How the garden has revived

 

The photo above was one corner of the garden in June. It just happens to be my screensaver. I compared it with how it looked in August after that long dry spell.

And now in November, the shrubs are looking far better and in good shape for next year. Today I cleared some of the asters around the rose. (The spade is a give away). In the border around the conservatory, the campanula has flowered again, and on the far left are the wallflowers that I planted last week. Roll on spring.

Alfred Hitchcock's - The 39 Steps

 

After watching the first episode of the new series of Classic Movies on Sky Arts, I found a second hand DVD of The 39 Steps on eBay. This is a digitally remastered special edition that looked superb. I had already said everything on my post of 29th October. Only to add that the scene on the Forth Bridge was amazing and that there were all those young woman who saved Hannay along the way. And I spotted John Laurie as a crofter where he stays the night. Famous in our house for playing Private Frazer in Dad's Army.

Above at the age of 38 playing the crofter in 1935 and below in Dad's Army 1968 to 1977.

Twin Peaks Season 1

 

It was the obituary and lead article in the March 2025 Edition of Sight and Sound magazine that made me think about David Lynch (see post 22nd February 2025). I had seen most of his films, but not this TV series: Twin Peaks. Some interesting technical stuff in the magazine in the Summer 2025 Edition, and mentions in other months. I found a box set of the first season cheap on eBay and dived in. The screenplay is by David Lynch and Mark Frost.

The Pilot

What struck me at first was the scenery. Set in a fictional town in Washington state near the Canadian border, but actually filmed in towns east of Seattle. Small town America looks great. The over-riding feel of the series is that of a detective investigating a murder of a young woman, Laura Palmer, something that we are now so used to in the many TV series seen over the last decades. And here he is, the FBI detective Dale Cooper played by Kyle McLachlan flown in the solve the crime. He's very smartly dressed, always smiling, the laughing detective. But he is clever, there are numerous times when he spots something others do not see. 

Episode 1

Or is it episode 2? Anyway, the investigation is underway. The local chief of police Sheriff  Harry Truman says he is "beginning to feel like Dr Watson". Lots of interviews with the locals, I was struggling to make out who was who. But that's not unusual these days.

The theme music is so haunting. Angelo Badalmenti received many plaudits for its composition. It is amazing despite being slightly repetitive. 

Episode 2

This was the episode I nearly gave up. Some of the verbal and physical attacks on women would never be shown today. Well, this was filmed in 1990. That's thirty five years ago. There are lots of suspects and Agent Cooper sets up a demonstration to remind us. He also needs some forensics and who should arrive but Albert and his team. Now we are used the forensics to be brainy but mostly nice and laid back. Not Albert. He must be the most loud and horrible guy ever. 

Episode 3

Cooper said at the end of the previous episode that he knows the murderer. But here he says it was only a dream and just has a clue. The best scene was a punch up in the morgue with nasty Albert. 

Episode 4

One of the locals, Sarah palmer has had visions, but of no use. But they are on the trail of a one armed man (used again for The Fugitive). There are now many more scenes that involve couples from the town as we try to work out who is who. Also arriving is Laura's cousin Madeline Ferguson.

Episode 5

It's all very messy, all over the place. We have to remember that this is David Lynch. I'm still not sure who everyone is. More scenes between couples, less on the investigation. The owner of the diner is Norma Jennings played by the wonderful Peggy Lipton. She was famous in her twenties before she married Quincy Jones. After leaving her acting career, she came back in 1990 in her early forties looking better than before. Cooper leads his team to a backwoods cabin, only to find the older Margaret who can tell them about what she saw on the night of Laura's murder. But everything leads to One Eyed Jacks. The episode ends with Madeleine finding a tape in Laura's bedpost. As you do.

Episode 6

 Nothing much to report except Audrey getting a job as a hostess at One Eyed Jacks. And who should be playing black jack but a thinly disguised Agent Cooper. But then the discovery of yet another tape, this time hidden in a coconut.

Episode 7

Up at the mill, Shelley is ambushed and tied up. We then have that crucial device of a clock ticking down to an explosion. Just how many times has this been used since. We find out who the killer was and he gets his just deserts. Cooper has been so much more serious in the last two episodes. But even more so in the final scene of the series when, back in his now deserted hotel, a call to his door finds him being shot. End credits.

As for the DVD, when you slip off the plastic cover, you find that the picture was only hiding the main picture on the main DVD box. Here it is.

Classic Movies on Sky Arts - Series 4 Episode 2 - The Story of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

 

On Tuesday 17th December 2024 under the title "The Films of Powell and Pressburger", I reviewed a film I had just seen; The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. This followed watching a Sky Arts programme about these two directors that also included a mention of this movie. My review was certainly mixed, from " a bit of a jumble" to "far too long". It "is a light and witty movie" but I was not impressed by the huge switches in time. I was therefore interested to see what the team thought.

Ian Nathan started with the words that it was "a most peculiar epic, but that is what (Powell and Pressburger) wanted". Neil Norman said it was about so many things and Christina thought it was about "the changing British colonial mindset". It travels from the Boer war to world war two. However, there is no Colonel Blimp in the film, only that this newspaper satirical cartoon character from the 1930's and 40's  inspired this life story of Colonel Clive Candy. Played here by Roger Livesey. 

What was interesting was the reference to "the febrile atmosphere around 1942 against the officer class. In the film there is a "low level mutiny". I remember around the same time my father being pressed to train as an officer when he was quite happy as a corporal. And his joining others at the end of their training in Dundee, rolling down the road bleating like sheep.

Back to the film, and Ian Nathan tells us it's "what it means to grow old". He thinks that it is partly inspired by Powell and Pressburger's own film One of our Aircraft is Missing where age is a factor. And that Pressburger used so much of his own experiences. Add in a love story as Deborah Kerr plays all three different women in those three periods of Candy's life: a governess, a nurse and a driver. Christina says she is "always a smart and fiery character". 

Ian Nathan talks about "some wonderful sets" and where Christina adds "one of the most remarkable shots in cinema history" as the camera moves from inside the barracks where a duel is taking place, and tracks up through the glazed roof into the sky and then back down again outside where a carriage is waiting. Ian tells us about the relationship of Candy and Theo being central to the film. Neil Norman concludes it is "the pinnacle of the director's work together, it is so personal to them". Stephen Armstrong tells us if you are not careful,  "you will miss the most important moment of your life". Ian says it is a "satired celebration of Britishness". The film was restored and released in the 1980's. It does look wonderful. 

My Shakespeare by Greg Doran - Parts 13 - 15

 

Part 13   Othello  

- 2004: Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon; Japan Tour; Trafalgar Studios, London

"Tony and I had been thinking about Othello for years". I marveled at the introduction to this play, going back to 1988 and subsequent productions. The old technique of using a white actor in black make up that is now distinctly not on. (Although I guess completely normal in Shakespeare's time). Particularly interesting was that ten years ago Artistic Director Terry Hands has persuaded Willard White to play Othello with Ian McKellen as Iago. The last production at The Other Place. 

The search for a new Othello goes on. The are off to America and The Lincoln Centre. "I still have the typed list with scribbled notes of potential Othellos that the Lincoln Centre and their casting director Daniel Swee had drawn up. It included Morgan Freeman, Samuel Jackson, Mahershala Ali and Denzel Washington". This was twenty odd years ago.

Lots of stop starts until a trip to South Africa where they met Sello Maake Ka-Ncube, and later watching him in London, they had found their Othello. But funding became a problem with then Artistic Director Michael Boyd. 

A diversion here with the five Jacobean plays that were funded by impresarios Thelma Holt and Bill Kenwright. The first time five unknown Jacobean plays were staged in the West End in the Gielgud Theatre. These were so successful that an extended run ended with an Olivier Award. (Doran adds another note about Thelma taking The Taming of the Shrew and The Tamer Tamed (see previous post) to the Queens Theatre and Judi Denche's Alls Well That Ends Well to the Gielgud.) These background stories go on and on but they are truly fascinating.

Back to Othello and funding being secured from Hori Pro that would include a tour of Japan. Greg and Tony have long discussions about who is Iago. In the middle of which Greg wonders "how do you keep a sense of spontaneity". His views on this are something else. Back to Iago and they ask "what is his problem?". 

Amanda Harris is brought in to play Emilie, Iago's wife. Well into rehearsals, the actors work out their relationships with one another. Quotations from the text are are coupled with detailed explanations. Greg talks about bringing in Lisa Dillon to play Desdemona and describes what she brought to the production. The play opened to mainly positive reviews. Amanda was "acclaimed by several critics" and she won an Olivier award for best supporting actress. Sello and Tony also were praised, although the latter was uncomfortable through the whole run, suffering from stage fright.

26th February 2009 - The Oxford Playhouse. See post 27th February 2009.

Part 14   Venus and Odonis

-2004: A co-production with The Little Angel Theatre; The Other Place

-2006: Revived in the Complete Works Festival 

-2017: Revived as part of the Rome Season - Filmed by the V&A

I wondered whether to include this chapter, but it was quite interesting. It starts in the summer of 1999 and they are putting on an entertainment at a gathering at Highgrove for Prince Charles. The selection of a Shakespeare poem goes down a treat. Artistic Director Adrian Noble was so impressed that he wondered if the half hour could be extended to a full length play. Then on a trip to Japan in March 2000 to see the Bunraku Puppet Theatre, Greg wonders if this might be a key to performing the above. Fast forward to November 2002 and Greg is visiting Little Angel, the home of puppetry in the UK. Then a long part about their discussions about putting on the play that leads to it's staging in 2004 at Little Angel followed by a short run at Stratford's The Other Place. It gained great reviews.

Part 15   A Midsummer Night's Dream

- 2005: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon; Novello Theatre, London

-2008: Revived at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Apparently this is Greg Doran's favourite play. His introduction to this chapter talks about how it was his father who introduced him to Shakespeare. (Ditto). Along with a box of Beethoven symphonies, he came home with Mendelson's music to A Midsummer Night's Dream. Greg was instantly hooked: "those first four evocative chords". But also this recording included extracts from the play. "It contains some of the most beautiful poetry in the English language". Greg explains (obviously in some great detail) the four worlds in the play: The Court, The Lovers, The Rude Mechanicals and The Fairies. 

Greg continues that "it's one of the finest comedies ever written" and "a deep dive into the nature of love". He quotes "one of my favourite lines in the play" ... "And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye". The Rude Mechanicals are always a source of hilarity. He especially liked how Bottom was always seeking to enlarge his part in their performance. There are then three pages about the scene with Pyramus and Thisbe - the play within the play. Greg was glad that the reviews were so good when the play opened. He ends with a note that he and Tony became civil partners in a ceremony at Islington Town Hall.

12th September 2014  The Globe Theatre production at Aylesbury Waterside

I can also vaguely remember seeing it in London when I was a child, possibly as a Christmas treat from the great aunts. 

Classic Movies on Sky Arts - Series 4 Episode 1 - The Story of the 39 Steps

Ian Nathan introduces the new series with a film that is "classic Hitchcock". Christina Newland says how it is "hugely influential", Neil Norman "how it invented the genre", "probably the first action adventure spy film" and Stephen Armstrong "a fast moving perfect story" and "arguably the first real spy movie". Ian tells us all about the John Buchan book, but also how Hitchcock changed so much for the film. It was about "paranoia and panic" but also a "thriller and a comedy romance". 

After we hear all about the story, we hear about the stars: Robert Donat as Richard Hannay and  Madeleine Carroll as Pamela. Handcuffed together, they have apposing demands as he wants to prove his innocence and she wants him arrested. 

Ian Nathan talks about Alfred Hitchcock, his history and working for Michael Balcombe at British Gaumont Studios. Also how the film was mostly shot in the studio in Lime Grove near Shepherd's Bush. Stephen discusses the work of John Buchan and Christina on all those changes to the novel. These included changing the 39 steps from a physical place to something of a code. 

Christina calls Pamela "the quintessential Hitchcock blonde" and Ian Nathan talks about the selection of the cast. Neil Norman adds if you wanted to know about the best British acting talent, they were all here". Stephen discusses how Richard Hannay is so different in the film to the character in the book and about the actor Robert Donat. Christina compares him with Cary Grant. Ian tells us that Madeleine Carroll  was at the time one of the top box office draws in the UK. Her role was actually built up during filming. 

Neil Norman goes on to describe the first ever helicopter chase in movies. And that you will see other  elements, if not the entire script, played out in other films over the decades. All the presenters talk about how much marriage is such an important theme. This film became the first big hit in America for Hitchcock and led to his move to Hollywood. Ian Nathan wraps up this episode with how Hitch became the master of suspense. He made sure we were with Hannay all the way through. Not ahead, not behind, but that we experience his plight in real time. 

One Battle After Another, The Corpse Bride and Springsteen, Deliver Me From Nowhere

 

I almost avoided One Battle After Another when I found it was two and a half hours long. But I'm very glad I gritted my teeth as this film from director Paul Thomas Anderson is a five star belter. He is inspired by another Thomas Pynchon novel after his Inherent Vice, It turns out to be a great action movie that has very decent dialogue that rattles along so you have no time to be bored. Somewhat of a departure for lead Leonardo de Caprio as one pretty stupid idealist who has to rely on others to survive. 

The soundtrack is especially splendid, from The Shirelles 1962  hit Soldier Boy to Tom Petty's American Girl, Survivor's Eye of the Tiger, and tracks from Steely Dan, The Ramsey Lewis Trio and many others. It was transported back to 1962, I'm seventeen and listing songs played on Radio Luxemburg. All alternate with Johnny Greenwood's fine score.

Critic Nick Bradshaw tells us that after a long prologue, we get "two screen hours of pell-mell, crazy-quilt cat-and-mouse caper". And that there is so much to relish". Mark Kermode said that it is "Genuinely breathtaking", and Tom Shone in his five star review in the Sunday Times says is "feels so instantly and unmistakably a classic" and "probably Anderson's best film".  

The 20th anniversary of Tim Burton's animation The Corpse Bride was playing non stop in my local Odeon cinema. I cannot remember seeing it before and I was glad I had saved it for the big screen. I did not know that it was partly a musical especially in the first half, but that suited the story. The speaking actors are all excellent and I particularly liked the skeleton's dance. 

See my post of 31st October 2024 for "Inside Cinema Episode 51 - Beyond Aardman"

For the most pretentious title title this year to a decent biopic of Bruce Springsteen. I liked how it concentrated on the gestation of the album Nebraska that was all new to me. There are flashbacks and one tiny flash forward, but the film is mainly set  in a rented house in Colts Neck, New Jersey where Bruce hid away to write some very personal songs for the next album. It followed the hugely popular album The River that Springsteen toured with The E Street Band. But he was not expecting that a full backing band would destroy the meaning of these songs. There is enough on places like Wikipedia not to have to detail here. 

I was impressed with the Oscar worthy performance of Jeremy Allen White as Bruce, an actor I had never seen before. And Jeremy Strong was also good as Jon Landau his manager, surprisingly so caring and supportive, unlike any other manager. Tom Shone in the Sunday Times describes "there's more affection, and even tenderness to his portrayal". And also good was Stephen Graham as Springsteen's father.  I was also amazed to find that Odessa Young,  who plays a fictional waitress in a major supporting role, was cast in the lead as Jane Fairchild in the movie Mothering Sunday.   Overall I was pleasantly surprised at how good the story was. Add in some of Bruce's best tracks and a couple of marvelous poignant moments courtesy of director Scott Cooper, and the nearly two hours was just right.