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Reviews
It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)
Another cracker seen on talking pictures
Made when films had a script and not just a list of special effects, two years after the war and all the usual suspects turn out for a film that fairly crackles, it avoids the usual cosy ness typical of this era and in its way it could have been the model for tvs eastenders. I enjoyed this film, all the cast are on top of their game. A woman now living a drab married life finds her former lover on the doorstep having escaped from prison, suddenly all the danger and excitement are back in her life as she hides him from the police, David mcallum as the villain , so confident before he was arrested plays a hunted frightened shadow of his former self, will he go back to prison, a place where he's already been flogged ?, you'll have to wait and see!
Now and Forever (1956)
Charming
I'm amazed this film was lost for so long, it's rare to see fifties England in colour for a start, it reminds me of Genevieve, the two young stars vernon gray and Jeanette Scott are just lovely, this is a tale of two young people who's parents for snobbish reasons don't approve so they set off for Gretna green , their journey is eventful with the police and their parents giving chase, since talking pictures showed this film I've watched it many times, if you want the perfect film for a grey day this is it, feel good factor,.. on toast!. So put your feet up , get some crumpets and a pot of tea and enjoy.
Lewis: Old School Ties (2007)
Good stuff
These are great to watch with a cuppa on your own , though it did make me laugh when Lewis turns out to have been at school with a character played by Gina McKee, as he's 12 yrs older than her in the real world I somehow think not!. Never mind it didn't spoil it, I often think 'oh I've seen this I shan't bother' but it's always worth the effort as five minutes in you realise you never can remember the ending, makes a change from watching black and white films, though. It's a shame we don't very often get tv of this calibre anymore, endeavour aside. I wonder if all the actors have little or no character these days perhaps it's growing up in these anodyne times.
Jigsaw (1962)
Love this
Its a funny type of film to be a favourite but I love this film, it rattles along a a cracking pace, theres something strangely settling watching Jack Warner as a copper , I was three when this was filmed so its great watching the world as it was back then, however old it makes you feel!,i watch this a couple of times a year I guess. Pure nostalgia. Todays police dramas seem so drawn out by comparison . Highly recommended. The house at the centre of this in bungalow road has hardly changed today. There's even still a caravan park opposite!.
Snowball (1960)
Dennis waterman
I recently caught this film on talking pictures having never seen it before. Top cast included an eleven year old but clearly recognisable Dennis Waterman as a schoolboy who turns up at home very late from school. On being asked where he's been he blames a bus conductor for Turning him off the bus for not having a ticket. A nosy neighbour writes to the papers and before long it all snowballs out of control with the conductor who was pow in the war hounded by all. Now I expected a typical period drama all cosy and nice, I got a surprise... Dennis is very good as the boy and his parents Gordon Jackson. And Zena walker are similarly good. This is a morality tale of what can happen to the nicest of people when we don't think, as the title says,... things 'snowball' An excellent and unsuspected film.
The Architecture the Railways Built (2020)
A great find
I found this purely by accident and loved it, Tim dunn is clearly really into his railways and there's nothing like an enthusiast to bring something alive, a lot of new facts and subjects I wasn't aware I didn't know which is always nice, in these too often miserable times this was a programme that seduced me away from my safe world of black and white old films , topstuff!.
Cornwall & Devon with Michael Portillo (2021)
Relaxing
If someone had told me on the 80s that Michael portillo would end up as one of our national tv treasures I would have sniggered openly, however we now have all his dvds and find his stuff very relaxing and lovely to watch. This series on north Devon is another easy going wrap yourself in a blanket comfy watch. He's so very good at this with manners most presenters would do well to copy, never for example butting in when talking to people. Recommended.