Which British film classics wouldn't have been made today?

[Beaty1961]

I was thinking this afternoon about my favorite 1960s British films, and then thought that it was lucky they were made in the 60s as in today's climate they would have little chance of being made. For example, 'If...' or 'Poor Cow' or even 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'...



Which legendary British films do you think simply would not be made today?

[Cheeky Bob]

name='Beaty1961']I was thinking this afternoon about my favorite 1960s British films, and then thought that it was lucky they were made in the 60s as in today's climate they would have little chance of being made. For example, 'If...' or 'Poor Cow' or even 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'...



Which legendary British films do you think simply would not be made today?

Why would Poor Cow not be made today?

[batman]

A 'traditional' Carry on.... film full of double entendres and 'sexist' humour.

[Miss Guided]

name='Beaty1961']I was thinking this afternoon about my favorite 1960s British films, and then thought that it was lucky they were made in the 60s as in today's climate they would have little chance of being made. For example, 'If...' or 'Poor Cow' or even 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'...



Which legendary British films do you think simply would not be made today?

add to that.. Zulu and Whistle Down the Wind .... and any true Carry On - not these foolish hashes .. let them be.

[batman]

name='Miss Guided']and any true Carry On - not these foolish hashes .. let them be.

I must have an echo!

[Beaty1961]

name='Cheeky Bob']Why would Poor Cow not be made today?

Very good question - and I would agree, why not?



In the case of 'Poor Cow', I don't say that it wouldn't be picked up by British film financiers because of the themes or subject mater...In fact, it's very, very topical.



I think - and this is just my opinion - that 'Poor Cow' wouldn't be picked up - sadly - because the backers of British films would; a. As not being a 'sure fire' box office earner, and b. the backers would not see this as having an audience beyond Britain.



I don't believe this.



Part of the reason I ask the question is because I find it sad that British film has perhaps lost it's willingness to be provoking and controversial - popularity and success were not the primary concerns...Or more correctly, there don't seem to be backers out there who are willing to be 'patrons' - but rather want to be investors.



What do you think?

[Miss Guided]

You do.. it is me.me.. me.. me...

[batman]

name='Miss Guided']You do.. it is me.me.. me.. me...

I see .. see ... see .... see

[Moor Larkin]

Brief Encounter would be very different..............



............. apparently..........





Not her you fool!

[batman]

If Casino Royale (Daniel Craig version) had been the real first Bond film instead of a reboot, I wonder if the series would still be going in 46 years time from now.

[Cheeky Bob]

name='Beaty1961']I think - and this is just my opinion - that 'Poor Cow' wouldn't be picked up - sadly - because the backers of British films would; a. As not being a 'sure fire' box office earner, and b. the backers would not see this as having an audience beyond Britain.

Well, first of all, Ken Loach is much more bankable now than he was in 1967 - and his films generally do better in mainland Europe than they do in Britain.



So I'd say that he'd probably have an easier time raising the money now than he did back in 1967 - and he's certainly been much more prolific in the last 20 years of his career than he was in the first 20.

[Beaty1961]

name='Cheeky Bob']Well, first of all, Ken Loach is much more bankable now than he was in 1967 - and his films generally do better in mainland Europe than they do in Britain.



So I'd say that he'd probably have an easier time raising the money now than he did back in 1967 - and he's certainly been much more prolific in the last 20 years of his career than he was in the first 20.

(Hi Cheeky Bob - hope you don't mind if I propose a counter responce?)



My only reservation about your comments would be, in that case why aren't we seeing films like 'Poor Cow' in mainstream cinemas?



I think you are spot on about Ken Loach - 'It's a Free World' seems very much in the vein of 'Poor Cow', but who has seen it? Which cinema chains picked it up?



Apparently it was only given a 'limited' release in the UK!



Is it that audiences aren't generally open to social drama of this sort?



Thanks for a mature and constructive response, Cheeky Bob.



Steve

[Beaty1961]

name='Moor Larkin']Brief Encounter would be very different..............



............. apparently..........





Not her you fool!

That's a very interesting idea, ML. How do you think it would be different?



-- I'll take a guess and say that the social taboos that was at the heart of the 'tragic' romance would not have been an issue these days. Is this what you meant?



(Glad you brought this film up - it's my mother favourite. :) )

[dylan]

The Drum (1938) - Plot summary See Steve's plot summary.





D.

[byebyebadman]

spring and port wine, here we go round the mulberry bush

[batman]

name='Beaty1961']That's a very interesting idea, ML. How do you think it would be different?



-- I'll take a guess and say that the social taboos that was at the heart of the 'tragic' romance would not have been an issue these days. Is this what you meant?



(Glad you brought this film up - it's my mother favourite. :) )

Some people have claimed that Coward originally wrote it about two men. The Young Lovers is another film that has had this scenario put forward.

[Moor Larkin]

name='Beaty1961']That's a very interesting idea, ML. How do you think it would be different?



-- I'll take a guess and say that the social taboos that was at the heart of the 'tragic' romance would not have been an issue these days. Is this what you meant?



(Glad you brought this film up - it's my mother favourite.

What Batman said......... on my mischievous level



...............but what you said also occurred to me. Nowadays movie-makers would deem it implausible. I do wonder if, in fact, it was implausible at the time but the public mores of the cinema then merely allowed the viewer to "believe" it.



You could make it in reverse of course, where the ease of conducting a full-on affaire is made plainly available, but the protagonists elect to 'say no' because of all the damage it could wreak around them......... maybe that was part of the original ethos too.

[Beaty1961]

name='Moor Larkin']What Batman said......... on my mischievous level



...............but what you said also occurred to me. Nowadays movie-makers would deem it implausible. I do wonder if, in fact, it was implausible at the time but the public mores of the cinema then merely allowed the viewer to "believe" it.



You could make it in reverse of course, where the ease of conducting a full-on affaire is made plainly available, but the protagonists elect to 'say no' because of all the damage it could wreak around them......... maybe that was part of the original ethos too.

This is a very interesting train of thought, ML. And I brought my mother up for good reason...



It's very easy for us nowadays to believe that people didn't actually exist like those portrayed in 'Brief Encounter' and that it was a product of stereotyped ideals rather than realistic representation of lifestyles and morals of the time. But I believe that these middle class characters did actually exist.



Yes the morals and stiff upper-lip are affectations - but they are affectations that many people did actually try to adhere too.



My mother is a typical illustration of this type of character, who completely believed the scenario depicted in 'brief encounter' and also tried to live up to this sort of 'Britishness'.



It's very easy for us to ridicule and be sceptical as to whether this type of Britain actually existed, but as with most belief systems (which the cult of 'Britishness' is) it exists if people believe it does.



I know this all sounds a it thin (academically) using my mum as an example of how the characterisation may have been accurate - to a certain segment of the population - but I think we have to be prepared to accept these were simpler times.



Honestly, my mum actually thought like these people! :)



The idea of it being two men is absolutely fantastic - I would love to see a play based on this (it would say a lot about Britishness and our cultural 'reserve'). --- A kind of British 'Broke Back Mountain'?



Excellent discussion. Cheers.

[Straff]

Given today's schools, 'The Happiest Days of Your Lfe' would seem rather implausible.

[Steve Crook]

name='Straff']Given today's schools, 'The Happiest Days of Your Lfe' would seem rather implausible.

But most schools weren't like that even in 1950 at a posh boarding school like Nutbourne College



Steve