CHARLIE CASELEY

 

To be confined to ten films does make you go over all the movies you have seen over the last seventy odd years, still here goes in order.

 

10.  On The Waterfront (Dir. Elia Kazan 1954)

When I was young I lived close to London’s docklands and watched the docks go up in flames at the beginning of the blitz. This film depicted life on the waterfront in New York, tough working conditions and corruption and it was this movie that convinced me what a great actor Marlon Brando was. He portrayed a fighter and moved like one, light on his feet moving with grace, mind you there were a number professional fighters staring in the film that could teach him a thing or two.

 

9. Land and Freedom (Dir. Ken Loach 1995)

Nobody catches the British working class way of life like Ken Loach and Land and Freedom is no exception even though the film is about the Spanish Civil War. It goes a long way in explaining what it was like to be involved in that conflict.

 

8. The Apartment (Dir. Billy Wilder 1960)

Nellie’s favourite film is one of Billy Wilder’s greatest movies moving from comedy to pathos seamlessly with marvellous performances from Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine.

 

7. Sweet Smell Of Success (Dir. Alexander Mackendrick 1957)

This film was directed by a Brit but you would never know. Alexander Mackendrick, who directed a number of British comedy’s, he catches the dark side of New York helped in no small way by a terrific cast, Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis but also by a great sound track written by Elmer Bernstein and played by Chico Hamilton.

 

6. The Memphis Belle: A Story Of A Flying Fortress  (Dir. William Wyler 1944)

Being a great admirer of the documentary I have selected Memphis Belle as my favourite movie of this type, I am not talking about the film that was produced by David Puttnam, I am referring to William Wyler’s film about the last flight of the B17 Memphis Belle. Wyler put a film crew on the Flying Fortress, all right it was made because of American concern about their losses over Germany but it is film that puts you in the heart of the cockpit with the crew. Shots from the film have been used in other films like ‘Twelve O’Clock High.’

 

5. Battle Potemkin (Dir. Sergei Eisenstein 1925)

Sergei Eisenstein directed the film depicting an uprising by the Russian navy in 1905, and though it could be said it was a propaganda movie it certainly was innovative in the way it was filmed, remember the pram scene in the New York Metro in the ‘The Untouchables’, it was done first in Battleship Potemkin.

 

4. Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday. (Dir. Jacques Tati 1953)

My brother in law told me to go and see this film and I am glad he did, it is a brilliant. Jacques Tati superb as director and actor.

 

3. Seven Days In May (Dir. John Frankenheimer 1964)

I enjoy political conspiracy thrillers and this movie was one of the best. Again I had read the book before I had seen the film. Directed by John Frankenheimer this was great film of its type.

 

2. The Godfather (Dir. Francis Ford Coppola 1972)

I had read Mario Puzo’s book before I saw the film. And to really understand the film you have to read the book. The book incorporates part 1 and part 2 of the saga of organised crime concerning the Mafia.

 

No 1. Citizen Kane (Dir. Orson Welles 1941)

This has always been my favourite film, the way that power is abused by the press and is particularly relevant at this moment in time over the scandal at News International. Most people thought the film was about William Randolph Hearst the Rupert Murdoch of the time.

 

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!

 

ANNABELLE LANCASTER REPORTING:

 

From time to time we’re asked to send a showreel to another club, like the one we saw from Newcastle recently.

With the sad loss of Tom, our Librarian, and the setting up of the archive, we haven’t had one available for the past few months so Freddy has been using our Golden Jubilee programme which has been well received.

The chairman of Staines Cine & Video Society has written:

“The films provided a fascinating evening’s entertainment and it was interesting to see both how much things have changed yet how techniques employed nearly 50 years ago stand the test of time. “One Minute to Go” was a perfect example of this. The commentary and interview gave the film structure which was superbly illustrated by well-chosen clips edited together to make little stories in their own right. There was an excellent variety of shots, both in terms of content and camera angles and none of these lasted more than a few seconds – something we associate with more modern film. Jeremy Holder, my predecessor as chairman, was lucky enough to be invited as a VIP guest to the paddock at the British grand Prix a week ago. Somehow I suspect he didn’t get quite the access Vic Blackman received!

All the short comedies went down well. Members commented that they benefitted from the actors not “over-playing” their roles – a common fault with many amateur comedies.

Other films which stood our for me were “Field Trip” and “Cheese Roll” and I never tire of seeing “Remote Control” which I was surprised to discover most of our members had never seen.

There was some (though not much) evidence of how equipment has improved the technical quality of films over the years, but what really came across is something we all know: It’s the content that really matters.

Many thanks for letting us enjoy your Golden Jubilee, and I wish Orpington FVM every success for the next 50 years.”

 

 

Happily, we’re now in the position of being able to produce fresh showreels in future so are all set to publicise our more recent work.

Annabelle Lancaster

 

ALAN SMITH

 

In no particular order:

 

1. Things To Come (Dir. William Cameron Menzies 1936)

As a youngster I almost believed it.

 

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

A feel good film to end them all.

 

3. Great Expectations (Dir. David Lean 1946)

Dickens as he should be shown.

 

4. 3:10 To Yuma (Dir. Delma Daves 1957)

Great performances and it’s a western!

 

5. The Big Country (Dir. William Wyler 1958)

Fabulous opening sequence and yes it’s another western.

 

6. The Train (Dir. John Frankenheimer 1964)

Gripped me to the end.

 

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

Ennio Morricone created a score that still sounds fantastic.

 

8. Blood Simple (Dir. Joel & Ethan Coen 1984)

Coen Brothers classic.

 

9. Fargo (Dir. Joel & Ethan Coen 1996)

Coen Brothers again. Great stuff!

 

10. No Country For Old Men (Dir. Joel & Ethan Coen 2007)

More Coen Brothers with the scariest villain of all.

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!

 

COLIN JONES

In no particular order:

 

1. The Summer of 42 (Dir. Robert Mulligan 1971)

With most films the effect it has upon you depends partly upon your state of mind at the time. I found it profoundly moving as well as amusing as it captured the struggle of boys in early adolescence to make some progress with girls. But it also evoked a long gone period during the war on an American holiday island interrupted by the real war going on far away.

 

2. Laurence of Arabia (Dir. David Lean 1962)

Not much to say about this film which I have watched many times.  Apart from the First World War background the battle is between Laurence and the upper class rigidity of the Officer class and especially the inward battle with himself.

 

3. Chicago (Dir. Rob Marshall 2002)

As a rule I hate modern music but this one blew me away and had my feet tapping.  I loved “The Singing Detective” with it’s several layers of reality and you never quite knew which one you were watching.  Well this was the same, but much faster and livelier.

 

4. The English Patient (Dir. Anthony Minghella 1996)

When I first saw this I was sure it was a good film, but was confused by the jump backwards and forwards with time, but once I had read the book I made a point of seeing the film again and I reckon it is a classic.

 

5. Waltz of the Toreadors (Dir. John Guillermin 1962)

A little known Peter Sellers film which in parts was hilarious but mostly sad and the humour wistful. The old man has mostly lost the skill of seducing servant girls and considers suicide but the appearance of a new maid servant persuades him to give up suicide in favour of seduction.  Very sad in places.

 

6. Fantasia (Dir. Various 1940)

Ah!  The greatest animation ever?  The Disney imagination was allowed free reign. I saw it as a 10 year old evacuee in the ruins of a flattened Plymouth in 1941 and it transported me away from my own misery for a precious couple of hours. I still watch it whenever I can.

 

7. The Lady Killers (Dir. Alexander Mackendrick 1955)

I suppose I had to choose an Ealing comedy as they give me such pleasure and evoke another bygone age which I remember so well. This was perhaps the best of the bunch and starred Alec Guinness and a very young Peter Sellers. But the star was little old Katie Johnson who still reminds me a dear old Rene Morris of OVFM.

 

8. The Great Dictator (Dir. Charles Chaplin 1940)

I just had to include a Charlie Chaplin movie.  If you want a laugh from beginning to end watch “The Circus”, but “The Great Dictator” was one of his later films which really had a message along with the humour. It made him very unpopular with the Americans at the time many of whom were Nazi sympathisers, it also put Charlie on Hitler’s death list!

 

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

I had a job to choose my favourite musical but this one got my vote despite Audrey Hepburn’s unfortunate attempt at a cockney accent.

 

10. The Big Country (Dir. William Wyler 1958)

I’m usually not a fan of Westerns as they seem to think the answer to all problems is violence, but this one is different.  It also stars my favourite – Gregory Peck

 

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!

 

FREDDY BEARD

 

I have listed 5 films on the basis that if they come back on TV I try to see them although I know the stories backwards. Many on the list I also would have listed – like ET. You will notice that I don’t go to cinemas much now!!

In no particular order:

 

1. Dr. No (Dir. Terence Young 1962)

First Bond film – saw it first when living in S.Africa and couldn’t believe that it was a British film – so unlike any made here before.

 

2. Sister Act (Dir. Emile Ardlino 1992)

Love the change in the nuns’ singing.

 

3. Jailhouse Rock (Dir. Richard Thorpe 1957)

My generation – I was and still am, a rabid Elvis fan.

 

4. Gigi (Dir. Vincente Minnelli 1958)

Songs, stars, story

 

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Dir. Steven Spielberg 1977)

Always liked sci-fi but this was also a great human story

 

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 TURNER

I was born into a film fanatical family and we went to the cinema at least once a week, sometimes twice and occasionally three times. One of my happiest memories was joining the queue for the 1/6d seats at the Odeon Morden, Granada North Cheam or the Gaumont Rose Hill. My choice of films is based on films that have made a lasting impression on me either due to the emotional impact of true stories, films that include symbolic moments that the words in a script could not interpret or films that were just pure entertainment. My regret is that I had to exclude so many excellent films as only ten were permitted.

In no particular order:

1. Paths of Glory (Dir. Stanley Kubrik 1957)

First World War courtroom drama capturing the futility of war and the ignorance and arrogance of Generals in which soldiers are expected to do their duty.

2. High Noon (Dir. Fred Zinnemann 1952)

Oscar winning film that reveals the support and courage men have when faced with evil until they are put to the test. This film reflects the fear in Hollywood when Senator McCarthy led the Communist witch hunts.

3. Chase a Crooked Shadow. (Dir. Michael Anderson 1958)

Underrated British thriller that keeps you guessing right up to the end-and even then you will be totally surprised at the conclusion.

4.  The Divided Heart (Dir. Charles Crichton 1954)

True Second World War Two story, following the search by a Yugoslav mother for her child that was adopted and loved by a childless German couple and the almost impossible decision that a military court had to find. You will cry your eyes out as it is a complete tear jerker.

5. Elvira Madigan. (Dir. Bo Widerberg 1967)

Swedish film telling the true nineteeth century story of a doomed romance between an aristocratic army officer and a circus trapeze artist that defied the class structures that governed society. Two outstanding symbolic film moments  showing a leaf placed in a gently flowing river and the conclusion when a butterfly is released to fly freely towards the blue sky. Also you have the emotional music of Mozart Piano Concerto 21.

6.  A Man and a Woman  (Dir.  Claude Lelouch 1966)

Romantic film as only the French can make when a widowed couple meet and we follow the course of their deepening love together with its setbacks until we reach a concluding climax with a camera angle that has been copied in many subsequent films. Also has a memorable theme tune.

7.  The Sound of Music  (Dir. Robert Wise) 1965

No explanation necessary.

8.  Shadowlands  (Dir. Richard Attenborough 1993)

One of Richard Attenborough’s best films about the meeting and love affair between C.S. Eliot and the American poet Joy Gresham. Two completely different personalities with happiness ahead of them until cancer separates them. Another true and tearful story.

9.  Seven Samurai (Dir. Akira Kurosawa 1954)

Gave birth to the “Magnificent Seven” but the original Japanese film is streets ahead in drama and excitement. Sequels or copies of original material are always second best.

10. Pillow Talk (Dir. Michael Gordon 1959)

I cannot disappoint OVFM club members by excluding my special favourite girl and in this film she displays all her comedy skills to make this a truly enjoyable film. If we were allowed “Top Eleven Films” than I would have included the other great Doris Day Film “Calamity Jane” but Que Sera Sera as Doris would sing.

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!

CHERIE HAMLET-SMITH

 

Presented in chronological order and not in order of preference:

 

1. All Quiet On The Western Front (Dir. Lewis Milestone 1930)

WW1 drama. An award-winning film portraying the tragedy of warfare during the ‘War to End All Wars’.

 

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

From one of Noel Cowards best plays (in my opinion).

 

3. The Dam Busters (Dir. Michael Anderson 1945)

An excellent and memorable film about one of my interests.

 

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

It’s a wonderful film.

 

5. Great Expectations (Dir. David Lean 1946)

Classic period drama  No-one does it better than the Brits.

 

6. Hamlet (Dir. Laurence Olivier 1948)

The best interpretation, atmosphere and Shakespearian acting ever

 

7. Bedknobs And Broomsticks (Dir. Robert Stevenson 1971)

Mainly for the animation.

 

8. Short Circuit (Dir. John Badham 1986)

A bit of silliness, that really appealed to me.

 

9. The Abyss (Dir. James Cameron 1989) 

Only 2 stars but I loved it for its gentleness.

 

10. A Bunch Of Amateurs (Dir. Andy Cadiff 2008).

Surprisingly, Burt Reynolds was excellent as the main protagonist playing an ageing, has-been, professional American actor, with an amateur drama group in an English  village.

 

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!

YOU BE THE JUDGE!!

What Ho fellow OVFMers.

This week’s club meeting will see club members play judge, jury and executioner. Well, maybe no the last one but definitely the first two as we are to step into the shoes of the judges of the British International Amateur Film Festival (BIAFF) as organised by the IAC (Indecent Acrobats Consortium).

We will see a selection of films, carefully chosen by Lady Annabelle of Lancaster, which have been already judged at the BIAFF then our results will be compared to those of the BIAFF judges. But here’s the kicker: the BIAFF judges are usually made up of three groups of three so in order to replicate this, those present at the meeting *may* be asked to form a group (either a trio or quartet depending on the numbers) meaning each rating given for each film will have to be a group decision!! In other words, some of us – including your truly – will have to interact with other people for once!! Aarrrrghhh!

Anyway, it should be an interesting night with what I am assured is a great line up of films (although Annabelle is keeping the titles to herself) and hopefully prove to be a fun and provocative experiment.

See you there!

 

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!