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Archive for November, 2023

The Browning Version – 1985, BBC

Posted in Uncategorized on 30/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

Fourth in this Terence Rattigan series, what some consider his best play, THE BROWNING VERSION (linked). This is the 1985 BBC version featuring Ian Holm and Judi Dench. It has a fair few asides on the theme, including school memories of my own.

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The Winslow Boy – 1977, BBC

Posted in Uncategorized on 30/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

We soldier on. The third Terence Rattigan is THE WINSLOW BOY (follow link) from 1977 with Eric Porter, Alan Badel and Michelle Dotrice. It’s another BBC Play f Th Month and they were getting more elaborate with more outside sequences. Another superb BBC version. We got a major internet fault repaired yesterday enabling me to out even more pictures in than usual.

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French Without Tears – BBC 1976

Posted in Uncategorized on 28/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

The Terence Rattigan viewing continues as as we work through the box set. It’s calming to watch, clear as crystal with superb casting. For FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS (follow link) they cast Michael Gambon, Nicola Pagett, Anthony Andrews and Nigel Havers. The cast were all on their way up too. These BBC Play of The Month productions were elaborate, and are very little noted online. It was a very popular play for years, though it fell out of favour. It’s good to revisit it.

Michael Gambon, Anthony Andrews, Nicola Pagett

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Separate Tables – BBC version

Posted in Uncategorized on 26/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

SEPARATE TABLES was done as a BBC Play of The Month in 1970, (LINK to review) and is now in the Terence Rattigan Collection DVD set. I add it here because there is already a lot of Rattigan in the stage section, and because it was an extremely good production … and I add some thoughts on whether it might have inspired ‘Fawlty Towers’ and also some personal thoughts on the ‘Society’s added punishment’ aspect. It starred Geraldine McEwan and Eric Porter, with Annette Crosbie.

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Giant (1956)

Posted in Uncategorized on 24/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

There’s nothing like the comfort of a 1950s or 60s movie when you’re feeling ill. So GIANT (1956) (click on link) added to the film reviews here. Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean, recently reissued in a first rate 4K-UHD blu-ray edition.

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Songs For Young Lovers

Posted in Uncategorized on 23/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

Songs for Young Lovers by Frank Sinatra added to the Art of the LP section at AROUND AND AROUND. It was a first in many ways, from its hand-painted illustration to its claim as an early concept album, and a major record in switching popular music inthe USA to the LP format.

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Sunset Boulevard – review

Posted in Uncategorized on 20/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

Review added of the 2023 Jamie Lloyd production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SUNSET BOULEVARD (follow the link). Actually we didn’t see the acclaimed and award winning Nicole Scherzinger, but the ‘alternative’ for selected shows, Rachel Tucker. It was still a five star production and a total re-think of the concept.

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King Lear – Branagh, review

Posted in Uncategorized on 19/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

Review of the current production of KING LEAR (click link to review)directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. This is the two hour non-stop all-action Lear set in Ancient Britain. It’s very different. Read the review

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Seeta’s Rite (of Spring) BSO

Posted in Uncategorized on 16/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

Short review of ‘Seeta’s Rite’ concert by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with an Indian dance ballet Rite of Spring in the programme. Mainly it’s about the “Rite of Spring.”

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Natalie Merchant- 2023 review

Posted in Uncategorized on 14/11/2023| Leave a Comment »

Follow the link to my review of Natalie Merchant at Bath Forum on Saturday 11th November. It was a phenomenal concert, starting at 8 and we got back in the night air outside at 11.30. With her string quartet and amazing musicians, it ranks among the best shows I’ve seen in many years. Read the review.

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