ANNABELLE LANCASTER

I decided I had to give in to the pressure from Lee and write this before all my favourite films are mentioned by other people.

I confess to not being a real film buff but I guess living with Reg for over 50 years was bound to have some effect! However, we don’t always have the same taste and have disagreed many times as to whether a film showed self indulgence on the part of the lighting or special effects people.

It has been very difficult but I’ve chosen my top ten along the lines of memories, emotion and genre. So, in no particular order:

1. Dumbo (Dir. Samuel Armstrong 1941)

This was the first film I saw. The baby elephant being swung on his mother’s trunk, as she sticks it through her prison bars, upset me so much I refused to go to the cinema again until I was about ten. Eventually I was persuaded by friends to go to the Saturday morning children’s matinee to cheer on “The Lone Ranger” and sing along to a bouncing ball.

2. Whisky Galore (Dir. Alexander Mackendrick 1949)

A cargo of whisky gets washed ashore on to a Hebridean island and is smuggled away by the islanders who hide it in every place imaginable. Billed as an Ealing Comedy it’s based on a true story. Laughing at adults misbehaving was a real joy to a young person at the time, and I like to think that today’s independently minded Highlanders would still take delight in defying the authorities.

3. Calamity Jane (Dir. David Butler 1953)

Set in the Wild West the local tomboy has to fight off her jealousy, and recognise some home truths, when all the locals fall for a real girlie girl.This is one of a long list of musicals I could mention. It reminds me of my courting days when Doris Day was a great favourite and the lyrics of the songs held a special meaning.

4. My Fair Lady (Dir. George Cukor 1964)

Well, one has to sit back and just wallow occasionally, and I do love Audrey Hepburn – and Rex Harrison. I know her singing was dubbed by the talented Marni Nixon but the music is great, the visuals are lov-e-ly, and I swear I saw horses during the Ascot scene, though I’m assured they didn’t actually appear!

5. The Silence of the Lambs (Dir. Jonathan Demme 1991)

I’m not fond of horror films, or violence, but the psychological duel between the serial killer and the journalist introduce both without the need for graphic visuals. Jodie Foster’s husky voice and the menace that Anthony Hopkins expresses as he makes that sucking noise through his teeth beats any blood and guts for me.

6. Schindler’s List (Dir. Steven Spielberg 1993)

Directed by the wonderful Steven Spielberg it was shot in black and white, except for one touch of colour on a little girl’s coat, and tells the true story of a man who saved the lives of over a thousand Polish Jews during WW2. I arrived at the cinema in a lot of pain, having badly twisted my ankle on the way, but within minutes I didn’t feel a thing as I watched the horrors that befell the people on their way to concentration camps. I find it totally absorbing and the black and white leads you to almost believe you are watching a documentary.

7. La Grande Vadrouille (Dir. Gerard Oury 1966)

It takes quite a lot to make me laugh but when we went to live in France I discovered Louis de Funes who played crazy, hyper active gendarmes in a series of films. As he speaks very fast he was difficult for us to understand in the early days, but there were elements in these characters that so typified the stereo typical French policemen of that time that the actions were enough. In La Grande Vadrouille (The Great Stroll) he plays an agitated, wild conductor from the Paris Opera who gets caught up in helping three British airmen to escape after they’ve been shot down over occupied Paris. The cast includes Terry Thomas and the lovely French actor, André Bourvil.

8. Jean de Florette (Dir. Claud Berri 1986)

After being back in England for some time we decided to go up to London to see this film in French. It’s the story of the battles over who owns the water that supposedly passes through a piece of valuable land. Starring Gérard Depardieu, Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil it immediately transported me back to my beloved rural France with its idiosyncratic people, and the photography was so good you could almost smell the countryside.

9. Manon des Sources (Dir. Claud Berri 1986)

This is a follow up to Jean de Florette but each film stands on its own. They were both shot at the same time over a period of seven months. They were being shown one after the other at that particular cinema and, although the first one was two hours long, I’d have happily sat through them both. We didn’t however, but now when I watch the DVD I like to sit close to the screen so as to block out everything around me!

10. The Lives Of Others (Dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck 2006)

A German made film, it’s an insight into the activities of the Stasi, the Communist secret police in East Germany. A disturbing story that we should all pay heed to.

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!

BOB WYETH

In no particular order:

1. Mutiny On The Bounty (Dir. Frank Lloyd 1935)

Starring Charles Laughton as the tough Captain Bligh of HMS Bounty, set in 1789 tells the true story of the mutiny on the ship led by Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable). Bligh is set off on a long boat along with others who side with him. Christian take the ship and the rest of the crew to Tahiti where the remaining crew live for many years but unfortunately for them Bligh finds his way home and eventually sets out on a ship to Tahiti.

2. Gone With The Wind (Dir. Victor Fleming 1939)

American historical 1939 epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell’s novel of the same name. Set in the 19th century American South. The film stars Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland and Hattie McDaniel.  It tells the story of the American Civil war.

3. In Which We Serve (Dirs. Noel Coward & David Lean 1942)

Basically a propaganda film based on the naval exploits of Capt. Louis Mountbatten, commander of HMS Kelly sunk at the battle of Crete. Starring Noel Coward, John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Bernard Miles and Celia Johnson.

4. This Happy Breed (Dir. David Lean 1944)

This Happy Breed starred John Mills, Robert Newton, Celia Johnson, Kay Walsh and Stanley Holloway. Set just after the first world war the film focuses on landmark events in the lives of working class Gibon’s family when they move into a new house in Clapham. In the household is Frank his wife Ethel and their three children Reg, Vi and Queenie, his widowed sister Sylvia and Ethel’s mother. Living next door is Bob Mitchell, Frank had served with Bob in the Army.  The story revolves round the whole family right up to the 2nd world war.

5. It’s A Wonderful Life (Dir. Frank Capra 1946)

It’s a Wonderful Life tells the story of George Bailey (James Stewart), a selfless man, who’s life is falling apart so is intent in committing suicide by jumping from a bridge into a river. Meanwhile Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) George’s guardian angel – who is waiting to get his wings for he is still only a 2nd class angel – is told to save George Bailey, which he does, then proceeds to show George how many people he had touched in his life.

6. The African Queen (Dir. John Huston 1951)

Set in 1914 The African Queen concerns two missionaries, Samuel & Rose Sayer (Robert Morely & Katherine Hepburn) in West African who tolerate Charlie Allnutt (Humphrey Bogart) a rough river boatman that brings them goods. Charlie arrives one day to tell them that war had broken out with Germany. The Sayers refuse to leave but Sam is struck by a German soldier and eventually dies. Charlie steams up the river once more and comes across Rose all by herself, they bury Sam and then the adventure starts with Charlie and Rose heading down the river where they try to thwart the Germans.

7. Reach For The Sky (Dir. Lewis Gilbert 1956)

Reach For The Sky tells the story of Douglas Bader (Kenneth Moore) who lost both his legs in a flying accident in 1928. After many many months he learns to walk again on artificial legs but the RAF won’t let him fly. He goes to work for the Shell petrol company but when WW2 starts he applies to joined the RAF again as a pilot but is turned down on several occasions but after much badgering he is given the chance to fly, eventually becoming a Battle of Britain Ace.

8. Ice Cold In Alex (Dir. J. Lee Thompson 1958)

Starred John Mills as an battle fatigued almost alcoholic Capt Anderson. Sylvia Simms as a nurse and Harry Andrews medical warrant officer. They were trying to escape the Germans in an Austin K2 ambulance across the desert when they came across a South African speaking officer (Anthony Quale) asking for a lift, unaware that he is actually a German spy.

9. Whistle Down The Wind (Dir. Bryan Forbes 1961)

Starring Hayley Mills, Bernard Lee and Alan Bates. Three Lancashire children discover a fugitive hiding in a barn.  The bearded man named Blakey (Alan Bates) by the police is mistaken by the children for Jesus. The eldest child, Kathy, wants to protect him. By this time most of the children in the village are aware of “Jesus” so complicating Kathy’s attempt to keep him a secret.

10. The King’s Speech (Dir. Tom Hooper 2010)

Colin Firth plays King George VI who meets up with Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) an Australian speech therapist they work together and become good friends. Logue is set to work to help King George overcome a stammer when the King’s brother, Edward VIII abdicates. Logue sets about treating the King before he makes a radio broadcast at the outset of world war two.

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!

MIKE COAD

Looking through my list of top ten movies, it soon becomes evident that there is a strong bias towards musicals. This has been my favourite genre of film from an early age and I never tire of watching them.

My taste in TV programmes is about 95% factual documentaries and 5% historical dramas such as ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’. Unfortunately, the number of documentaries made for cinema audiences these days can be counted on one hand. Gone are the days when those fabulous ‘National Geographic’ travelogues were shown alongside the main feature.

I’ve never been a fan of action films and American comedies leave me cold. Indeed, the phrase ‘American comedy’ is the biggest misnomer in the English language as far as I’m concerned.

Here then is my top ten list:-

10. American Graffiti (Dir. George Lucas 1973)

A coming of age movie that epitomises what I believe small town America was like in the early 60s. It was a time of innocence that is now very nostalgic to look back on. It was shot in under a month on a tight budget but captures that era perfectly in the sets, the cars and the music. As we all know, Lucas went on to make ‘Star Wars’, a great achievement indeed but, given the choice, I would rather sit through ‘American Graffiti’.

9. Amadeus (Dir. Milos Forman 1984)

This is not the story, as you might suppose, of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself but of the consuming jealousy of a lunatic asylum inmate, Antonio Salieri. He believes that God should have given him the musical talent rather than to Mozart, whom he considers to be a vulgar character. How historically correct the movie is, I have no idea, but if you enjoy it for what it is rather than analyse it, you will surely find it as entertaining as I did.

8. Chicago (Dir. Rob Marshall 2002)

The star of this movie is, without doubt, the dancing and choreography. The screen adaptation of Bob Fosse’s original stage musical is a delight from beginning to end. We are all aware of Richard Gere’s acting talents but in this film he knocks out a great tune and he isn’t a bad dancer either. He is ably supported by Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones strutting their stuff. Definitely one of my all time favourite musicals whether on stage or on the screen.

7. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Dir. Stanley Kubrick 1968)

I admit to not understanding certain aspects of this film when I first saw it as a teenager, in particular the importance of the black monoliths. However, I was gripped from the moment the bone that the ape man threw in the air metamorphosed into a spacecraft. The absolutely stunning photography set to the ’Blue Danube’ was a treat for the eyes and ears. The ever more threatening computer ‘Hal’ was another master-stroke in one of the best Science Fiction films ever made.

6. Koyaanisqatsi (Dir. Godfrey Reggio 1982)

Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi Indian term meaning ‘Life out of balance’. A documentary (of sorts), this film is a collection of stunning moving images incorporating time lapse and slow motion photography set to the haunting music of Phillip Glass. The final sequence is unbelievable and you simply wonder ‘How did they film that?’ If you haven’t seen this film, I urge you to watch it.

5. Evita (Dir. Alan Parker 1996)

Film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical based on the life of Eva Peron. Now, I’m no fan of Madonna but credit where credit’s due; she was perfect in this role. The costumes and visuals were stunning and Madonna’s co-stars, particularly Antonio Banderas, were totally believable in their roles. The Peron era was a difficult time for many Argentines but it was interesting to see the other side of the coin.

4. E.T The Extra Terrestrial (Dir. Steven Spielberg 1982)

In my opinion, Spielberg’s finest movie. The film’s ability to grab you emotionally is very strong and I admit that I had tears in my eyes when I first saw what I thought was going to be E.T.s death scene. Spielberg takes you on an uplifting journey and anyone who is not moved by this film whether they be an adult or a child must have a heart of stone.

3. Oklahoma (Dir. Fred Zinnemann 1955)

Made the year I was born (yes, I know I look much younger) and a film that I never miss whenever it is on TV. The quality of the Cinemascope print is stunning and the photography really brings home the feel of the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the century. The ‘Rodgers and Hammerstein’ numbers ain’t too bad either.

2. Oliver (Dir. Carol Reed 1968)

A musical version of Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’, this film has a great cast and great choreography. However, it is Lionel Bart’s masterful musical scores that make this my number one stand alone musical. Every song is unforgettable and you find yourself singing them for days after watching the film.

No 1 – That’s Entertainment (Dir. Jack Haley Jr, 1974)

A mix of my two favourite genres, musicals and documentary. This is the story of the 50 year history of the MGM studios and its stars. There are more stars in this than in the night sky and the unforgettable songs and dance routines are pure magic.

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!

MIKE SHAW

Some films are great to watch – several times – and some make a real memorable impact that puts them into a prime ‘favourite’ list.  The films in my list aren’t all ‘classics’ – in fact many of the so-called ‘classics’ I have never seen or want to see (Gone with the Wind, Sound of Music for example).  Here are the top ten that have made a definite impression on me for various reasons … (not in any particular order).

1. Metropolis (Dir. Fritz Lang 1927)

Silent movie – and the first one I ever saw, at the age of 4 (1935): of course it made no sense whatsoever then, but the images ‘stuck’ – images which aren’t in the DVD version I have so, obviously the so-called ‘lost scenes’.

2. Hellzapoppin! (Dir. H.C Potter 1941)

Olsen and Johnson, Circa 1940ish. Zany stuff – but the special effects stayed in my memory. How did they do it… I’m working it out how on video with computers … but just using film?

3. Matter of Life and Death (Dirs. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger 1946)

Wartime movie.  Brilliant concept and filming technique that impressed me … and the ‘staircase’ music – absolutely haunting.

4. Pleasantville (Dir. Gary Ross 1998)

 Another amazing concept movie – nothing heavy, in fact an almost inconsequential ‘B’ movie, but again, special effects (on colours this time) had me watching this movie over and over wondering how, and looking for the ‘flaws’.  There aren’t any.

5. The Wages of Fear (Dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot 1953)

French, just after the war (WW2 that is!) – I came out of the cinema totally exhausted and drained from the tension: watching it again it has lost its original appeal, but it still sticks in the mind for what it did to me when first seen.

6. They Came To A City (Dir. Basil Dearden 1944)

A very ‘socialistic’ look at the world after the war, from the pen of  J. B. Priestly – and at the time I thought it was a magnificent concept. A fairly large group of people suddenly find themselves mysteriously at the gates of a walled city – a socialist utopia.  How many decide to stay after being allowed inside the city for a few hours?  Far fewer than you might imagine!

7. The Court Jester (Dirs. Melvin Frank & Norman Panama 1955)

Actually all or any of Danny Kaye’s films could be mentioned here – but this one had some beautiful alliteration and rhythm (the chalice from the palace…) which appealed to me as a wordsmith.

8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Dir. Milos Forman 1975)

 Brilliant acting. I actually thought when I first saw this film (at a preview) that the cast were drawn from an institution.  It was the first Jack Nicholson film I’d seen as well.

9. The Man Who Would be King (Dir. John Huston 1975)

There are lots of reasons why this film is on the list – most of them personal.  It is a film that cleverly tells its story on two different levels – the obvious, and the ‘hidden’.  I found it fascinating how they managed to subtly interweave the two levels.

10. Airplane! (Dirs. Jim Abrahams, Jerry & David Zucker 1980)

My kind of zany humour.  No matter how many times you watch this film (closely), there’s always something new to see – a new gag you missed appearing in the background somewhere perhaps because you were concentrating on the ‘subject’ of the scene.

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!

Here we go again folks! The next club meeting on Tuesday July 19th is Round Two of the 2011 TOP TEN competition! The first round a few weeks back saw four entrants (including yours truly) kick off this year’s contest (the results of which can be found  HERE) and now it’s time for another brave bunch to submit their hard work for a friendly critiquing from their fellow OVFM club members.

Those people scheduled to submit films for this round are:

Derek Allen

Freddy Beard

Adam Beveridge

Sam Brown

Matthew Clarke

Simon Earwicker

Jennie Jarnot

Anna Littler

Ian Menage

Jane Oliver

If you could please reply to this post to confirm whether you will have a film ready for Tuesday, that would be hugely appreciated and will stop Brenda Wheatley turning up on your doorstep with some of “the lads” for a “quiet word”….

Also, in the advent of low turn out, or if you have a film already to go but are not on the list for this round, please feel free to bring it along and if there is enough time it will get a screening too.

See you all on Tuesday and good luck to all who submit their films!

CHRIS COULSON

I’ve agonised over this, and I can’t come up with a definitive list of my top 10, so I’m going to list a few films in no particular order that have great significance to me, and you have to watch before you die. I’m afraid they’re all entertaining films, so you’ll see no poncey black and white foreign films with subtitles, or anything remotely respected by the pretentious establishment!

1. Porky’s (Dir. Bob Clark 1982)

This was the first film I can remember that made me laugh hysterically and uncontrollably. It was part of a genre of American college boy/girl relationships that was very popular in the early 80s.

2. Smokey and the Bandit (Dir. Hal Needham 1977)

One of Burt Reynold’s earlier comedy film vehicles, directed by the unstoppable Hal Needham. It featured everything I was into at the time – comedy, fast cars, big trucks, and police chases.

3. Canonball Run (Dir.  Hal Needham 1981)

Burt Reynolds was on a roll in the late 70s and early 80s, and could do no wrong. This was another huge hit film, with a variety of A-list celebrities of the time queuing up to get even a bit part in the film, such as Sammy Davis Jr, Roger Moore, Frank Sinatra, and Jackie Chan, amongst others!

4. Team America: World Police (Dir. Trey Parker 2004)

This is a thoroughly irreverent, and downright nasty spoof of a Hollywood action movie, using string marionettes, made by the South Park team.. Nobody is safe from their satire, but the in-jokes, and special effects are genuinely original and outrageous. Not really for the sensitive viewer.

5. There’s Something About Mary  (Dirs. Bobby Farrelly & Peter Farrelly 1998)

This is the purest of very well written comedies, with many sequences of gags on top of gags.  Great cast, and everything just works so well together. Possibly my desert island film.

6. Shaun of the Dead (Dir. Edgar Wright 2004)

This film has the unlikely plot of A Comedy Zombie Film. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost moved from a TV Sketch show and a moderately successful TV sitcom to this feature film, and really nailed it on their first go! It’s packed with funny references to almost every zombie film, and was an instant best film, the first time I watched it.

7. Hot Fuzz (Dir. Edgar Wright 2007)

Everyone hates a sequel, and this was the follow up to Shaun of the Dead. It had a lot to live up to, following the success of their first film, Shaun of the Dead, and surprisingly, it did even better, grossing double the amount that Shaun of the Dead managed!

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!

REG LANCASTER

REG LANCASTER PICKS HIS FILMS for the Lido Cinema on a desert island near you.

When Lee first asked me to list my five favourite films. I almost refused. Only  FIVE ! After some hard politicking, and some abject grovelling I got him to up ten!!

After a lot of fun choosing, here is my list of films that I’d take to the Lido Cinema on the beach of my desert island… and I admit to having changed four already!

10. Bridges of Madison County (Dir. Clint Eastwood 1995)

A far cry from Harry Callaghan or Westerns. He plays a photographer who asks directions from farmer’s wife Meryl Streep. They’re terrific in a simple love story that ends when her husband returns. In  a downpour Eastwood stops at the only traffic lights in town. The farmer’s car stops, too. She watches Eastwood, who hasn’t seen the farmer’s car before. The lights change. Eastwood turns off to the Highway. Not a dry eye in the house!

9. Richard III (Dir. Laurence Olivier 1955)

Nothing beats the Bard and though I love the Lancastrian Henry V, I prefer this evil son of York. Richard’s confidential asides to the camera involve us in his scheming, a real break-through. Whenever  I’m sickened by glottal stops, dropped aitches and other linguistic twangs and horrors, this one sooths the lug’oles. English as she is spoke, indeed.

8. E.T The Extra Terrestrial (Dir. Steven Spielberg 1982)

The feel good film of them all. Moments of sheer magic. Even Shrek comes a sad second for ugliest hero in the movies title. The cycle chase one of the best ever, the “keys man” a great villain, and  ET and Elliot’s relationship is wonderful. Aaaah!

7. Singin’ in the Rain (Dir. Stanley Donen 1952)

A movie about the movies. The best songs and  dance numbers. Sixty years later  O’Connor still makes ‘em laugh, Debbie Reynolds is cute as ever and  Cyd Charisse’s legs still amaze. As for Gene Kelly …  

6. War and Peace (Dir. Sergei Bondarchuk 1967)

This 10 hour epic (made in Sovscope 70 mm, not  in 3 camera Kinopanorama as I believed for many years!) version of Tolstoy’s masterpiece ran in 3 parts in one cinema in Paris for 2 years. Breath-taking. It made such an impression on our daughter Heather that 6 yrs later, living, studying and working in French, where “H” and “Th” sounds are so difficult to pronounce, she began to use ( still does) Natascha as her professional name after the iconic heroine of this film. Many unforgettable scenes. Battles of epic scope.

5.  Psycho (Dir. Alfred Hitchcock 1960)

A ground breaker. If you missed its first run, you cannot imagine how uneasy, even scared our “cinema generation” felt once the lead, Janet Leigh, was dead after just 35 minutes. Imitated a thousand times. Never equalled.

4. The Jungle Book (Dir. Wolfgang Reitherman 1967)

The last film with Walt Disney’s input. I’ve watched it lots of times thanks to grand daughter, Roxane, who loved it as a child, and still watches it every time she visits us. Never fails to make us laugh and feel happy. Fantastic songs, fabulous characters, Baloo, King Louie, Kaa the snake and the Scouser vultures. It’s wonderful.

3. Das Boot (Dir. Wolfgang Petersen 1981)

The German TV epic story is seen through a Naval correspondent’s eyes, as he joins a U-Boat crew’s tour of duty leaving Brest. A claustrophobic harrowing tale with a cruel twist. They survive a nightmare trip to make it back just as bombers attack the submarine pens at Brest. Best war film ever.

2.  Once Upon a Time in the West (Dir. Sergio Leone 1968)

Stylised, stylish and innovative (Henry Fonda as a baddie?) I’d have to have a Western and great music. A brilliant cast, close-ups to die for, haunting themes from Ennio Morricone and a mystery not resolved till the very end. Great.

No1 –  Lawrence of Arabia ( Dir. David Lean 1962)

A no brainer. Still the best of British direction, cinematography, editing and acting.  Watch it every year at least once.  I never imagined I’d ever get to the real Wadi Ramm, so in 1994 bouncing through the desert at dusk in the back of a Land Rover, with Annabelle was an unforgettable experience, both exciting, fun and significant, all thanks to Lean’s masterpiece.

So there you have it – agree or disagree as is your wont. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out the lists from other OVFM members!! Click HERE to return to the menu page!