Classic Christmas Movies on Sky Arts - It's a Wonderful Life

 

If I had to watch It's a Wonderful Life one more time it would be too soon. This is not my kind of Christmas film. Indeed as we are told, it never set out to be one. Neil Norman said that director Frank Capra just liked the story and it's only fragments of the film that are set in the holiday. However,  Ian Nathan does start with the words "The most celebrated and beloved Christmas move of them all". This episode has a huge amount of superfluous stuff, lots of documentary footage, stuff about the background of Capra and star James Stewart. All about the cast and the locations. We just do not need to be told about the plot, it is so familiar. Ian Nathan does remind us that "despite five Oscar nominations, it was at first destined for obscurity". If only it had stayed that way. I agreed with Neil Norman when he said the film was "incredibly dark".

The Running Man, Blue Moon and Eternity

 

Despite many positive reviews, I was disappointed by Edgar Wright's The Running Man. Mainly because lead actor Glen Powell maintains his fierce and angry personality throughout. The introduction was far too familiar, and they had spent an awful lot of money on the sets, the action and the extras. But where was the subtlety and some characterisation? And it was far too long, a good half hour could have easily been cut. And don't get me started on the ending that takes place on a plane. Fortunately  we did have Emilia Jones in this latter section. So not a patch on the original, and surprising for an Edgar Wright movie when his previous films have been so good. 

Thank goodness for the next two movies, both written so well. Which was a good job as they are completely led by the dialogue. When I heard that Blue Moon was about lyricist Lorenz Hart I couldn't wait. His songwriting credentials, with music by Richard Rogers, are enormous. Directed by Richard Linklater with a brilliant screenplay by Robert Kaplow, this is a one scene and one set film that is always interesting. It could be performed as a play sometime. Ethan Hawke (a Linklater regular - Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight) is almost unrecognisable as Hart who is much shorter in height than the rest of the cast. 

We are in the bar of Sardi's where Hart enters having left early on the opening night of Oklahoma! Rogers has now partnered with Oscar Hammerstein for this show. There are hints later on why this should be. And although none of Hart's songs are performed here, we do have Morty, the piano player in the bar, quietly running through his repertoire. But Hart is the centre of attention, never stops talking, especially to the barman Eddie. But he spots a quiet man in the corner jotting things down in a notebook, who just happens to be E B White, cleverly played by Patrick Kennedy. (After an early career writing for papers and magazines, he's here thinking about a children's book. His Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web led to a special Pulitzer Prize in 1978). 

Enter the main party for the after show celebration. Richard Rogers, of course, being accosted by Hart. However, I was not that impressed by Andrew Scott as the flimsy composer. But more so by Margaret Qualley (playing a twenty year old?) with whom Hart is in love. But she does have one superb long speech when they find a quiet place, all about a boyfriend who has ditched her, but with whom she is still in love. Typical of all these wonderful conversations as Hart gets more and more inebriated. As usual. 

A funny love triangle is set in the afterlife. For such a flimsy fantasy, Eternity is saved again by some great writing by director David Freyne. So, nearly all dialogue, some funny, some sad. It again could make a great play. The three leads buy into the plot. Waiting in this version of a waiting room for heaven is barman Luke played by Callum Turner (Emma).  He's been there decades waiting (not faithfully) for the love of his short life to finally appear. But first to arrive is her second, and decades long husband Larry (Miles Teller from Whiplash). But it's not long before Joan (a classy Elizabeth Olsen from Martha etc) appears and the struggle to be with her for ever begins. A clever premise that delivers a smart and amusing film. Mark Kermode was impressed with the script and performances. As was I.

Classic Christmas Movies on Sky Arts - The Muppet Christmas Carol

Ian Nathan introduces with the words "One of Michael Caine's greatest performances". "A Scrooge for the ages". Is he serious? Neil Norman tells us that this was the fourth in bringing the Muppets to the big screen and was "something really special" and that it was not really a Muppet movie but "a movie with Muppets". We hear a lot about Charles Dickens and his background, and the same for Muppet creator Jim Henson. When the team talk about Michael Caine, they explain how he took the role so seriously, understated and tragic. A lost soul.

There have been so many versions of the story, and so many Scrooges. What was interesting was how the individual Muppet characters were cast and adapted for their roles. And how they integrated the human characters. The sets were extraordinary. London especially seemed strange, spooky and unsettling. But even more amazing were the ghosts who are very different creations. The story is so true to the book, the script is so good we forget they are actually Muppets? Neil Norman ends the episode with the film is "dark, scary and funny. But beautifully balanced".

Table for Two by Amor Towles

 

Quite a difficult book to review as it is in two distinct parts. The first is six short stories all, except one, based in New York. The second part is a shortish novel set in Hollywood. But let's start with the six:

THE LINE

Pushkin and his wife Irina are peasants living a hundred miles from Moscow. That is until the latter declares they are Moscow bound. All because at last the royal family have been dispatched. The story is clever in that it is Irina who takes to the city like a duck to water, ending up on her work's committee. Pushkin is a disaster and ends up doing the shopping, waiting hours in line with their ration cards. Where he is quite happy with the relationships he makes. But that is not the end: see main title.

THE BALLAD OF TIMOTHY TOUCHETT

An aspiring young writer finds his way to New York ans a job in an antiquarian bookshop. But it's his crucial ability in draughtmanship that, for some extra cash, is used for what might be a criminal activity. But it's the authors own consideration of Timothy's situation that elevates the story to something special.

HASTA LUAGO

A Friday night at La Guardia airport six days before Christmas and a snowstorm. Jerry Brooks is "fortunate" to have met Smitty who organises a stay at the expensive Grand Hyatt Hotel. A story far from orthodox ends with a final paragraph that shows all the writer's talent and compassion.

I WILL SURVIVE

The break up of the long marriage of Peggy and Harry is an emotional read. She feels "ultimately cheated  by life ..... the loneliness, the indignities of marital collapse"

THE BOOTLEGGER

Mrs Harkness, our narrator,  and her husband Tommy have vowed, now the children are growing, to go on a weekly date. It all happens at Carnegie Hall where they have booked for the season. But it's Tommy who gets far too upset with the old guy in the next seat. I'm not sure why he cannot address the man directly rather than involving security. But apart from that, a moving and touching story.

THE DI DOMENICO FRAGMENT

It's lunchtime at La Maison where we find an old gent called Percival Skinner and his cronies. A representative of a wealthy buyer is after a Giuseppe Di Domenico painting, possibly a fragment. Skinner relates the story of the ancient masterpiece The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel. Somehow the latest in the family to own the picture decided to cut up the painting and give out fragments to members of the family. Skinner might be able to help, but as in all these things, it does not go to plan.

Next up the short novel:

LOS ANGELES - EVE IN HOLLYWOOD

Not quite "All About Eve" but she is the thread for this story. We have quite short chapters, each one headed by one of the characters: Charlie, Prentice, Olivia, Litsky, Marcus, Wendell, Finnegan and of course Eve. 

PART ONE

Charlie Granger is on a train where he just happens to share a table with one attractive young woman - Evelyn Ross. (Whom we know from the author's earlier book "Rules of Civility). She asks Charlie about himself. 

Next up Prentice Symmons, another old boy and a resident of the Beverley Hills Hotel. Who should he sit with in the lobby but a new resident, you know who. They have a glorious conversation

Here at the hotel Evelyn meets Olivia de Havilland. They strike up a friendship and decide on an adventure. Their chauffer has this list: "Things to do before I skedaddle". 

Litsky hangs out at a club called El Ray's and who should walk in but Olivia and her friend (you know who). Before Litsky can take their picture (he's a cheap skate photographer after any star or starlet) they disappear. But off in pursuit, he manages to take a photo that might set him up for life. However, it's when Towles describes all those Hollywood characters that I was enchanted. "Louis Mayer had begun dining on lettuce because he could no longed cross his fat little fingers behind his back".

Marcus is a lawyer for a Hollywood studio, visited on this occasion by one Miss Ross. And who should appear but Selznick himself, wanting her to look after one of their biggest assets, Olivia.

Eve. At last she has her own chapter when we hear about her younger days. But it's her friend that has a big problem when that photo rears it's head. But just leave it to Eve to sort out.

PART TWO

Back to Charlie (he was on that train with Eve) and although he is sixty six and out of circulation, he agrees to meet Eve and help with the problem. Olivia is being blackmailed and Charlie has some suggestions. So the story takes a different turn into a kind of thriller that I was not expecting. 

However, there are still passages of Towles' trade mark insights such as this: "At least half of what a man hasn't learned in his lifetime, he could have learned with ease. This is one of the insights that comes with age - when one understands the nature of discovery but no longer has the time or energy to submit to it's splendours. Thus we are doomed to end our days in an ignorance largely of our own making".

Olivia has agreed with Eve to keep out of the way while she sorts the problem. She's on her way to Pasadena. (Oh, you railway station, oh you pullman train. Here's my reservation, for my destination, far beyond the western plain. To see my home in Pasadena .....".

It's Prentice who is off to The Hacienda (it has history) and a party (to which he has not been invited) to confront the host  Freddie about the photos. Lots of short chapters ups the pace until we reach Finnegan. He was a top cop until we hear the story about when he had to leave the force, and is now head of security at the Beverley Hills Hotel. He becomes embroiled in the blackmail plot until he's not. Thank goodness for Charlie. And of course Eve who is an absolute star.

My Shakespeare by Greg Doran - Parts 19 - 21

 

Part 19   Hamlet

- 2008: Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon; Novello Theatre, London - Filmed for the   BBC

"It's one of the biggies" says Greg. Especially if performed on the main stage of The Royal Shakespeare Theatre. But this is the Courtyard Theatre. As Hamlet is the longest play in the cannon, coming in at four and a half hours no less, the first job for any director is whether "to cut or not to cut". And how. There are lots of shorter versions available, but Greg sets about sorting his own, looking at two to two and a half hours. (However, when filmed for the BBC, it comes in nearer three). He wants to have a cliff hanger at the interval.

A great cast is assembled headed by David Tennant and Patrick Stewart. There is a lot of interesting stuff about the production, how making it into a thriller, and all in modern dress. (See BBC iPlayer). Greg talks about the process of rehearsal that he has developed over the years, starting with examining the text line by line. There is a nice part about how they play Hamlet killing Polonius. And a bit about the real skull used for Yorick. ("Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him well Horatio ...). As for Patrick's performance as Claudius, "it was distilled to a point where his self-containment had the terrifying intensity of an unexploded bomb". 

The production in Stratford was a sell-out, as was the transfer to the Novello Theatre in London. But then disaster struck! David Tennant suffered a prolapsed disc and was carted off to hospital. We hear how his understudy Ed Bennett rose to the occasion, as did all the actors who moved up one. David was back for the last week, and that recording for BBC 2 that was shown on Boxing Day. Another triumph.

22nd October 1988   The Barbican Theatre, London

20th August 2015   The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Part 20   Love's Labour's Lost

- 2008: Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Greg starts with a part about Rosaline and whether she was written as a brown or black character. "The overt racism is troubling". Greg asks if it might have been a talented black boy in Shakespeare's company for whom he wrote Rosaline. For this production, Greg has cast Nina Sosanya who we know quite well from the TV. This was the final play in Greg's three part season after Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. 

Greg talks about the role of Armado played by Joe Dixon of whom was said "Shakespeare's homage to lifelong immaturity". Double intenders by the bucket load. We get a long run down of the final act "the longest scene in Shakespeare" where we get a full three page analysis. 

Greg was so concerned that at the end, the two main charaters (David Tennant as Berowne and Nina Sosanya as Rosaline) are separated. He thinks about Loves Labours Won (Much Ado About Nothing) and how that might save them. So in 2014, he put on both plays together. See my post of the latter 23rd October 2014.

13th November 2008    The Rose Theatre, Kingston-Upon-Thames

Part 21   Twelfth Night

- 2009: Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon; Duke of York's Theatre, London

A long introduction tells us about Greg and his twin Ruth and what incidents they shared. So Greg always had an affinity for Twelfth Night. He tells us where and when it is being set: an ex-pat crew on the grand tour. Greg talks about all the unsuccessful productions of this play for the RSC over the years: 1998 - 2001 - 2005. But here Greg has a great cast headed by Richard Wilson who was actually not a Shakespeare fan. And two actresses who actually meet for the first time, fall in love, and are married later. Nancy Carroll and Jo Stone-Fewlings. Well, as Greg tells us in detail, the play is all about love. 

When Viola has a long talk with Olivia, Greg describes it line by line. Early rehearsals are at St George's Church in Bloomsbury and after six weeks it's back to Stratford and the Courtyard Theatre. Greg takes the cast to the Knot Garden at New Place. Here he reads a piece by J B Priestly from 1928. Opening night is press night and Greg addresses the assembled cast and ends with introducing - Ruth (see above). He talks about how he didn't quite achieve what he wanted after all. But top critic Michael Billington called it "pleasing production". However we are not told any more about it's reception.  

13th April 1991   The Playhouse Theatre, London

30th October   Watford Palace Theatre

Movies at Home: Code 46, The Titfield Thunderbolt and Far from Heaven

 

A Michael Winterbottom science fiction movie written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. We are in Shanghai where Samantha Morton is giving out fake documents called papelles. She is being investigated by Tim Robbins who gradually falls for her despite being married. But should he trust her? However, the fact that Code 46 concentrates on their affair relegates pictures of the future to a mere backdrop. Arty but interesting. Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian said "it was more difficult and elusive" than these sort of films. Sight and Sound magazine in September 2004 called it "another resounding success for this uniquely talented director". I think Peter was closer to the mark.

The Titfield Thunderbolt is a comedy from 1953, although more amusing than laugh out loud. Straight out of Ealing Studios with Charles Crichton as director. Amateurs take over the train to save a railway from closure. But it's the bus company who would profit from the closure who do everything to disrupt their plans. So every misfortune you could think of is here, including a battle with a steam roller. Mostly shot on location, and all the exteriors looked great. This print must have been a top restoration. 

Many of the scenes are like a silent movie with musical accompaniment. I did laugh once when at last we hear they are running at a profit - "the next thing we know, we'll be nationalised". A typically good cast included leading man John Gregson (we saw him in Genevieve). Stanley Holloway and Sid James are in the supporting roles. Alison liked it.

Following the review in this month's Sight and Sound magazine, I found a cheap DVD of Far from Heaven. Released in 2002, it won four Oscars including best actress for Julianne Moore as Cathy. She looked so different in that stylish wig. The opening credits look wonderful, those beautiful exterior shots of Hartford, Connecticut, the location, the cars, the dresses and the colour. We are in the fall and everything looks great. Who wouldn't want to live there. At times it almost looks in 3D. Director Todd Haynes has captured some scenes straight out of Edward Hopper paintings, especially his famous Nighthawks. 

We see early on that the husband Frank (played by Dennis Quaid) is more interested in men. His visit to a club for gays says it all. And when Cathy catches him with a young man, you wonder what will happen. Frank is in turmoil about it.  But it's actually the entrance of the gardener played by Dennis Haysbert that is a distraction for Cathy. The fact that he is black takes the film into different territory. And although race now plays a significant part of the movie, it felt more like a soap opera to me. Especially when things go wrong with a sad ending. See my post of 26th November 2025.

Film Studies Part 4

 

This post was originally dated 22nd August 2025. However there has been a couple of additions since then. There is only one place to start with Part 4 of my posts on Film Studies.

Sight and Sound Magazine

Part 3 of my Film Studies was in February of 2024, but it actually missed out my post of the 18th December 2023 about a trial issue for Sight and Sound Magazine. The first edition of my subscription was the March 2024 edition that I reviewed in my post of the 4th of that month. So far I have received all the subsequent editions all of which have been reviewed on this blog.

The Directors on Sky Arts

I missed the whole of Series 8 when we replaced our TV, so I have only just caught up now they have been repeated on Sky. Those directors reviewed on my post of 20th August this year are:

James Cameron, Steven Soderbergh, Milos Forman, Richard Linklater, Orson Welles, Philip Noyce, David Fincher, Nancy Meyers, Clint Eastwood and Ang Lee.

The Films of Powell and Pressberger

My post of 17th December 2024 looked at I Know Where I'm Going, A Matter of Life and Death and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.

BFI Open Day

My post of 10th September 2024.

BFI Modern Classics

See my post on Blade Runner of 7th August 2024. 

Art of Film with Ian Nathan on Sky Arts: 

Cold War and Cinema

See posts of 23rd February 2024, 29th February 2024 and 15th March 2024.

World War 2 and Cinema

Posts of 15th April 2024, 19th April 2024 and 27th April 2024.

Classic Movies on Sky Arts - Series 2

Episode 1   The Story of Brief Encounter: 12th September 2024

Episode 2   The Story of Whisky Galore: 18th September 2024

Episode 3   The Story of The Producers: 4th October 2024

Episode 4   The Story of Murder on the Orient Express: 18th October 2024

Episode 5   The Story of I'm All Right Jack : 23rd November 2024

Episode 6   The Story of The Deer Hunter: 5th November 2024

Classic Movies on Sky Arts - Series 3

Episode 1   The Story of The Ipcress File: 11th May 2025

Episode 2   The Story of Kind Hearts and Coronets: 27th May 2025

Episode 3   The Story of The Dam Busters: 3rd June 2025

Episode 4   The Story of Scott of the Antarctic: 19th June 2025

Episode 5   The Story of Flash Gordon: 21st June 2025

Episode 6   The Story of Billy Liar: 2nd July 2025

Classic Movies on Sky Arts - Series 4

Episode 1   The Story of The 39 Steps: 29th October 2025

Episode 2   The Story of Life and Death of Colonel Blimp: 31st October 2025

Episode 3   The Story of Passport to Pimlico: 7th November 2025

Episode 4   The Story of Highlander: 13th November 2025

Episode 5   The Story of The Railway Children: 24th November 2025

Episode 6   The Story of Escape from New York: 29th November 2025

Inside Cinema - Shorts

I said in Part 3 of my posts on Film Studies that I had just started to watch this series on BBC iPlayer. Here they are:

Episodes 1-10     7th February 2024

Episodes 11-20    28th March 2024

Episodes 21-30   4th May 2024

Episodes 32-40   14th June 2024

Episodes 41-50   13th August 2024

Episodes 51-60   31st October 2024

Episodes 61-70   12th December 2024

Episodes 71-80   14th January 2025

Episodes 81-90   23rd March 2025

Episodes91-96    9th July 2025

Art of Film on Sky Arts - Series 2

How Britain made Alfred Great    30th September 2024

The Golden Age of the British Screen Idol    8th October 2024

The Corda Story   10th October 2024

The Script Supervisor   19th October 2024

David Lean in Black and White    28th October 2024

The Birth of the Moguls   12th November 2024

Wonderland: Science Fiction in the Atomic Age on Sky Arts

Episode 1:   Mary Shelley to Isaac Asimov

Episode 2:   Arthur C Clark to Ray Bradbury

Episode 3:   Margaret Attwood to Ted Chiang

Episode 4:   Quatermass to Christopher Nolan

Have You Seen ......? by David Thomson

My previous post went up to Part 10, reviewed on this blog on 18th January 2024. These are the latest of my reviews:

Part 11   Dog Day Afternoon, Out of Africa and Brazil             24th March 2024

Part 12   Night of the Demon, Sunset Boulevard and Five Easy Pieces    23rd August 2024

Part 13   Death in Venice, Dial M for Murder and Strangers on a Train     7th October 2024

Part 14   Kind Hearts and Coronets, City of God and Taxi Driver      11th November 2024

Part 15   I'm Alright Jack, Move Over Darling and Whisky Galore       17th January 2025

Part 16   A Shot in the Dark, Passport to Pimlico and The Outfit        3rd March 2025

Part 17   Went the Day Well?, Ice Cold in Alex and 28 Days Later         20th June 2025

Part 18   Brief Encounter, Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice and Genevieve   27th July 2025

Movies at Home

Since the end of 2023 there are more posts on this blog: 7th May 2024, 29th July 2024, 11th June 2024, 9th August 2024, 2nd September 2024, 24th September 2024, 17th December 2024, 13th February 2025, 3rd March 2025, 1st April 2025, 30th April 2025, 12th May 2025, 10th August 2025, 6th September 2025 and 23rd September 2025.

The Whole Equation - A History of Hollywood by David Thomson

Despite enjoying six of David Thomson's books on film, this one was a big disappointment. My post of 22nd February 2024 says I found it all a bit of a mess. What a shame. 

I have never included in these posts any of the films I see at the cinema, whether at my local Odeon, Cineworld in Hemel Hempsted or at the Rex, Berkhamsted. However, there are some of the Wonderland series on Sky Arts from years ago, but I may have missed a few. Otherwise I am now waiting for the new autumn schedules to see what Sky Arts might bring me next.