Over the course of the next week, we’re visiting these locations, screening free archive film. For more details, see our latest newsletter.
Screen Heritage UK Launch – Brighton, London & Yorkshire
British Film Institute Classics
If you’ve never appreciated what it is that the BFI does, all you need to do is have a look at their impressive film catalogue. Tasked with the job of preserving Britain’s film heritage, the BFI are never idle, and at Vintage 2011 we had the pleasure of presenting some of the best known films from their collection as well as some obscure gems that deserve recognition today.
These films are moving, funny, and most of all relevant – whether Ministry of Information films that take you on a journey around everyday wartime London, or 1960s feature films that allow you to look into a world of new-found sexual freedom, our audiences were captivated by these wonderful films; many of which have been re-mastered and re-released on Blu-Ray with stunning results.
Listen to Britain (1942) – A short Ministry of Information film produced during WWII, this film depicts a day in the life of Blitz-torn Britain. The result is a sublime composition of scenes of ordinary life in an extraordinary time. With poetic beauty, it tells the story of the human spirit. Directed by Humphrey Jennings and Stewart McAllister, starring Chesney Allen, Bud Flanagan and Myra Hess.
Withnail and I (1986) – This is a hilarious journey around the dysfunctional world of Withnail – gloriously and gratuitously acted by Richard E Grant – and ‘I’, who are a pair of clueless Londoners that set off from their squalid flat to a country cottage in the Lake District. The audience is left wondering if these two comical genius half-wits will even survive their wine-soaked encounter with the Cumbrian countryside. One of Britain’s favourite cult films, it is directed by Bruce Robinson, and stars Richard E Grant, Paul McGann and Richard Griffiths.
London Can Take It (1940) – A short Ministry of Information film, the documents 18 hours of the Blitz. After the Nazi air force delivers their nightly barrage of bombs, London awakes and goes back to work with their morale not only intact, but as this film states, higher than ever. A propaganda film that aimed to show the war’s effect on ordinary people and turn public opinion in favour of bringing the USA on side against Germany, this remains a powerful document today. Directed by Humphrey Jennings and Harry Watt.
Permissive (1970) – This is one of many films re-released as part of the BFI’s Flipside series, which aims to rescue weird and wonderful films from obscurity and make them available once again in high-quality editions. When Suzy arrives in London, she is unwittingly plunged into the world of the ‘groupie’. The soundtrack by prog rock legends Comus, Forever More and Titus Groan adds to the gritty atmosphere and produces a dark British counter-cultural aretefact that’s shot through with grim authenticity. Directed by Lindsay Shonteff, starring Maggie Stride and Gay Singleton.
Under the Table You Must Go (1970) – This documentary takes the audience on a trip around the pubs and clubs of London in the weird world of 1970 – often surreal, it’s a truly jolly trip that is worlds away from the wine bars that line the streets today. Directed by Arnold L Miller.
Nightmail (1936) – It’s a simple idea, beautifully executed – this short film follows the night mail train from London to Scotland, with music by Benjamin Britten and poetry by WH Auden that mirrors the rhythm of the train’s wheels. An evocative and nostalgic piece of beauty. Directed by Harry Watt and Basil Wright.
That Kind of Girl (1963)– Another classic from the BFI’s Flipside, this film was greeted at its finale by roaring applause from our last audience of the Vintage weekend. It gives a brilliant glimpse into the world of 60s Britain, while exploring the ‘issue’ of sexual promiscuity and venereal disease after a beautiful au-pair wrestles with the affections of three men. Directed by Gerry O’Hara, starring Margaret Rose Keil
Screened at Vintage at the Southbank Centre, July 2011
Ealing Classics
There are some things that only get better with age – and we’re not just talking about good wine here. The hard-working folks at the Vintage Festival scoured the country to put together a collection of all things cool from 5 decades of British fashion, music, design, art – and of course film.
Curated by one of our all-round film heroes, producer Stephen Woolley, our programme of classic films that got a huge thumbs up from the mobile cinema crew and all our audiences. And these classic films are making a real come-back – Optimum Releasing have been busy cleaning up some of the old 35mm film prints to not only make them available to the public once again, but to bring them back in a digitally restored format that has in many cases miraculously enhanced the audio and visual experience. So, if you’ve never seen them, we would heartily recommend you get out there and catch some of these classics, now available on Blu-Ray and DVD, with a host of extra features on the discs to boot:
Sing-Along Bugsy Malone (1976) – This musical gangster comedy is brought to life by actors and actresses who were all under 17 years old, with most considerably younger – Jodie Foster was only 13 when she ably took on the role of ‘Tallulah’. The setting is prohibition-era New York, where the gangsters are running riot – in this case, with rapid-fire custard ‘splurge guns’. Once splurged, a kid is ‘all washed up’ and his career in crime is over. And without spoiling the plot, the colossal custard pie fight as the film climaxes is well worth a watch! Directed by Alan Parker, starring Scott Baio, Florie Dugger, John Cassisi, Martin Lev and Jodie Foster
Whisky Galore! (1949) – Now, what would you do if you were living on a Scottish Island and a ship carrying 50,000 cases of whisky ran aground? No question for these inhabitants, only there’s just one problem – an English Guard Captain who stands in their way. The result is a comedy which, like a good whisky, only improves with age. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Basil Redford, Bruce Seaton, Joan Greenwood and Gordon Jackson.
Hue and Cry (1947)– This film is considered to the original Ealing comedy - creating a world of working-class children’s secret clubs on the war-damaged streets of London. The kids discover what they believe are secret messages between criminals being conveyed in their favourite comic, and set out to foil the plot. Directed by Charles Chrichton, starring Alistair Sim, Harry Fowler and Joan Dowling.
The Ladykillers ( 1955) – Posing as an amateur string quartet, a criminal gang take on a room in the unsuspecting Mrs Wilberforce’s lop-sided home. The landlady is blissfully unaware of the mayhem that she causes the gang – proving an unlikely adversary to the crooks. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Peter Sellers and Katie Johnson
Passport to Pimlico (1949) – When a bomb goes off in London’s Pimlico, an astonishing cache of documents are revealed that uncover the fact that the area actually belongs to the French. The residents embark on a hilarious adventure in and around their suddenly foreign land, and the absurdity of the plot is carried off brilliantly by the cast. Directed by Henry Cornelius, starring Stanley Holloway, Margaret Rutherford and Barbara Murray.
Yield to the Night (1956) – An exception to our selection of comedies, this is a powerful film about the power of the human spirit, following a murderess who is condemned to death. Faced with an ever shortening future, she is forced to face up to the past. An outstanding drama that stands the test of time. Directed by J Lee Thompson, starring Diana Dors, Yvonne Mitchell and Michael Craig.
Screened at Vintage at the Southbank Centre, July 2011
East Devon AONB – ‘Back to the Future’
A project sprung up in 2009 in the beautiful hills of East Devon to collect and preserve archive film that had lain dormant in people’s cupboards and attics for years, and make the footage available to the public. The result so far is this – a beautifully compiled and narrated short film that documents life in East Devon from another age. The project will also see the creation of a website where everyone can access the raw footage, with the aim of uploading dozens of newly digitised pieces of film.
Screened at Bicton College Country Fayre, June 2011