21/04/2020 by Peter Viney
Review of Tony Richardson’s 1961 film, A TASTE OF HONEY (linked). Based on Shelagh Delaney’s 1958 stage play. There is a linked review to the 2014 production. The film is a true classic, introducing Rita Tushingham. The cast were Murray Melvin, Dora Bryan, Robert Stephens and Paul Danquah. Lots of photos in the review as there are so many online.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Dora Bryan, Murray Melvin, Paul Danquah, Rita Tushingham, Robert Stephens, Shelagh Delaney, Tony Richardson | Leave a Comment »
19/04/2020 by Peter Viney
1968 film, WORK IS A FOUR LETTER WORD (linked). This is one of those not on video or DVD. Directed by Peter Hall, starring David Warner and Cilla Black. It was based on the stage play Eh? by Henry Livings and its absence from any media suggests those involved may prefer to forget it happened.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alan Howard, Cilla Black, David Waller, David Warner, Elizabeth Spriggs, Peter Hall, Zia Mohyeddin | Leave a Comment »
18/04/2020 by Peter Viney
The 60s series continues. The latest is FAHRENHEIT 451 (linked). Directed by Françcois Truffaut based on Ray Bradbury’s 1951 novel about a world where books are banned, and burned. Nicholas Roeg was the cinematographer. At that point sci-fi wasn’t considered a serious genre on film, due to shaky SFX. Truffaut got round the issue. Starring Oskar Werner, Julie Christie, Cyril Cusack and Anton Diffring. Julie Christie seems to excite particular attention in these reviews from gentlemen of my generation. The good news is that she plays both the wife and the girlfriend.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Anton Diffring, Cyril Cusack, Françoise Truffaut, Julie Christie, Nicholas Roeg, Oskar Werner | Leave a Comment »
15/04/2020 by Peter Viney
My new article on LEE HAZLEWOOD is live on the Toppermost website today. The man who put the American in Americana.
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14/04/2020 by Peter Viney
An ELT article added on the often under-stated Swiss influence on Language Teaching.
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12/04/2020 by Peter Viney
60s Retrospective review of THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN (linked). Starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr with music from Badfinger (Come & Get It by Paul McCartney). This is a case where “cult movie” or “so bad it’s good” doesn’t work, because this was a deeply flawed “black comedy” project from Terry Southern’s novel. Unfortunately it wasn’t funny.
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09/04/2020 by Peter Viney
The 60s retrospective series gets to THE FAMILY WAY (linked). Premiered just before Christmas 1966, but really a 1967 film. It’s most famous for the Paul McCartney soundtrack, but that’s unfair. It’s a family comedy drama, amusing rather than knockabout, with excellent character work. It stars Hayley Mills, John Mills, Hywel Bennett, Marjorie Rhodes, Avril Angers, Murray Head and John Comber. Well worth rewatching.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Avril Angers, Boulting Brothers, George Martin, Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, John Comber, John Mills, Marjorie Rhodes, Murray Head, Paul McCartney | Leave a Comment »
08/04/2020 by Peter Viney
It’s in the ELT section, THE INSPECTION (linked). Watching Dominic Raab having to take over at no notice took me back 45 years to my first day as a Head of Department which coincided with a government inspection … it has some ELT relevance on the use of boards in class!
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07/04/2020 by Peter Viney
The Ipcress File (LINKED)is the latest in the 60s retrospective series. Michael Caine in the first of his five appearances as Harry Palmer. I know it is considered one of the greatest British films of all time, but I’ve never liked the entire genre. Would re-watching convert me to secret agent films? A friend said my negative reviews are much more fun to read than my positive ones. He’ll enjoy this one then.
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05/04/2020 by Peter Viney
Japanese Affairs, the fourth in the English As A Funny Language series of novels under the pseudonym Dart Travis is now available.
Links to the Dart Travis blog:
JAPANESE AFFAIRS (1986) Now available on Kindle at £3.25
JAPANESE AFFAIRS PAPERBACK is now available on amazon, price £8.95
If you’ve missed the early ones in the series:
FOREIGN AFFAIRS (1972)
HOME AFFAIRS (1982)
GREEK AFFAIRS (1985)
There’s a loosely continuing theme, though they can be read independently. You’d get more in sequence though.
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