There Was A Crooked Man (1960)

[penfold]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook In technical jargon they have what appears to be a write only storage system (c.f. read only and read/write). You can store information in it, but you can never get it out again Steve

With all due respect, Steve, it's the National Archive, not a lending library. The British Library have a copy of the Domesday Book, but I doubt they'd let me take it home....

[sippog]

I thought for a minute . . . but,no, the version I have is the Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda movie. (But then I never could stand gormless Norman to be honest)

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by penfold With all due respect, Steve, it's the National Archive, not a lending library. The British Library have a copy of the Domesday Book, but I doubt they'd let me take it home....

No special respect necessary :
It is a National Archive, but it's not supposed to be the sealed vault that it sometimes appears to be.

Steve

[Rob Compton]

Just out of interest, the special reason I want to see the film is that a part of it was filmed near where I live in Oxfordshire - I know Darwen in Lancashire was also used as a location.

Re the BFI, what would make me think I'd gone to heaven would be a web based download service from them of all the stuff they have in their vaults: which I would be happy to pay for, before anyone says I'm after something for nothing! I guess they haven't the cash to set such a thing up (quite apart from the copyright negotiations they'd need). However, that would really use the technology now available to best advantage

rgds
Rob

[penfold]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook No special respect necessary : It is a National Archive, but it's not supposed to be the sealed vault that it sometimes appears to be. Steve

I do think part of that is down to misunderstandings propagated in forums like this...basically, if the NFTVA have a viewing copy of the film (ie, not just the archival copy that's being preserved for the future generations) you - anyone actually - can book up and see it in a variety of ways.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by penfold I do think part of that is down to misunderstandings propagated in forums like this...basically, if the NFTVA have a viewing copy of the film (ie, not just the archival copy that's being preserved for the future generations) you - anyone actually - can book up and see it in a variety of ways.

I think the problem might be with the small number of viewing copies that are made available considering the large number of titles in the archive.

Steve

[Mr Pastry Time]

It is a little surprising Crooked Man is not on sale in some respects with such a famous director as Stuart Burge of films such as Othello '65. not to mention his TV work. Lets hope one day the film gets a good release and sits with other Norman Wisdom classics. I met young Norman once years ago back stage and what a very nice guy he was. I was a pro child actor at the time, only 12 and he asked me to play the Ukelele I had taken to show him. He had just finished a very full show, but had time to sit and listen to me. I have the greatest respect for him.. I explained I was a George Formby fan and he went on to tell me ke had known him. I dont think you need to be a brain surgeon to see how similar Normans later films were to Georges, but all very entertaining. Ask a Policeman from Norman looks very similar to Spare a Copper from George. I still like Normans films very much along with all the older actors work that make you laugh in a serious world. I'm 45 in a few weeks, but the short time I spent chatting to Mr Wisdom has always been a very fond memory for me and the nicest bloke in show business I would say.

[Mr Pastry Time]

A little good news on this one.
We must have a BFI spy, sorry, nice person on this lot as after a few emails I have been able to obtain a viewing copy of Crooked Man for my very ill friend, and also a few quid for them. I took it to his house last night as he is still recovering from Cancer treatment, and we both sat down to watch it together. Sat on the edge of his sick bed we were glued to the TV and he loved every minute of it. To be honest, tears were in my eyes as his dream to see this film were realised after so many years. A very moving evening and I have to say all thanks to the BFI rushing around to do the timecoded copy quickly due to his poor state of health. My thanks go to them for all they had done to help me enable him to see The Crooked man, a film he appeared in during the filming in the North.
I am sure the BFI will not mind me informing the public that they have just struck a digital master from the 35mm print they have . The film does have a very small number of joins in it, but the quality was very good indeed including a crisp soundtrack. Lets hope a TV screening may soon follow for all to enjoy.

[paulc]

Originally Posted by ican Many of the location scenes were filmed in Darwen, Lancashire. I've been trying to locate a copy for years as my house was used for a sequence where Norman rides a bike through it..

You must have lived on Belgrave Road then!

As a schoolboy I recall watching "There was a Crooked Man" being filmed in Darwen, and then going to see it at the local 'pictures'.

How I would love to see it again!

[Stephen Pickard]

The film was originally released through United Artists. I spoke to a contact at MGM in the US a couple or so years ago and I am almost sure that they said they hold the original 35mm pre-print materials.
"There Was A Crooked Man" is now probably controlled by Fox as I think they now own the UA library which MGM previously had.
The company that made this film, Knightsbridge, also made another film with Norman Wisdom, called "Girl On A Boat" which co-starred Millicent Martin and has been available on home video for several years.

[Carmel]

Hi there are 3 copies available on ebay at the minute, hope this helps and hope you get it

[DB7]

Originally Posted by Carmel Hi there are 3 copies available on ebay at the minute, hope this helps and hope you get it

Not of this. I've only heard of one rumoured copy aboot.

[Carmel]

Originally Posted by DB7 Not of this. I've only heard of one rumoured copy aboot.

If its starred Warren Oates and Kirk Douglas then yes it is the one there are 3 copies available, go onto ebay and look yourself

[DB7]

Originally Posted by Carmel If its starred Warren Oates and Kirk Douglas then yes it is the one there are 3 copies available, go onto ebay and look yourself

A Norman Wisdom rarity from 1960.:

[julian_craster]

'A Norman Wisdom rarity from 1960'


Indeed....and of great commercial value to E-Bay bootleggers !

Don't let them get their grubby hands on it......