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Showing posts from April, 2014

Forgotten British Films...

Tawny Pipet 1944 A charming film that illustrates English village life during the last world war. Shot almost entirely in the village of Lower Slaughter in the Cotswolds, a village considered to be one of the most beautiful in England. It characterizes the English love of the countryside and nature, and in this case the care and protection of some very rare breeding birds. It features Bernard Miles, Rosamund John, and Niall MacGinnis (later to star in Jason and the Argonauts) and their fight against soldiers with tanks who want to disturb the pipets, a farmer that wants to plough the field, and egg stealers. In the end the Ministry of Agriculture step in and save the day! The eggs hatch in time and everyone is happy. A wonderfully English film that perhaps would not travel well, but would fill British cinema seats in its day. Originally filmed in Sepiatone and now available from Amazon.

Forgotten British Films...

WHAT A WHOPPER! 1961 A silly, but rather enjoyable romp with the late actor/singer Adam Faith and a group of friends that take a trip in a hearse to Scotland in search of the Loch Ness monster. Packed with more than a fistful of stars and supporting actors including Sid James, Carole Lesley, Clive Dunn, Charles Hawtrey, Terence Longdon, Freddie Frinton, Spike Milligan, Wilfred Brambell, Fabia Drake, Archie Duncan, Terry Scott, Gordon Rollings, Lance Percival, Molly Weir, and Fyfe Robertson, it’s well worth a watch! The group get involved in Salmon poaching and in making a fake ‘Nessie’ to fool the locals. It’s very light and fun, and a treat to see so many faces from classic TV and film. Shot at Pinewood and Loch Ness, it’s a real trip down memory lane.

Forgotten British Films...

The Way Ahead 1944 The other evening I decided to dust off and blow the cobwebs away from this 70 year old film from my collection and give it another airing. I must confess its a long time since I last watched this movie and found it quite refreshing and inspiring. Set during the 2nd World War, it tells the story of seven new recruits to the British Army in 1940, none of them too keen on the idea of being in the army at all. Gripe after gripe, and going through tough basic training with a very correct officer and sgt, they begin to settle down and are soon ready to take part and fight in the invasion of North Africa. The film features David Niven as the officer and William Hartnell (later to become the first Dr.Who) as the Sgt. There is a host of well known faces among the supporting actors, many later to become household names, and the film was made by the great and talented director Carol Reed with a lively script and strong characterizations.

Forgotten British Films...

The Bridal Path 1959 I just love this film and managed to get a copy some years ago. It features Bill Travers as a Hebridean farmer who is not allowed to marry his first cousin by the councilors of the island he was born and raised on. Nearly all of the residents of the island are first cousins! and the movement afoot is to put a stop to the practice. Therefore, Ewan McEwan is off to the mainland in a search for a wife! What follows is a witty comedy as he is mistaken for a white slaver, upsets the Highland Games, then accused of poaching and is later arrested. He returns home empty handed and finds his childhood sweetheart is not his cousin after all and everything ends well. Beautifully photographed in West Scotland and The Highlands with pleasant scenes and lovely music performed by the Campbelltown Gaelic Choir.

Spitalfields Antiques Market...

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It was a busy week away from the blog, however, Adrian and Myself did manage to visit Spitalfields Antiques Market on Thursday in the heart of a sunny and warm East London. The market was opened way back by Queen Victoria as the wall plaque told us and offers just about anything you could imagine from jewellery to skeletons. We found two gentlemen sitting and enjoying some rather amazing looking Fish N’ Chips, so after a brief enquiry we headed off to ‘Poppies’ just around the corner for our share of the delights. ‘Pops’ as he is known worked all his life in the ‘Fish and Chips’ business, Pops believed that he could make the best fish and chips in London’s East End and bought the best fish from Billingsgate, the fluffiest crispest chips and classics such as jellied eels. Pops also has created a feeling of the past in recreating the era, of 1940′s and 1950′ reminders of the past. Poppies are based in Hanbury Street E1 and provided us both with a fish and chips meal t

Surviving Picasso...

Surviving Picasso 1996 This could almost be a forgotten film, it’s not shown on any UK or US lists that I can find. In fact, I obtained my DVD copy from Youn Yong Woon in Seoul South Korea, and I feel I was very lucky in getting a copy. It features Anthony Hopkins in a portrayal of the world famous artist in his work and his lifestyle. It’s a well crafted and responsible film by James Ivory, unforgettably touching, dramatic and emotional and a very worthy vehicle for all of the talented supporting cast. Based on the book: Picasso “Creator and Destroyer” by Arianna Stassinopoulos Huffington it’s perfect in its artistic performance.