Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Alan Ladd, Bob Cummings, Carroll Baker, Edwrd Dnytryk, Elizabeth Ashley, George Peppard, Harold Robbins, Matha Hyer on 29/07/2020| Leave a Comment »
The next in the 60s Retrospective reviews, THE CARPETBAGGERS from 1964 (linked). It was based on Harold Robbins blockbuster novel, and considered highly salacious in its day and was the 4th biggest US film of 1964, and I’d put both Dallas and Dynasty as direct descendants. An interesting time capsule of Hollywood at its most sexist.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Dan Stevens, David Dobkin, Melissanthi Mahut, Mikael Persbrandt, Pierce Brosnan, Rachel McAdams, Will Ferrell on 17/07/2020| Leave a Comment »
Review of the Netflix Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Some of my favourite films recently have been on Netflix. I’ve very carefully avoided any plot spoilers nor let any funny lines creep in. It’s highly entertaining … Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens star. I’ve also explained Eurovision for readers outside Europe!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Barbara Ferris, Dave Clark, Dave Clark Five, Dennis West Payton, JohnBoorman, Lenny Davidson, Mike Smith, Peter Nichols, Robin Bailey, Yootha Joyce on 15/07/2020| 4 Comments »
Review of The Dave Clark Five in Catch Us If You Can (1965) in the 60s Retrospective series. While the debt to A Hard Day’s Night is obvious, it was a successful film in its own right (retitled Having A Wild Weekend in the USA). Dave Clark chose the director (It was John Boorman’s first feature film) and screenwriter, Peter Nichols. Barbara Ferris co-starred. Black and white, and very unusually it’s a comedy chase drama, with a Dave Clark Five soundtrack, but no songs are performed, sung or mimed on film.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Adetomiwa Edun, Carrie Cracknell, Helen McCrory, Hubert Burton, John Sullivan, Nick Fletcher, Terence Rattigan, Tom Burke, Yolanda Kettle on 11/07/2020| Leave a Comment »
My first play review since lockdown! Review of Terence Rattigan’s THE DEEP BLUE SEA at the National Theatre in 2016 (linked). This started live streaming on YouTube on 9th July, and is available now. It’s a detailed review which also continues and discusses live theatre v streamed recordings, and also the comparison with the Chichester 2019 production and the difference in the theatres. Definitely one to see.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Brian Bennett, Bruce Welch, Cliff Richard, Gillian Lynne, Hank B. Marvin, John Rostill, Melvyn Hayes, Peter Myers, Richard O'Sullivan, Ronald Cass, Sidney J. Furie, Stanley Black, Susan Hampshire, The Shadows, Una Stubbs on 08/07/2020| Leave a Comment »
Review in the 60s Retrospective series of WONDERFUL LIFE (1964). (follow the link) It’s the third Cliff Richard musical, and suffered from its release date, just days before ‘A Hard Day’s Night.’ It’s much maligned, though the “In The Movies” series of pastiches gets praised. I’ve put more pictures in than any other review, because there are two long pastiche / send ups of dance movies, and then movies worth illustrating. I had never seen it before. I was struck by the criticized ‘film within a film plot’ at the time, which makes it look most knowing in subverting movie conventions nowadays. It suffers from the music (a burden for a musical) but filming and cinematography are always good.
Posted in Uncategorized on 04/07/2020| Leave a Comment »
An article added to rants on lockdown, 100 Days Plus & Counting.The title should be self-evident. What we’ve been doing and not doing. The inertia of lockdown …
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