Wee Sonny MacGregor

Sadly, none next week. Looks like the Beeb are using a quota system and that's it for British films for now.

Geoffers

Was that the "war" one? If so, it's sod's law that the only episode I missed was probably the one I would have enjoyed the most. Overall, I thought it was a worthwhile series though I was occasionally irritated by the style of the commentary. I happened to mention the latter at a work meeting and two or three colleagues instantly agreed with me.

Cheeky Bob

I saw it on its opening weekend (early 1988), for no better reason than I was at a loose end and the Ralph Steadman-designed poster looked intriguing.

Hand on heart, I have never laughed so much at a film before or since, and what was particularly gratifying is that this reaction was entirely unswayed by hype - I had literally no idea what to expect.

I also defy anyone to name an original script for a post-1986 British film that has such an acute ear for the musicality of the English language. Or an ending that's quite so pitch-perfect.

orpheum

For the time being it is back to Westerns for afternoons in the week.So if you are a fan of Randolph Scott and Audie Murphy then you are in luck.Otherwise the recorder is going to get a chance to cool down.

Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

batman

Yippee !!!!

Trouble is I've got all of Audie's films and they only ever show the Randy films that we've all seen dozens of times.

That sounds familiar .

Bats.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

orpheum

Well randy was rather Randy as his good pal Cary would have confirmed.

Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

batman

Allegedly .

Bats.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

Steve Crook

Clive James on The Great British Film. Specifically on the British Film Forever documentary series that they broadcast to try to explain these strange things known as "British Films" that most people wouldn't have thought existed.

I like his comment:
Canvas-chair veterans from Jack Cardiff through to Bryan Forbes were on hand for a few seconds each. Cardiff, if asked, could have told us that the only thing that might have stopped him from being lighting cameraman on a Spiegel-global international blockbuster such as The African Queen was a few more all-British projects like Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes, but they were in short supply, because not even Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger put together added up to a British Film Industry. Forbes, if asked, could have told them what he once told me, that if his popular thriller The League of Gentlemen had featured even one American big name, it would have cleaned up.

Steve

DB7

A bit cheeky of him to point out their gaffs.

D Cairns

Especially since he makes several himself: "And why were we looking at Wuthering Heights, which was also made in Hollywood? Well, Laurence Olivier was in it, holding on to Olivia de Havilland." Olivia isn't in it, Merle Oberon is.
"the commentary, when it dealt with Dr Zhivago, followed Julie Christie (British star) into the arms of Omar Sharif (not British star) without noting that David Lean (British director) was bankrolled, for his big international films, by Sam Spiegel (not British producer)" Not on ZHIVAGO, which was produced by Carlo Ponti.
He's right about the show's shortcomings though.

Aaryk Noctivagus

Thanks for that link Steve... I adore Clive James.