Review of The Beatles 1965 film HELP! (linked) in the 60s Retrospective Series. This one’s even more comprehensive than my review of A Hard Day’s Night. Director Richard Lester has said that his obituary will begin ‘Beatles director …‘ On the basis of this he has been called ‘the father of MTV video’ and it was the innovative and exciting area of the film. The trouble is the basic storyline is dire.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Eleanor Bron, George Harrison, John Lennon, Leo McKern, Paul McCartney, Richard Lester, Ringo Starr, Rory Kinnear, The Beatles, Victor Spinetti | Leave a Comment »
The 60s Retrospectives. I’ve been avoiding A HARD DAY’S NIGHT, (Linked) simply because it has had so much written about it, but it is unavoidable as probably the key “Swinging Sixties London” movie. A lot on the film, The Beatles, the album … definitely a pleasure to rewatch.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alun Owen, George Harrison, John Junkin, John Lennon, Norman Rossington, Paul McCartney, Richard Lester, Ringo Starr, Victor Spinetti, Wilfred Brambell | Leave a Comment »
I’ve just posted a short story “In The Days of Covid-21 – A Fictional Story of The Near Future” which is from my related Dart Travis fiction website. You might enjoy it. I’ve mirrored the story here too.
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Review of 1968’s THE BOFOR’S GUN (linked). After a run of comedy and cult movies, this is a return to serious drama. This film is set in a National Service army camp in 1954. The towering central performance as the psychotic Gunner O’Rourke is Nicol Williamson. Trying to control him is Lance-Bombardier Evans, played by David Warner. Add Ian Holm and John Thaw. Worth rewatching, but more of a stage / TV play than a film.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Barry Jackson, David Warner, Donald Gee, Ian Holm, Jack Gold, John McGrath, John Thaw, Nicol Williamson, Peter Vaughan, Richard O'Callaghan | Leave a Comment »
The 60s retrospectives stretches beyond cult to so bad-it’s- well, terrible. GONKS GO BEAT (linked) from 1964. Or 1965. I think the latter, but not enough people saw it to remember. The world is divided into Beatland and Balladisle, and the Intergalactic Federation needs to bring peace. With Graham Bond Organisation (Ginger Baker, John McLaughlin, Jack Bruce), Nashville Teens, Lulu and more. A comedy pop sci-fi warfare romantic drama. One of my longer and more comprehensive (and sarcastic) reviews with lots of pictures means you can read the review and know everything without having to see the film!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arthur Mullard, Barbara Brown, Elaine & Derek, Frank Thornton, Graham Bond Organisation, Ian Gregory, Kenneth Connor, Lulu, NashvilleTeens, Terry Scott | Leave a Comment »
Another in the 60s Retrospective series. 1968, and Marianne Faithfull and Alain Delon in GIRL ON A MOTORCYCLE. (linked). It’s a cult movie, which as I say means some of it is inept, and for a few years it was hard to find. Wiki suggests it was the sixth highest grossing film of 19068 which seems highly unlikely. I had more fun doing the slightly sarcastic review (!) than I did watching the film, I think.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alain Delon, Jack Cardiff, Less Reed, Marianne Faithful, Roger Mutton | Leave a Comment »
I had the opportunity to preview ONCE WERE BROTHERS: Robbie Robertson & The Band for The Band website (theband.hiof.no). It isn’t released in the UK yet, but keep an eye out for it. This film directed by Daniel Roher tells the story of my favourite rock group neatly with some incredible archive footage and still photographs. Its only fault for me was that it was too short.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Daniel Roher, Dominique Robertson, Eric Clapton, Garth Hudson, Jonathan Taplin, Levon Helm, Peter Gabriel, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, Ronnie Hawkins, Taj Mahal, The Band, Van Morrison | Leave a Comment »
The 60s retrospectives. HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH (linked) directed by Clive Donner. The adventures of an 18 year old virgin (Barry Evans) in Stevenage New Town, with Judy Geeson, Vanessa Howard, Sheila White, Angea Scoular and the marvellous Adrienne Posta. It’s noted for its music soundtrack by Traffic, Spencer Davis Group and Andy Ellison. It’s so much my era that I get pretty critical in spite of its cast of British acting stalwarts Denholm Elliot, Michael Bates, Moyra Fraser and Christopher Timothy.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Adrienne Posta, Andy Ellison, Angela Scoular, Barry Evans, Clive Donner, Denholm Elliot, Michael Bates, Sheila White, Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Vanessa Howard | Leave a Comment »
A picture essay of April in the garden added (LINKED), given that much of the day is wandering around the garden. iPhone in hand, I just ended up taking LOTS of photos.
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The 1960s series continues with THE KNACK- AND HOW TO GET IT (linked) from 1965. It’s the second Rita Tushingham film in a row. It was directed by Richard Lester, sandwiched between A Hard Day’s Night and Help! The other stars were Michael Crawford, Ray Brooks and Donal Donnely. Like so many “Swinging 60s” films it was based on a stage play, The Knack, by Ann Jellicoe. At least half of the film is new visual material. It suffers nowadays from the ending and the rape accusations by Nancy (Rita Tushingham). It still has a lot going for it visually, and you can tell where Michael Crawford would be heading with screen comedy.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged . Ann Jellicoe, Charles Wood, Donal Donnely, John Barry, Michael Crawford, Ray Brooks, Richhard Lester, Rita Tushingham | Leave a Comment »
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