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Archive for August, 2020

Beat Girl – review

Posted in Uncategorized on 26/08/2020| Leave a Comment »

The 60s retrospectives continue with BEAT GIRL from 1960 (aka Wild for Kicks in the USA). This was said to be the first all-British film with a full-length soundtrack LP, by John Barry with Adam Faith and Shirley Anne Field. The star is Gillian Hills as the truculent sultry teenager in the world of coffee bars and strip clubs in Soho … a surprisingly edgy place in 1960. It’s an early Swinging Sixties London film in effect with a cameo from Oliver Reed. Adam Faith was a major pop star at the time.

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The Party’s Over- review

Posted in Uncategorized on 18/08/2020| Leave a Comment »

The latest review in the 60s Retrospective series is THE PARTY’S OVER (linked). It was filmed in 1962 for release in 1963, but after the censors demanded 18 minutes be cut, it was shelved. It was directed by Bond film director Guy Hamilton, with script by Marc Behm (who did Help!). John Barry did the soundtrack. It starred Oliver Reed in one of his first lead roles. Then in 1965, Rank Organization sold the savagely edited film off to a distributor and Hamilton demanded his name be taken off. The BFI (British Film Institute) has restored the pre-censorship version. As well as a review of the film, it is interesting that it was refused an X (18) certificate in 1963, but is now a “12.” This time I won’t illustrate it with the dreadful 1965 poster.

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Six-Five Special review

Posted in Uncategorized on 14/08/2020| 2 Comments »

I’m stretching my 60s Retrospective film reviews back a tad to include SIX-FIVE SPECIAL from 1958, a direct exploitation based on Britain’s first pop TV show. The outstanding performers are Lonnie Donegan, John Barry Seven and John Dankworth, but there are lots of “earlier” stars on there too. Worth watching, or just look at the photos in the review.

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If Your Face Fits …

Posted in Uncategorized on 06/08/2020| Leave a Comment »

I’ve just added a rant about continuous assessment, (follow the link) which will be how so many kids will have their GCSE and A level results decided this year. I think it horribly unjust so this is a rant against continuous assessment and in favour of exams. It’s a long held and unfashionable view. The comments box is open on the rant.

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Much Ado About Nothing – Tennant / Tate review

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on 04/08/2020| Leave a Comment »

Ah, back to theatre! Even if it’s filmed. I’d long heard about the David Tennant / Catherine Tate 2011 production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Wyndham’s Theatre, but I hadn’t seen it. It’s now available for streaming via YouTube on Digital Theatre Plus … £7.99 for a one off viewing or £9.99 for a month’s subscription to all their plays (many RSC and Globe). They are awkward to get onto the TV rather than computer. But this is a fabulous version of the play and joins my several MUCH ADO reviews online.

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How To Build A Girl – review

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on 01/08/2020| 2 Comments »

HOW TO BUILD A GIRL (linked) has had its release straight to Amazon Prime video. A shame as in any other year, this would have been a major box office success. Still, you can watch it now, Starring Beanie Feldstein in the screen adaptation of Caitlin Moran’s 2014 novel. It follows the transformation of Johanna, a kid from a Wolverhampton council estate into a young rock journalist named Dolly Wilde. It’s VERY funny. It has an oitstanding support cast … some are blink if you miss them. If you liked Almost Famous but wanted a version for females, this is it.

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