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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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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An ELT article added on the often under-stated Swiss influence on Language Teaching.
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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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