johnnieroderickbyrne Reviews

The Spartans (2004– )

Why History Matters to ME.

[25 October 2006]

Oh The Spartans - that was the name of one of the programmes I saw.

One reason "Why history matters to me" which I wouldn't have posted on the History Matters site was highlighted by Five Live, the radio station. So I blame them for initially reminding me of Bettany Hughes and sending me towards the History Matters site for a lot of futile activity trying to post my "One Day In History" - 17 October 2006.

This is the era where you HAVE to find someone else to blame isn't it? I was listening to Simon Mayo interviewing Ray Winston I think when suddenly realised the guest had changed to some one feminine. Just as I learnt it was Bettany Hughes, historian, plugging the "One Day In History" exercise.

Apropos nothing I had heard, she suddenly asked Simon to look at her top garment and tell her if he could see her breasts? Boy if I hadn't been sitting down already....! Anyway, Mr Mayo being the gallant gentleman he is demurred from undertaking the good Doctor's request for an examination. Me – I was off and running to get my stamp collectors magnifying glass (two bands of light helps with viewing thru it). I closely inspected my radio but am sad to report I couldn't see Ms Hughes top half. Sigh! Yes I can say in 3 words one of the reasons history matters to me. "Doctor Bettany Hughes". With the David Starkey's, Simon Sharma's and Peter Ackroyd's shoving themselves into camera shot on every occasion they can – mostly when history programmes are on (which my missus loves) I find something more urgent to do. Like watching paint dry in another room, which hasn't been re-decorated in a decade.

But then I saw one of Doctor Hughes' historical programmes and was hooked. What a shallow person I am! I usually yell at the men presenters draping themselves all over my view of the pyramids, whatever. But ask me what subject each Bettany Hughes' programme was on, be it an hour or even two hours long and I would no doubt only mutter incoherently "Bettany! Bettany!" I am a disrespectful viewer with Peter Ackroyd – his shows on The Romantics and London were wonderful but his constant presence on the screen looking moodily off into the middle distance irritated the heck out of me.

But I consider it a frame of film wasted if Dr Hughes isn't in it. Her head, just so, the sun glinting off that raven wings jet black hair. I go weak.

Hey, someone move those damn pyramids out of the way! Are you ready for your close up, Dr Hughes?

No Love for Johnnie (1961)

Hot Figure - benched. Nice one, Wilf!

[24 October 2006]

Count the number of reviews on this site for this 45 year old film. Less than seven at the time of writing. As a life long film fan I have now heard of and seen this movie (thanks to a fellow film fan on this site) but it remains very difficult to view. The number of reviews are indicative of how available it is to view be it on TV or via specialised cinemas. An asset very little exploited and that was a big clue as to why.

Despite the films age it is still relevant especially to British politics. Nothing at all has changed that the author was criticising via this fictional account of Westminster and its residents. Love affairs, power hungry, greed, self serving and back stabbing. It all still there - just read the newspapers in the last year here - but in 1958 they didn't have special people to spin the news like they do now. You get the top two men in Government coming out of rooms, obviously after a set to with fixed grins on their face and saying something like "We have had a frank discussion and are in complete agreement" - that sentence is never finished but would continue "in complete agreement that we loath each other"

In "No Love For Johnnie" the combatants were the likes of Stanley Holloway, Geoffrey Keen, Donald Pleasance, Peters Sallis and Barkworth and leading the field by a nose, Peter Finch. Everyone well played and instantly disliked by myself. Two characters only come out with the viewers sympathy, Flagg,(Dennis Price) not in the original book and Mary (a young Billie Whitelaw) who was obviously perfect for the Peter Finch character but he only saw her as a possible sexual conquest. The man was a fool.

It is also a wonderful bookend to Finch's later USA film "Network", where he goes into that famous rant on live TV against the likes of the character he played in this earlier film.

Despite this sterling cast - like the book it is based on it has been marginalised and is fast losing it mentions in film references books.Check Variety, Time Out. Hats off to Halliwell - it still lists it. For his loathsome performance, Finch won a BAFTA and a Berlin Silver Bear. A lost treasure of a film but now dug up by me and buffed up a bit.

So owners of this film - can I request you re-release it now! The reason I think it was buried in the first place is redundant now - check the title of this text. The book was the incendiary device - the film interpretation defused the bomb. Only Sikes/Sykes of the Earnley Herald remains.

The "No Love For Johnnie" book's blurb screamed "The Novel That Lifts The Lid Off Westminster". It is said REAL Members of Parliament sat around muttering darkly about who it was about - why do MPs always think it is about them? Oh yes - self serving. A question not then answered - perhaps because the author had unfortunately died before even his book was accepted and published, let alone a filmic version.

So the makers of the film version, sort of lifted the lid at Westminster, had a wee peek inside, didn't like what they saw and retreated a respectful distance. Shame really. It was still a shocking film albeit it diluted.

So fair do's - let the whole world see how New Politics was only Old Politics and evermore will be so.