Once again I have returned to the pages of this blog, I suppose I just cannot help myself. Am I so full of my own importance that I really believe the world just cannot wait to hear my views on such and such? Really? No! The drive and inspiration for this blog is just the same as it has always been; the urge to communicate, share, hopefully entertain and to take the odd stroll down memory lane to my own boyhood. Alas, in the grand scheme of things, such urges must and very often do take second place. Life comes along and we get busy and distracted and other needs take precedence. At last I find myself with enough time and peace of mind to return to this endeavour; so let’s get on with it.
The Friday Night Movie
The picture says it all.
Of course I have not given up watching my movies on a Friday night and I must admit you have missed a few corkers while I have been away. I ran a lovely series of post-war British movies and some of them are very worth watching if you get the chance.
I found myself really enjoying the work of playwright Terrance Rattigan. The Browning Version (1951) was a peach of a film. It had such a charming atmosphere and wonderful characters. It was full of bygone values and the tortures of being middle-class. Along the same lines, but not quite so powerful, I also enjoyed The Winslow Boy (1948).
Of course I could not visit films of this era without a viewing of Good-Bye Mr. Chips (1939). This is an incredibly sweet little film. It seems to sweep you through the years with all the ease of a real life passing. Robert Donat, from The Winslow Boy, makes a very good Mr. Chips and shows great versatility. Again if you haven’t seen it don’t waste any more time, get out there and watch it.
I rounded off this short series with Tom Brown’s Schooldays (1951) and David Lean’s Oliver Twist (1948). Of course both of these films deal with voyages through boyhood. Both films were handled pretty well though both of them dealt rather harshly with authors original tale. The upshot of this is that the joins where the story had been cut were there to be seen but you had to look pretty hard. What I found most intriguing was the fact that these films were set in the same era. They are a graphic portrayal of the difference between the haves and the have not of the time. We have come a long way since then. In this country we have come a long way but in the rest of the world? Well that is a discussion for another day; watch this space.
After a brief sojourn with vintage American cinema, including The Grapes of Wrath and To Kill A Mockingbird, I found myself launched into the future. Have you noticed that many films appear to predict a very rainy future where we all eat Chinese food? Perhaps it is simply the inspiration of the hugely influential Blade Runner (1982). Both Minority Report (2002) and A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) did the work of all good sci-fi particularly well by making me think. A.I. Artificial Intelligence had the added edge of great poignancy and Haley Joel Osment turned in a spectacular performance.
After this the sci-fi took on a much more “pulp” nature. There were lots of global disasters and lots of alien thumping going on. Worthy of special note has to be 2012 (2009). I know it got hammered by the critics but you just have to suspend all disbelief and get caught up in the marvel of Los Angeles falling apart around the fleeing family. This film almost makes me want to get 3d but then it is so well done you hardly need it.
So at last the summer holidays have arrived. While the kids are off school I like to revisit my own summer holidays. This year’s summerfest began with a real blast from my past Bottoms Up (1960). Again this film was so charming it was a little gem. That was followed by Tom Sawyer (1938) one of my all-time boyhood hero’s. And tonight…
Tonight I return to Corfu. I love Corfu I have been fortunate enough to visit it a couple of times but I can revisit it again at any time via My Family And Other Animals (2005). Last summer I watched the television series this year the film version. As a boy I avoided Gerald Durrell’s book even though it tried its best to lure me on most every visit to the library. It looked too serious, and probably was for me then, I was much more interested in Jennings and Derbishire and Ginger Among the Pigeons. However after my first visit to Corfu it became a firm favourite and I’m really looking forward to the olive groves, the hot sun and the warm sea… Take me there!
(Edited in line with the comment below, thanks for the heads up. I could say next time I’ll be more careful and check but then I would be lying!)
Ahhh Corfu
Alef Elf 