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Alfie? Which one? The 1966 Alfie with Michael Caine of course (Linked). Helliwell’s Film Guide, usually a strict critic, called it ‘One of the best 60s films’ so it was an essential next one in the 1960s retrospective series. Well worth seeing again.

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Blow-up review

The next 60s retrospective is Michelangelo Antonioni’s BLOW-UP (linked). Filmed in 1966 but really no one saw it until 1967. Starring David Hemmings and Vanessa Redgrave. It remains the definitive ‘Swinging London’ film for me. The visual storytelling works, and though it’s famed forThe Yardbirds appearance, that’s only a few minutes.

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The 60s retrospectives. 1966, and Morgan – A Suitable Case For Treatment (LINKED)starring David Warner and Vanessa Redgrave with Robert Stephens … plus Irene Handl, Bernard Bresslaw and Arthur Mullard. It could have been Hamlet meets Carry On films, but it has become a cult movie.

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We move on in the 60s series to another Dirk Bogarde film, Accident (1967). LINKED. One of the three influential Joseph Losey / Harold Pinter collaborations, it co-stars Stanley Baker, Jacqueline Sassard and Michael York. Harold Pinter pops in for a cameo. The quality of script and performance stands out, though it’s low key, more TV series by modern standards.

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Three Julie Christie films in a row. Latest in the 60s retrospectives, is DARLING (linked) directed by John Schlesinger 1965. Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde and Laurence Harvey. It was highly acclaimed back in 1965 for its view of “swinging London” and was considered ahead of its time. Time however has not been kind.

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Review added of David Lean’s epic, Doctor Zhivago, (FOLLOW LINK) with Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Rod Steiger, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine Chaplin, Alec Guinness, Ralph Richardson, Rita Tushingham. The 60s retrospective series continues, and will grow larger if we’re all locked down!  It’s always listed as 1965, though it opened on 31st December 1965 in the USA and April 1966 in the UK. It filled screens for over two years, some continuously.

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One of the 60s greats. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD,(Follow link to review)  the 1967 version with Terence Stamp, Julie Christie, Alan Bates and Peter Finch. Directed by John Schlesinger, cinematography by Nicholas Roeg, For period drama, it beats most contenders. The latest in the 60s Films revisited series. That’s the fourth Terence Stamp film in a short time. the series might now divert and follow Julie Christie!

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The 60s film retrospectives continue with MODESTY BLAISE (linked) from 1966. Directed by Joseph Losey, starring Monica Vitti, Terence Stamp and Dirk Bogarde. It is spoof James Bond in style, and not altogether successful. It looked good though (in parts) but I found the story un-involving. I’m having a run of Terence Stamp films.

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A rant added on The Hacking Cough (LINKED)… people coughing and sneezing in theatres in the current situation.

The 60s retrospective film reviews continue with Ken Loach’s Poor Cow (linked) starring Carol White and Terence Stamp. 1967. It was Ken Loach’s first feature film, hailed as a masterpiece of social realism. How does it stand up fifty plus years later? Not too well for us.

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