X-Rated: The films that Shocked Britain

[sanndevil]

Hi folks - did anyone DVD-R the above, broadcast on C5 at 23:10 last night?



I totally forgot to set my machine before hitting the sauce last night! doh



As usual, will trade with a title from my collection.



Much appreciated

Nigel

[DB7]

Sadly I didn't but it was no great shakes. Rather than 'X-rated' films it was a history of soft porn 1970-2000. (on CH5 - who'd have thought it :) )



There were chronological clips interspersed with talking heads from Robin Askwith on the Confessions films, David Sullivan on Mary Milligton. Then it went Stateside to focus on 9 1/2 Weeks, Basic Instinct, Boogie Nights and how sex started not to sell (Showgirls, Striptease) and Hollywood wanting fewer films to carry an 18 certificate. (just 10% now)



The final part was dedicated to the arthouse. Peter Greenaway popped up and there were a few clips from French films like the Biase Moi.

[David Challinor]

I did! Well, VERY INTERESTING chunks of it - there was a great Ken Russell story I'll do a thread on later today...and the Very Great Nic Roeg spoke about Don't Look Now, explaining the sex scene splendidly

[DB7]

Channel 4 went over similar ground in the documentary Blue Movies last night. Once again David Sullivan was wheeled out and a barrage of 'Confessions of a...' clips.



And Mr Crook would have loved Peeping Tom's Mark described as a "serial wan*er."

[Steve Crook]

</div><div class='quotemain'>DB7:

Channel 4 went over similar ground in the documentary Blue Movies last night. Once again David Sullivan was wheeled out and a barrage of 'Confessions of a...' clips.



And Mr Crook would have loved Peeping Tom's Mark described as a "serial wan*er." [/b]

Who was that from, Michael Winner? I hear he was interviewed in that segment.



Something about pots & kettles springs to mind :)



Steve

[DB7]

No it was from the narrator. Rather than the film the focus was on Mark's character and objectifying him as part of London's dirty raincoat brigade. It was part of a segment looking at the punters who frequented such screenings.



Winner shot some naturist films... those where the women are always playing volleyball blush

[Steve Crook]

</div><div class='quotemain'>DB7:

No it was from the narrator. Rather than the film the focus was on Mark's character and objectifying him as part of London's dirty raincoat brigade. It was part of a segment looking at the punters who frequented such screenings.



Winner shot some naturist films... those where the women are always playing volleyball blush [/b]

Which led to Naked as Nature Intended which led to Harrison Marks & Pamels Green which led to Peeping Tom. Yes, I see the connection although I'd guess that the narrator (or whoever wrote the narration) had never seen Peeping Tom. Mark never needed to go to a "dirty raincoat" screening in a cinema club. He had his own cinema club - and one that the other punters wouldn't like very much.



One of the (many) big academic debates about Peeping Tom is trying to work out exactly what sort of thrill Mark gets from his films.



I think his just having a quick J. Arthur is too simplistic.



Steve

[42ndStreetFreak]

The narration/script on the CH5 show was MUCH better, more serious and respectful...

But the Ch4 doc was still pretty good.



That is except for the TWAT of a narrator (and some of his moronic script) but it was still great to see these clips, see the old cinema's, the old posters and to hear from those involved.



Some of the material is VERY similar (if not the same) as the recent CH5 series actually.



Shame about that dick narrator though.



2nd part tonight...........

[Simon Bermuda]

If memory serves, PEEPING TOM did contain an amusing nod to dirty-raincoatism in the shape of Miles Malleson's doddery old punter, discreetly purchasing what were euphemistically described as 'views'.

[Steve Crook]

</div><div class='quotemain'>Simon Bermuda:

If memory serves, PEEPING TOM did contain an amusing nod to dirty-raincoatism in the shape of Miles Malleson's doddery old punter, discreetly purchasing what were euphemistically described as 'views'. [/b]

Your memory is quite correct Simon. It was made even more amusing having that part played by Miles Malleson who more usually played vicars and other respectable members of society.



But they shouldn't have put Mark into that category. He was much more complex than that.



Steve

[42ndStreetFreak]

I missed the 2nd part. Any good?



The 3rd part on Paul Raymond was very interesting though and the 4th on "The Joy of Sex" was pretty good too.

[Holland]

In the CH4 programme on the monday night about the sex films they made reference to the British film industry going belly up in the late '60s which meant the just about only place young actors and actresses could get a film gig was in Confessions type films. Compared to say ten years previously this is quite a comedown.



You only have to look at the films listed by decade on Screenonline to see something had gone wrong by the 70's.



So what happened?



[ 07. February 2005, 15:30: Message edited by: Holland ]

[42ndStreetFreak]

I agree that more mainstream/family orientated movies were in decline...but the late 60's/70's still gave us some fine thrillers and were a GLORIOUS time for Horror/Exploitation films with THE finest brit Horror movies coming in the late 60's (Witchfinder General") and the 70's ("The Wicker Man")



It was at the tail end of the 70's into the 80's that it REALLY died a death.

[DB7]

</div><div class='quotemain'>Holland:

So what happened? [/b]

Many studios we're financed by the US majors. When they pulled out or cut investment in the 70s most had to make staff redundant and turn to television for work.

[smudge]

Even in the early 70s British Horror was in decline. Once The Exorcist came along, that was pretty much it.



The start of the 'blockbuster' movie hastened Britfilm's collapse, with flicks like JAWS and of course STAR WARS.



But then, Hollywood may well have busted it's blocks - but WE made Superman fly !!



SMUDGE

[42ndStreetFreak]

Britain made it's best horror movies by far in the 70's as far as I am concerned.

A GREAT era for Horror and Exploitation on both sides of the pond in fact.

[MarcMorris]

I have these on the hard disc ready to back up onto DVD-R, although why I'm bothering to keep them I don't know. As usual, each episode was riddled with errors and the usual talking heads wheeled out.



Fancy meeting you here 42ndStreetFreak...