British film books

[DB7]

"Conversations with Jack Cardiff: Art, Light and Direction in Cinema"

By Justin Bowyer

Forward by Mike Figgis





Legendary cinematographer Jack Cardiff was responsible for some of the most visually stunning films in cinematic history, including The Red Shoes, A Matter of Life of Death, Black Narcissus, The African Queen, Sons and Lovers, War and Peace and Girl on a Motorcycle. His work has been hugely influential, inspiring countless filmmakers including Martin Scorsese. This book is an insight into the visual art of cinema by one of its greatest exponents. Presented in Q and A sessions, it is written in a non-technical way (technical terms are sparingly used and fully explained) and with full footnotes, forms a complete history of cinema itself.





Published on 30 September, 2003 by B.T. Batsford; ISBN: 0713488557





To celebrate the launch a special screening of A Matter of Life and Death will take place at the Curzon Mayfair Cinema on Sunday 21st September, followed by a Q&A on stage with Cardiff himself.





Curzon Mayfair Cinema

38 Curzon Street

London

W1J 7TY





Further information & tickets:

Box Office 020 7495 0500 or http://www.curzoncinemas.com/curzonmayfair.htm

[Hackett]

You should also read "MAGIC HOUR" 1996 the life of a cameraman. Magic Hour will give young film-makers and cinematographers a precious gateway to a vital body of work. Martin Scorsese says on the cover sleeve. Not a bad read but not enought about the cuts in "DARK OF THE SUN" and "WILLIAM TELL" with Errol Flynn for me.

[Hugo]

I agree. MAGIC HOUR (Faber and Faber, 1996)was of course written by Jack Cardiff and contains all his own well-honed anecdotes from nearly 70 years in the industry. As you say he does tend to gloss over certain parts but it is a fascinating read.

[Steve Crook]

Come along to the Curzon & ask him about them :)



He's a lovely man and is always willing to talk about film (although he does have other interests as well)

[Russ]

At last someone is listening, a film book devoted to something that isn't the next big thing or indeed Lord of the Rings.

A fairly comprehensive, well I only bought it at lunchtime, read.

Edited by Brian McFarlane with a full supporting cast.

These books are never ever as comprehensive as one would wish but it is for now at least the best film book around.

It's available at all the usual outlets, published by Methuen/BFI retailing for £24.99

[Steve Crook]

A great day out at the Curzon. They screened AMOLAD then Jack came out to a round of applause and was interviewed on stage. Well I say interviewed, the interviewer just had to remind him of a point & Jack went off into a long, fascinating anecdote each time.



That was followed by a Q&A with the audience and then we all sang "Happy Birthday" - he was 89 last Thursday :)



He spent a long time autographing the book of interviews and chatting to people afterwards.



A wonderful man. I just hope I'm that fit & have that many pleasant memories when I get to that age.



The book looks very good with quite a bit that wasn't covered in Jack's autobiography

[Hackett]

Any chance it was recorded?. Film, video, audio or maybe someone took notes?.

[Steve Crook]

HACKETT:

Any chance it was recorded?. Film, video, audio or maybe someone took notes?.

A few people took still photos but that was all.

There was quite a turn out from the press. I chatted to people from a few different newspapers & magazines before we went in. So look for the reports of it.

[smudge]

Any mention of a film of his called PENNY GOLD in the new volume Steve ?



Incidentally, do you have any guide as to where scenes were shot for CANTERBURY TALE ? Visited recently but only long enough to go round the Cathedral - hope to go again soon. TIA

[Steve Crook]

smudge:

Any mention of a film of his called PENNY GOLD in the new volume Steve ? [/b]

Yes, a bit about that - and The Mutations.

Incidentally, do you have any guide as to where scenes were shot for CANTERBURY TALE ? Visited recently but only long enough to go round the Cathedral - hope to go again soon. TIA

Have a look at ACT locations and the page giving details of the locations (including map references).



Of course the best way is to find a copy of Paul Tritton's book but they're rarer than hen's teeth. But a new edition will be published (probably on CD-ROM) fairly soon.

[DB7]

The Mutations. Oh dear, something went awry in quality control with that one.



Was it inspired in part by the Quatermass Xperiment?

[Russ]

Steve, I just thought that I had to add my praises about your site, in particular the locations section.



As a real film bore, I adore seeing parts of my locality..Manchester, Salford, Livepool etc in the filmic form.

I scour the Internet, local knowledge, library, books etc in attempts to establish exactly where it took place.



How were you able to produce such a comprehensive guide ??

[smudge]

Thanks for the help Steve - looks like I have a lot more exploring to do. Like Russ, I enjoy seeing filmed places when on my travels - it's given me some great days out in some very nice parts of the UK.



I actually live a few streets away from where Jack Hawkins' character was billeted in THE MAN IN THE SKY. I can cycle round the locations but sadly have never been able to get hold of a copy of that film.



I'll look forward to reading the new Jack Cardiff over the autumn evenings...

[Steve Crook]

Russ:

Steve, I just thought that I had to add my praises about your site, in particular the locations section.

As a real film bore, I adore seeing parts of my locality..Manchester, Salford, Livepool etc in the filmic form.

I scour the Internet, local knowledge, library, books etc in attempts to establish exactly where it took place.



How were you able to produce such a comprehensive guide ??

Thank you Russ, but it's not just me. There's a P&P email list with a few hundred members around the world. Many of those send in information.



A lot of P&P films were made mainly in the studio (although you'd never know it with some like Black Narcissus). The ones with a lot of location work such as I Know Where I'm Going (Mull), A Canterbury Tale (Canterbury), Gone to Earth (Shropshire) have been quite thoroughly researched by people who live in the area or go there a lot.



If you go to the IMDb search page and enter a location in the "Word Search" and select 'Location' from the pull-down list it will list all the films (& TV programmes) it knows about that were made in your area.

[The_Late_Peter_Cook]

About time too! I enjoyed reading David Thomson’s ‘Biographical Dictionary’ when it came out late last year, but was annoyed at the American bias, for example there was no entry for Kenneth More but there was room for a lengthy piece on an American chat-show host!

[Angry Hector]

Oddly enough I was on the phone 5 minutes ago RSVP-ing to an invite to the Melbourne launch of this book, which is to be hosted by actor Geoffrey Rush. It may sound like an odd choice but that actor is quite the scholar of films from that period so it should make for a good night.



I have had lunch with Brian McFarliane a couple of times and he is delightful company and his knowledge and passion for British cinema is second to none. He is interested in delving down deep to find many of the films and personalities that fell down between the cracks or just became forgotten along the way.



I look forward to this book greatly. I can't wait!

[GSMCTM]

It's on my "to buy" list. His "Autobiography of British Cinema" is an excellent book. I envied him interviewing all those wonderful past and present film personalites. I've also been touch with Mr. McFarlane who, thankfully, put me in touch with one of my favourite stars of the 50's and early 60's.

[Steve Crook]

Although Brian McFarlane wrote quite a bit of the Encyclopedia, look carefully at the attribution. Many of them are by contributers. Also, I doubt if he interviewed very many of them - a lot are no longer with us :)



Steve

[DB7]

Shepperton Babylon - Sweet M



"A gossipy, informed and thoroughly readable look at the hey-day of the British film industry."

[Gibbie]

What UK movie location book do you recommend?



Thanks,



Gibbie