUR in his hair!

SIG - Spectrum Is Green!

kevjo

When Eight Bells Toll has always been a great favourite of mine, ever since I saw it at the pictures (in Barmouth, whilst on holiday, as it happens). A great little action film with some nice location work in Scotland, and a lovely turn by Robert Morley as Hopkins' boss. I was convinced that me and my brother were the only two people who had ever seen it for years. It was never released on VHS - I was surprised and delighted when it was released on DVD recently - I was finally able to retire the pan and scan TV recording, and was able to watch it in widescreen for the first time since that holiday in Barmouth. Great soundtrack too.

DB7

Freelance and Give Us Tomorrow are two I wouldn't mind seeing. The sort of titles that'll one day pop up on ebay as very worn VHS tapes.

harryfielder

Covent Garden location....Frenzy....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../PDVD_0440.jpg

Aitch,

http://www.turnipnet.com/aitch/aitch/gallery.htm