Old films I've never seen

[nick_bastable]

if you want a strange one a early Ken Russell film with interior views of Crystal Palace High station after closure

 

 

Nick

[Kylestrome]

The BFI is funded in part by British tax-payers: why should overseas dwellers, who largely don't pay British taxes (there are exceptions, of course...) get a "free" ride? 

 

I wasn't expecting a free ride and was quite prepared to pay for a subscription but thank you for the information, which puts the whole thing in perspective. 

[EddieB]

Last month I was helping to arrange a memorial service for a good friend who had spent most of his life in Zimbabwe.  Beyond a long involvement in amateur dramatics, he was also a well-known advertising personality on local TV and had a number of roles in films - mainly made for TV - that were shot in Zimbabwe.  One of the clips we found, and played at the service was from "Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls" where "our man" played the part of a train conductor, opposite Christopher Lee and Patrick McNee.

 

Made in the late 'eighties and released in 1992, it's probably far too recent to be in an "old" film category.  It's the sort of film that critics call "a romp", weaving together historic and fictional characters with various legends and myths, stretching credibility at times (particularly the denouement) - but a fairly enjoyable romp nonetheless.  Railway interest is provided by former Rhodesian Railways 12th class 4-8-2 no. 190, taken out of the Bulawayo Railway Museum and returned to working order for the film.

 

The film is available on Youtube.

 

 

[jjb1970]

BFI do some fabulous work restoring old movies. The film "The Battles of Coronel and Falkland" I mentioned earlier in this thread was restored by BFI and released in wonderful high definition and with an original score. The restoration is beautifully done, some people don't realise just how good old b&w movies look in high definition, they think it is only modern block busters that benefit yet in some ways well restored b&w movies provide some of the best examples of just what an improvement HD provides in my opinion. I sometimes get irritated when people criticise BFI for releasing these restored classics and having the audacity to charge for them, you always seem to get comments of "why should we pay for such an old film", "you can watch it on youtube free", "I bought an old VHS tape of the movie for 5p and its just as good" type comments. Well yes you can watch a lot of these old movies on youtube or find ancient video tapes etc but if you want to watch them in a form which allows you to enjoy them in a way perhaps never seen before, beautifully restored by people who love their work then somebody has to pay. Some of their restorations are a revelation, maybe it is just me but I'd rather pay and continue to support their work preserving films for future generations and allowing audiences to watch old classics in gloriously restored editions.

[NorthBrit]

All Quiet on the Western Front. A film from 1930 in black and white. It was remade in colour in 1979. A great anti-war film.

[bertiedog]

If you get a chance, if a blue ray is done for the UK, (even in the States no deal yet), have a look at The King Of Jazz, 1929/30 Musical, only available in 2nd generation copies, in worn out condition for nearly 70 years.

 

It simply looks now as if it was shot yesterday, apart from some arguments about a green colour shift, which is now being corrected. A short clip of the restored film is on youtube, Play in full screen for best effect, this is how a 1929/30 film would have looked to the audiences.

 

 

The Restorers got access to the original negatives and applied digital restoration to the colour, this is not colourising a film, but a way of dealing with the old negatives that no longer have any other way to print them, as the machinery was scrapped in the 1950's.

There are no scratches marks or fading, just pristine images of the Rhapsody in Blue Number, albeit in green shades which are being put right!! The restorers thought Technicolor only used Red/Green Filters, but on the number they used a blue filter and special printing ink,  It was an old trade secret the restorers did not know about.

 

Stephen.

[bertiedog]

All Quiet on the Western Front. A film from 1930 in black and white. It was remade in colour in 1979. A great anti-war film.

Also Jean Renoir's "The Grand Illusion", a really thought provoking film. Not shown much on UK tv these days.

[locomad]

Still at it watching shed loads of old films I've never seen before, one might be interesting in a railway sense is "Blue Peter" 1954, filmed in colour around Aberdovery, rare British film i have never heard of before, lots of shots of a wharf with rail tracks on.

 

Another if you get the better quality one is "the tanks are coming" 1951, about American Sherman's racing across Northern Europe, not quite as good as "they were not divided" but similar and a lot better than that "fury" modern one

[bertiedog]

Blue Peter was made to promote outward bound schools and like interests by Group 3 films who normally made comedies and B features. They were set up under a Government scheme to showcase new talent but floundered with distribution problems and studio issues. Made just 20 films, best known for Conflict of Wings and Brandy for the Parson.

Stephen

[wombatofludham]

Blue Peter was made to promote outward bound schools and like interests by Group 3 films who normally made comedies and B features. They were set up under a Government scheme to showcase new talent but floundered with distribution problems and studio issues. Made just 20 films, best known for Conflict of Wings and Brandy for the Parson.

Stephen

 

Conflict of Wings is brilliant, the "village" scenes were filmed in Ludham where I used to live and it was quite ahead of it's time in tackling the ecological message.  If Blue Peter was filmed at Aberdovey (Aberdyfi, just south of Tywyn) then there was an active harbour and goods branch up until the 1950s.  In the early 20th Century there was even an Irish steamer service from Aberdyfi.  There's a well known sailing school there as well so that would tie in as well.  Must see if it is on the Choob.

[ParkeNd]

Gone With the Wind. We have it on video but who could commit to sitting and watching it for so long?

[Guius]

Interesting topic, does anyone remember Arthur Askey as a LMS/BR locoman in charge of (I believe) a Fowler 4F watching a championship football match from his loco footplate overlooking the football ground?

 

How about something more obscure; French b&w film from the 1950s about a logging gang in France using a narrow gauge railway who's efforts to move a train of logs are sabotaged by a rival group using motor lorries for transport. The film sported a love interest sub plot with gorgeous Madamoiselle and also some gorgeous typically quirky French vehicles. Seen briefly on French tv in a Formule Une hotel whilst channel hopping and preparing to leave, don't know the title but well worth a look.

Yes, I watched this film 'Love Match' a few days ago on You Tube, also has a cameo appearance of Rob Wilton (The day war broke out...) as a magistrate and 'Wally' Arthurs fireman. Not brilliant if you want to see railway content but ok for a laugh.

[locomad]

Conflict of Wings is brilliant, the "village" scenes were filmed in Ludham where I used to live and it was quite ahead of it's time in tackling the ecological message.  If Blue Peter was filmed at Aberdovey (Aberdyfi, just south of Tywyn) then there was an active harbour and goods branch up until the 1950s.  In the early 20th Century there was even an Irish steamer service from Aberdyfi.  There's a well known sailing school there as well so that would tie in as well.  Must see if it is on the Choob.

It's definitely filmed around Aberdovery i know the area well, it's filmed using Eastman colour which has aged a bit especially the reds but the utube version i saw captured very well the atomsphere of the area and time, well worth watching and like all utube version watch it quick before someone pulls it off. It's not a bad film either deals with leadership bit like 12 o'clock high, but not in war time, not bad sailing clips either

[wombatofludham]

I watched it last night on the Choob and recognised pretty much all of the locations.  It was also very entertaining.  Loved the Dukedog shots too (yes I know it's a copper kettle but now I'm involved with the Dolgellau model exhibition I'm mellowing to them...).  it showed an interesting transition period for Aberdyfi from a working harbour to it's current status as one of the Gin and Jag locations in Gwynedd.  It looked like the harbour branch was hardly used and some of the structures looked like they were falling apart.

​Fascinating to watch living locally, thanks for highlighting it.

Edited April 24, 2017 by wombatofludham

[BG John]

It's definitely filmed around Aberdovery i know the area well, it's filmed using Eastman colour which has aged a bit especially the reds but the utube version i saw captured very well the atomsphere of the area and time, well worth watching and like all utube version watch it quick before someone pulls it off.

You can also watch it, or download a higher quality version, here.

[locomad]

Blue Peter was made to promote outward bound schools and like interests by Group 3 films who normally made comedies and B features. They were set up under a Government scheme to showcase new talent but floundered with distribution problems and studio issues. Made just 20 films, best known for Conflict of Wings and Brandy for the Parson.

Stephen

Thanks for that information most informative, I've looked up some website and got the list of the other films notice John & Julie amongst them which i have mentioned on here before, watched it again recently with a lady friend who was reduced to tears watching it, they just don't make them like that anymore

[bertiedog]

Group 3 were joined by ACT films another independent group run by the Technicians Union, starting with Green grow the Rushes set on Romney Marsh in Kent .

 

These companies were set up in opposition to the control of most film output by Rank under their various trademarks. Many directors did not like working with them or Ealing Studios, (owned by Rank), finding them a bit restrictive. Most Independents were inclined to the left politically, and did not trust even Sir Michael Balcon to get over the "Common Man" message in their films.

 

Group 3 was run by John Grierson , who was famous for documentaries, and ACT was promoted by the Head of the Board of trade, Harold Wilson. Directors who "broke the rules" like  Henry Cornelius, (Genevieve) went to Group 3 to make films outside Balcon's control.

 

ACT were later in deep dispute with the Boulting Brothers and the scathing attack on unions in " I'am all right Jack" was the result.

Most British actors moved around between studios and working for Group 3 or ACT did not affect their careers. Herbert Wilcox remained independent, but worked with Rank, as did the nearly finished Alexander Korda film Empire "London Films", the Hungarian portion of the "British" Film industry.

 

The other interesting Company at the time was Hammer, run by Michael Carraras, who went from Radio and TV films developed to exploit characters like Dick Barton and PC49, to becoming a major Horror film supplier. Hammer had made pre war films, like Derby Day but went back to distributing films till the late 1940's

 

The other independent name was Eros, run by brothers Philip, Sydney, and Michael Hyams, who owned cinemas, and moved into production in the late 1940's. This was the "Russian" section of the British film Industry, their father was an immigrant from Russia.

They specialised in B feature film, the same as Quota Quickies pre war. One of the companies that used Eros for distribution was Tempean Films who later made TV series for ITV like The Saint etc. Eros ended in Bankrupcy.

 

Most of these films exist, but they are rare in showing on TV and more likely to turn up on YouTube etc these days.

 

Stephen.

[bertiedog]

 

Very rare shot of Hammers Trademark, a Blacksmith striking an Anvil, and was played by the famous champion boxer Bombardier Billy Wells who also Struck the Gong For J Arthur Ranks Trademark.

The trademark was only used in the 1930's

 

Stephen

[Guius]

As a general rule of thumb any opening titles that gave 'music by Muir Mathieson' has always been well worth a look.

 

Guy

[bertiedog]

As a general rule of thumb any opening titles that gave 'music by Muir Mathieson' has always been well worth a look.

 

Guy

Were there many without him? .....any others seemed to be Louis Levy, Director of the Gaumont British Symphony Orchestra, who also issued music as Dance Band from the same Orchestra.

An example composed by Levy is the wonderful "Music from the Movies" march that introduced all Gaumont British newsreels.

[bertiedog]

It is said that Muir Mathieson, who was Scottish, felt a bit lonely in his job as Musical Director at Alexanda Korda's then brand new Denham Studios, as he was the only director there who was not Hungarian!!.....come to that most staff there were Hungarian as well...along with actors like Leslie Howard......

Stephen. 

[ThePipersSon]

Whilst at school in Harrow, I attended several orchestral concerts run by the local education authority at a local cinema.  The conductor was always Muir Mathieson and the orchestra the LSO.

[brianusa]

Just saw "The Spy in Black' with Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson in which MM was the music director.  A Korda film with input from Powell and Pressburger.  Pretty good for the times!

 

Brian.

[Guius]

Still at it watching shed loads of old films I've never seen before, one might be interesting in a railway sense is "Blue Peter" 1954, filmed in colour around Aberdovery, rare British film i have never heard of before, lots of shots of a wharf with rail tracks on.

 

Another if you get the better quality one is "the tanks are coming" 1951, about American Sherman's racing across Northern Europe, not quite as good as "they were not divided" but similar and a lot better than that "fury" modern one

Just to add to the list of worthy films I'd like to nominate 'Western Approaches' of 1944, a tribute to the mercantile marine. Mostly acted by Bona Fide merchant seamen (the acting bears this out) whilst making a transatlantic voyage in convoy, their ships subsequent sinking and rescue no thanks to the Kriegsmarine. To my knowledge it's only been aired once in the early days of Channel 4.

       I thought 'They Were Not Divided' was a quite a dark film in so much as the expectation was of a happy ending but as is true to life, war stores seldom have a cheery ending. Thought provoking perhaps.

 

Best

Guy

[Bon Accord]

Just to add to the list of worthy films I'd like to nominate 'Western Approaches' of 1944, a tribute to the mercantile marine. Mostly acted by Bona Fide merchant seamen (the acting bears this out) whilst making a transatlantic voyage in convoy, their ships subsequent sinking and rescue no thanks to the Kriegsmarine. To my knowledge it's only been aired once in the early days of Channel 4.

       I thought 'They Were Not Divided' was a quite a dark film in so much as the expectation was of a happy ending but as is true to life, war stores seldom have a cheery ending. Thought provoking perhaps.

 

Best

Guy

 

I managed to get a digital copy of Western Approaches a few years back from a fellow I worked with having seen it many years previously on VHS. Great film and in colour too. I do believe it's available on DVD from the Imperial War Museum.