D Cairns

Anyone see the start of this series?

I was pretty disappointed by it, and still find it surprising that it was written by Matthew "Shepperton Babylon" Sweet. as often the case in clipshows, several of the talking heads act as if they've just been shown a clip and asked to describe it. The clips are cut into tiny pieces (a light comes on at an upstairs window - cut to a talking head - cut back to Harry Lime as the light illuminates his face) interspersed with interviews, most of which simply tell you what's happening onscreen.

The voice-over was only occasionally insightful, and dreadfully delivered by Jessica Hynes. I like her as an actress, but she doesn't have a good voice-over voice. AT ALL. Supposedly the producers insisted on using her original name, Jessica Stevenson, because of its "associations with British film" but I'm at a loss to know what those are. We can all think of five hundred people more closely associated with British cinema, and with better voices.

Because the clips were good, and ticked off most of the usual suspects one expects to see, the show was watchable, and I'm grateful for the accompanying series of films, but this was a serious missed opportunity.

DB7

I agree, pretty quickly I thought the narration wasn't suited to the subject matter and it felt like the bland voice-overs ITV gives to film previews. The chosen stop-off points were all a bit too obvious, apart from Diana Dors, and it would have been informative had they turned the spotlight on a few lesser-celebrated thrillers. My other quibble was the talking heads, I'd have preferred to hear more from Ward-Baker and Boyle instead of Mischa Barton, Edith Bowman and (was it?) Chris Bisson.

Still, the past week is filling up my Sky+ box.

Torquemada

Anyone else try to watch? I was looking forward to this BBC series and I lasted less than ten minutes before I had to switch off, due to the terrible voice-over droning and dribbling on about nothing, without pause for an Essex girl breath. I felt like I'd been sentenced to death by nagging fishwife!

BTW apologies for not being around for a while - been very, very busy doing some stuff for the Beeb (but not film unfortunately).

Torquemada

I like here too - but it was truly dreadful. But I blame the producers, because they will have decided that there had to be constant babbling on. This is all part of this disease that has infected all our films and tv i.e. kill the pause and any silence at all is a crime. Well it's not and all these idiots who have conspired to make this the norm have wrecked so many potentially good projects, by dumbing them down for what they obviously view as their target viewers: adults who refuse to grow up and want to be treated like children, forever.

filmyfan

I agree with all the above comments...dreadfull script (Matthew Sweet knows what he is talking about so I presume he was asked to dumb it down), awful embarrassing narration (I thought it was Denise Van Outen for a while-which says it all really), awful talking heads (Edith Bowman-need I say more, a bloke who was on Blue Peter-fair enough Sir Dickie and MIchael Caine...but some of the others). I was very excited about this but it was pretty poor...some of the stuff about Hitchcock was down right embarrasssing and had my wife (who is not a film buff) groaning and tutting and she said it was dreadful !

Also the clips were awful quality...

Also I see Sir Chris Frayling was a consultant.....wonder how he feels about it ?

Cant wait for the next one !

BBC

DB7

Fraid to say I felt the same about the Culture Show's film location special - it could have been so much better had they left out Lauren Laverne (sent her back to interviewing indie bands) and let Mark Kermode host the show alone.

Torquemada

Me too or at least someone like her, hence my Essex girl comment.


BTW I emailed to BBC to tell them what I thought and they did respond and said it would go forward to the decisions team. So if you think this kind of thing needs to be stopped then you know what to do.

Fellwanderer

Hope you realise Helen Mirren is an Essex girl! I'm sure none of us would have objected to her narrating.

If you look at the BBC message boards, I fear it would make little difference. However many complaints, it always seems to be countered by the fact that most people don't complain and therefore have no problem with what is going on.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

julian_craster

I think this is indicative of the editorial policy on this series: 10 seconds of Roy Ward Baker on working with Hitchcock - and what seemed like 50 seconds of Bob Hoskins telling us that CASINO ROYALE 'blew him out of his seat' .....

*Why* should we care what Bob thinks about CASINO ROYALE? - his opinion has no more value than a bloke in the pub....

Torquemada

Actually Dame Helen was another reason I turned off when she trotted out her nonsense about her role in The Long Good Friday i.e. that her role was rubbish. It appears any role she plays that isn't the lead is 'rubbish' then.

julian_craster

Summer of British Film (on BBC2 television)

The full list of 70 British films (with no on-screen logos or commercial
breaks ! ) over the
next 7 weeks.......so stock up with blank DVDRs.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/britishfilm/summer/whats_on/index.shtml#latest

Rarities include THE DAMNED (Joseph Losey).

Fellwanderer

Why should we care what anyone thinks or value anyone's opinion above others?

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Torquemada

Ah the common touch - that's the biggest argument programme makers have, or think they have, for dumbing down. It's just lazy because it's easy.

Foster twelvetrees

Agree with all this thread - appalling talking heads: Bowman (who she?), Bacon, Bisson (lovely to look at but so what?).

Also narration was attrocious both in terms of gravitas and nailed on humor. Awful.

I sent my complaints the Beeb and got the following back which makes me think many, many people have complained and said the same things:

Thank you for your commentsregarding 'British Film Forever'.

While I was pleased to read of your interest in this programme I understand that you were disappointed with the commentary and some of the contributors.

I must advise that all our programme contributors are appointed on the basis of their experience and talent, and we do not engage any producer, presenter, interviewer or reporter unless we consider that he or she is the most competent and possesses the necessary ability to meet the considerable demands the particular programme or broadcast may make.

Having said that, it is a rare television or radio personality of any kind who meets the approval of everyone in our vast and varied audience, and from the heavy correspondence which we receive it is clear that viewers' and listeners' opinions on them do vary considerably.

Please be assured I have registered your comments regarding the commentary to the 'British Film Forever' production team and senior BBC management. Feedback of this nature helps us when making decisions about future BBC programmes and your comment will play a part in this process.

Thank you again for contacting us with your comments.

Torquemada

This is what I got back from them:

Thank you for your e-mail in regards to 'British Film Forever'.

I note that you do not like the narrative style of the programme. Please be
assured that I have registered your comments on the daily log, this is an
internal document which will be made available to the 'British Film
Forever' production team as well as the senior management of the BBC.

Once again thank you for contacting BBC Information.