Lazybones 1935

[MrT]

One for Steve Crook probably, but has the country house featured in Michael Powell's 1935 qouta quickie "Lazybones" been identified? Watching the film again yesterday it looks just the kind of place that is probably now a National Trust property.



Mike (MrT)

[Steve Crook]

name='MrT']One for Steve Crook probably, but has the country house featured in Michael Powell's 1935 qouta quickie "Lazybones" been identified? Watching the film again yesterday it looks just the kind of place that is probably now a National Trust property.



Mike (MrT)

I certainly don't have any information about where it is.

The film was made at Twickenham studio, so it could be not very far from there



Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

Is it an actual house or a backdrop? I thought the film was made at night at Twickenham (I believe Ian Hunter came straight from the theatre at midnight). Maybe some stock footage of somewhere like Syon House or Strawberry Hill?

[MrT]

Its certainly a genuine house, cars are seen driving up to the entrance etc, and there are views out across the countryside etc. This must have been made on the "day shift" at Twickenham! I will try and post a screen grab if I can.



Mike (MrT)

[CaptainWaggett]

There are quite a few posh houses near Twickenham so presumably it's one of them. Perhaps check them on IMDB to see if they were ever used during the period? The stars might not have been involved in the location footage (I watched Young and Innocent again recently and it doesn't look as if the two leads are ever on location!). I'm sure I read somewhere that all Ian Hunter's stuff was filmed at night

[Steve Crook]

name='CaptainWaggett']There are quite a few posh houses near Twickenham so presumably it's one of them. Perhaps check them on IMDB to see if they were ever used during the period? The stars might not have been involved in the location footage (I watched Young and Innocent again recently and it doesn't look as if the two leads are ever on location!). I'm sure I read somewhere that all Ian Hunter's stuff was filmed at night

Yes, he's playing someone very lazy, but he was doing two jobs at the time! He was on stage during the afternoon and evening and then filming through the night



All the interiors, including things like the courtyard of the pub, are almost certainly filmed in the studio. But the long shots of the house would have been real locations. The question is, were any of the actors ever in those long shots? I'll have to play it again to see. Always a pleasure, it is a fun film



Steve

[Nick Dando]

Has it ever be seen on TV since the time that Channel Four screened it after the death of Mickey? That's when I got my copy on VHS, and it appeared to have been freshly restored at the time.



Nick

[CaptainWaggett]

I think it had a daytime slot about 4 years ago. I'm sure I've got a tape somewhere... Of course, when the BFI get round to that Quota Quickies boxset, no doubt Charles Barr's commentary will Reveal All.

[Steve Crook]

name='CaptainWaggett']I think it had a daytime slot about 4 years ago. I'm sure I've got a tape somewhere... Of course, when the BFI get round to that Quota Quickies boxset, no doubt Charles Barr's commentary will Reveal All.

Or maybe we can get Steve Chibnall to do a commentary. His book Quota Quickies : The Birth of the British 'B' Film is very thorough, even if there are a lot of lists and tables in it



Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

name='Steve Crook']Or maybe we can get Steve Chibnall to do a commentary. His book Quota Quickies : The Birth of the British 'B' Film is very thorough, even if there are a lot of lists and tables in it



Steve

It's a good book but he's very cagy about which films he's actually seen or even which ones still exist. But yes, he can do a couple of commentaries. I'm sure Matthew Sweet would like to do some too.

[charliekane]

name='CaptainWaggett'].....I'm sure Matthew Sweet would like to do some too.

All very well if you want a book full of mistakes

[CaptainWaggett]

name='charliekane']All very well if you want a book full of mistakes

His books may have the odd mistake (I've never read a non-fiction book that didn't!) but they're funny and insightful, as are his documentaries. I think he's be an excellent person to do commentaries on 1930s British films,

[penfold]

name='CaptainWaggett']His books may have the odd mistake (I've never read a non-fiction book that didn't!) but they're funny and insightful, as are his documentaries. I think he's be an excellent person to do commentaries on 1930s British films,

I'm glad someone else wrote that...I wouldn't want to be accused of steaming in on behalf of a mate. Matthew's on the side of the angels, knows his stuff, does his own research, and watches the films...not many of the other potential candidates can say the same.

[Steve Crook]

name='CaptainWaggett']It's a good book but he's very cagy about which films he's actually seen or even which ones still exist. But yes, he can do a couple of commentaries. I'm sure Matthew Sweet would like to do some too.

Well I know that Steve saw all the existing Powell ones. There were a few he hadn't seen and I gave him those when I met him at Bangor in 2005 for the Powell Centenary Conference



Steve

[Steve Crook]

name='penfold']I'm glad someone else wrote that...I wouldn't want to be accused of steaming in on behalf of a mate. Matthew's on the side of the angels, knows his stuff, does his own research, and watches the films...not many of the other potential candidates can say the same.

There's nothing wrong with sticking up for someone just because they're a mate or because you know and like them



Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

name='penfold']I'm glad someone else wrote that...I wouldn't want to be accused of steaming in on behalf of a mate. Matthew's on the side of the angels, knows his stuff, does his own research, and watches the films...not many of the other potential candidates can say the same.

He's a Doctor Who fan too



His book on the Victorians is great - it's not really about anything, just a ragbag of anecdotes and ramblings (who knew why you sometimes find flat shells in the gardens of Victorian hourses?) but it's very readable and very, very funny.

[dremble wedge]

name='CaptainWaggett']He's a Doctor Who fan too



His book on the Victorians is great - it's not really about anything, just a ragbag of anecdotes and ramblings (who knew why you sometimes find flat shells in the gardens of Victorian hourses?) but it's very readable and very, very funny.

That looks a good read. I shall try to track it down...

[CaptainWaggett]

name='dremble wedge']That looks a good read. I shall try to track it down...

Inventing the Victorians. It's great - just as interesting as Shepperton Babylon. More than you could ever want to know about Victorian tightrope walkers (I got vertigo just reading the account of Blondin's manager who was carried over Niagara Falls but didn't find out until halfway across that he'd had to get off so his beast of burden could have a rest!)

[penfold]

name='CaptainWaggett']Inventing the Victorians. It's great - just as interesting as Shepperton Babylon. More than you could ever want to know about Victorian tightrope walkers (I got vertigo just reading the account of Blondin's manager who was carried over Niagara Falls but didn't find out until halfway across that he'd had to get off so his beast of burden could have a rest!)

And you will learn more than you wanted to about Sweet Fanny Adams....

[charliekane]

name='penfold']I'm glad someone else wrote that...I wouldn't want to be accused of steaming in on behalf of a mate. Matthew's on the side of the angels, knows his stuff, does his own research, and watches the films...not many of the other potential candidates can say the same.

I'm afraid I find his style too gossipy and a bit self-aggrandising - and I believe the general concensus over the series he wrote for the BBC last year on British Cinema was that it was shockingly badly done. Worth watching for the clips and a few interviews though.