A Glimpse Of British Magic

[Steve Crook]

The Times March 20, 2006

A glimpse of British magic gave Scorsese his inspiration
By Jack Malvern
MARTIN SCORSESE, a giant of American cinema, might never have become an award-winning director had it not been for a forgotten British film. The Magic Box, created for the Festival of Britain in 1951, is the single work that inspired him to go to Hollywood.

He is so grateful to British cinema that he is working on a documentary charting the rise and fall of the industry. "Growing up in the late 1940s and Fifties, British cinema was prominent in America," Scorsese said.

"One of the first movies I ever saw was The Magic Box in 1951 and, quite literally, it made me want to make films. I owe that film a lot. British films such as The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia also affected me greatly."

The Magic Box was hugely controversial at the time of its release because it claimed that cinema was invented by William Friese-Greene, a Briton, rather than by Auguste and Louis Lumière.

John Boulting, the director, used the patriotic fervour of the Festival of Britain to assemble a star-studded cast. Robert Donat played Friese-Greene and other cast members included Richard Attenborough, Laurence Olivier, Michael Redgrave, Peter Ustinov, Margaret Rutherford, Joyce Grenfell, Thora Hird and Sid James. It was not a success, however, and faded into obscurity.

Scorsese, who has been planning his documentary for four years, told Bafta's Academy magazine that his documentary would be his personal view of British cinema rather than a comprehensive chronicle.

One of his chief influences as a director were the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, who are best known for Black Narcissus and 49th Parallel. Powell, who died in 1990, directly influenced Scorsese with Goodfellas by persuading him that he could do something new with the gangster genre. The pair became friends after Scorsese found that his hero had dropped out of the film industry because of the critical derision poured on Peeping Tom, his 1960 horror film.

Scorsese helped Powell by having Peeping Tom shown at the New York Film Festival in 1979; Powell was later an ally in getting Goodfellas made.

Scorsese said that Powell's encouragement gave him the impetus he needed. "Without that phone call and Michael's enthusiasm, Goodfellas might not have happened," he said.

Scorsese will complete his documentary after the release of his latest film, The Departed, and between preparations for a biopic of Theodore Roosevelt and Silence, a film about Jesuits in Japan in the 17th century.

[A Pemberton]

(Steve Crook @ Mar 20 2006, 11:43 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> The Times March 20, 2006 One of his chief influences as a director were the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, who are best known for Black Narcissus and 49th Parallel. Powell, who died in 1990, directly influenced Scorsese with Goodfellas by persuading him that he could do something new with the gangster genre. The pair became friends after Scorsese found that his hero had dropped out of the film industry because of the critical derision poured on Peeping Tom, his 1960 horror film. [/b]

@Steve
Scorsese is one of the few American directors that interest me ,did Michael Powell meet Thelma Schoonmaker because of the meeting with Scorsese ?

[Steve Crook]

(A Pemberton @ Mar 20 2006, 07:29 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> @Steve Scorsese is one of the few American directors that interest me ,did Michael Powell meet Thelma Schoonmaker because of the meeting with Scorsese ? [/b]

Yes, Thelma & Marty had been working together for some time. Marty had been fascinated by the P&P films (& Michael's solo work) for some time and had shown quite a few of the films to Thelma. Marty eventually tracked P&P down to where they were living in fairly obscure enforced retirement and got Michael to go to the States. Amongst many other things he invited Michael for a dinner and invited Thelma as well. Thelma tells us that it was love at first sight and for every moment since then.

Steve

[A Pemberton]

Scorsese really has to be congratulated on the prominence and interest he has given not only to P&P films but also to as in this article to the Magic Box ,I havent seen it for years but I still remember Robert Donat in tears showing the bemused policeman his "invention",moving pictures,very evocative.

[foha80]

(A Pemberton @ Mar 20 2006, 09:25 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> Scorsese really has to be congratulated on the prominence and interest he has given not only to P&P films but also to as in this article to the Magic Box ,I havent seen it for years but I still remember Robert Donat in tears showing the bemused policeman his "invention",moving pictures,very evocative. [/b]

I remember seeing an interview with Anthony Hopkins,he told the story of meeting Scorsese for the first time and the first thing the director ask him was had he ever met Kathleen Harrison,it seems that he was a big fan hers and of british films.

[Steve Crook]

(foha80 @ Mar 20 2006, 09:56 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> I remember seeing an interview with Anthony Hopkins,he told the story of meeting Scorsese for the first time and the first thing the director ask him was had he ever met Kathleen Harrison,it seems that he was a big fan hers and of british films. [/b]

Scorsese & Tarantino, they're both such big film fans. I think that does add a lot to their films, along with all of their many other talents of course.

Steve

[theuofc]

(A Pemberton @ Mar 20 2006, 09:25 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> Scorsese really has to be congratulated on the prominence and interest he has given not only to P&P films but also to as in this article to the Magic Box ...[/b]

I agree. Martin Scorsese deserves a lot of credit for the work he does behind the scenes so to speak to promote the preservation and remastering of classic films. One such is The River. I had little idea of Scorsese's love of the film until I listened to his commentary on the DVD of The River's tremendous effect on him when he was a young boy growing up. This as well as his shining the light on the work and talent of the great Michael Powell once again for a new generation of viewers and filmmakers. Scorsese is a hero. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

Barbara

[Marky B]

All I can say it's jolly decent of Mr Scorsese for his tribute to the British film industry. I remember when Channel 4 had a season on Ealing comedies a couple of Christmases back,he was very complimentary towards them and I think,if my memory serves me right,towards particularly The Ladykillers.
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[smudge]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marky B @ Mar 29 2006, 08:03 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
All I can say it's jolly decent of Mr Scorsese for his tribute to the British film industry. I remember when Channel 4 had a season on Ealing comedies a couple of Christmases back,he was very complimentary towards them and I think,if my memory serves me right,towards particularly The Ladykillers.
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]
[/quote]

And in HAMMER-THE STUDIO THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, he recalled with affection his teenage years - remembering that he was always going to see a good film if the Hammer logo came up... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

SMUDGE

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/vampire.gif[/img]