Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Darkest Hour and The Post

Who knew Martin McDonagh could write a story with a strong female lead. His previous movies, In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, even his play Hangmen, were all dominated by men. This marvellous black comedy was probably the best thing McDonagh has written, and that is saying something. The fact that he took the directorial reins says a lot for him. He is rewarded by some fabulous performances from, notably Frances McDormand (for the best actress Oscar, how could I choose  between her, Annette Bening,  Jessica Chastain, Meryl Streep and those yet to come), Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell. The superb scenes of reconciliations towards the end are amazing. Of  all the films in the race for the Oscar, this is my favourite so far.

The early days of the Winston Churchill's premiership are dramatically created by director Joe Wright. He cleverly intermingles Churchill's  political wrangles with the struggles of his new secretary, played superbly by Lily James, to keep up. But the politics do dominate, and the arguments within the Tory party are reminiscent of today. The cast are all terrific. Gary Oldman as Churchill might win the Oscar, Kristin Scott Thomas as his wife Clemmie is even better in a lesser role. Stephen Dillane (who I have always felt a little one dimensional) was unrecognisably exceptional. A riveting piece of cinematic drama.

What could have been an ordinary film about newspapers was transformed into an exciting and thrilling movie by director Steven Spielberg. The sharp editing helps move the story along at a frantic pace, crisscrossing one scene with another. Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks do credit to their roles as does Bob Odenkirk. Here is an actor (and prolific writer) that I didn't know, and his wonderful understated performance was mesmerising. My favourite for best supporting actor by miles. Just a shame he was not nominated.

Songs from Call the Midwife - Series 7

Series 7 starts at the beginning of 1963 with the same snow and ice that we saw in the Christmas Special. The thaw didn't set in until the start of March.

Episode 1

He's so Fine by the Chiffons. Written by Ronald Mack, it was not released in the UK until March 1963, so perhaps a little premature for the time of this episode.

Shakin All Over by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. Written by the Johnny Kidd, it reached No 1 in the UK in 1960.

Theme from Z Cars. The television theme was arranged and conducted by Norrie Paramor and recorded with his orchestra.

Episode 2

Your Tender Look by Joe Brown and The Bruvvers. Written by John Beveridge and Peter Oakman it reached No 33 in the UK charts in 1962. It followed the far preferable and brilliant Picture of You, Joe's previous No 2 hit and is a complete rip off of that song. So disappointing that they chose the wrong track.

Fascination by Julie London. From the 1962 album Love Letters and written by Fermo Dante Marchetti, Maurice de Feraudy and Dick Manning. I would be very surprised if this album track was played on Trixie's radio in 1962. So why not Julie's hit single Cry me a River?

Queen for Tonight by Helen Shapiro. Written by Ben Raleigh and Art Wynne, this was a No 33 hit in 1962. Another obscure release, ignoring her previous No 1 hits.

I Think I'm Falling in Love by John Leyton. Written by P Jacobs (a pseudonym for Joe Meek) this did not trouble the hit parade in 1962. (Why not his big hit Johnny Remember Me.) So again, hard to believe it would have been played on the radio. Are the producers just trying tothtest me? The play list was never like this.

Episode 3

I cannot think of an episode in all the seven series that had as many songs as this one.

The Rivers Run Dry by Vince Hill. This 1962 recording was written by Les Vandyke (such a prolific songwriter in the 6o's, just look at the list on Wikipedia, especially all those hits for Adam Faith) and was the first hit for Vince, reaching number 41 in the UK singles chart.

Come Dance With Me by Peggy Lee. Composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn as the title track from Frank Sinatra's 1959 album of the same name. Peggy's recording was on her 1961 album Ole ala Lee. I still have an old Peggy Lee LP but not this one.

Little Band of Gold sung and written by James Gilreath. It reached number 29 in the UK chart in 1963, but I must admit I had never heard of the singer or the song.

She's Got You by Patsy Cline. Written by Hank Cochran, this single was released in 1962 and reached number 43 in the UK charts. One of my favourite singers, her previous singles I Fall to Pieces and Crazy are wonderful recordings.

How Do You Do It by Gerry and the Pacemakers. Written by Mitch Murray, their first ever single reached number 1 in the UK charts in April 1963.

Just Like Eddie by Heinz. Written by Geoff Goddard, an associate of producer Joe Meek, the record made number 5 in the UK charts in 1963, the only success for the singer. And it must be over fifty years since I heard the recording. I know it was played a lot on the radio in the sixties.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow by Helen Shapiro. This classic was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was a huge hit for The Shirelles in 1960. Helen recorded the song for her 1962 album "Tops" with Me. The second time for her in this series, I'm glad to say.

Every Step of the Way by Johnny Mathis. Written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman and included in Johnny's 1964 album I'll Search My Heart and other Great Hits. The single was released in 1962 but never entered the UK charts.

My Kind of Girl by the great Matt Monroe. Written by William Bell, Leslie Bricusse and Booker T Jones, it peaked at number 5 in the UK in 1961. Matt's Softly As I leave You is one of my all time favourite tracks.

Nothing But The Best by Frank Sinatra. Written by Johnny Rotella, the song was recorded for the 1962 album Sinatra and Swingin' Brass. However, it looks like it was omitted from the original LP and was only included as a bonus track on the 1992 CD.

I don't usually include pieces of instrumenal music in these posts, but those that were played during the beauty contest need a mention: Lalo Bosa Nova (Quincy Jones), the brilliant Desafinado (Stan Getz and Charlie Bird) and others.

Boy, that was hard work, ten songs in this episode. But all worthwhile as I got to hear some great sixties songs on YouTube. One other thing to mention. Tom tells Trixie they are off to the cinema to see "The Birds". Although this film had been released in the USA by Whitsun 1963 (when this episode takes place), it was not released in the UK until the September. That was the month I left home to work in London, and can remember after seeing the movie, walking back to my digs over Hammersmith Bridge and being horrified by the closeness of the seagulls.

Episode 4

After the record breaking ten songs in last week's episode, this week, for the first time ever, there were no songs at all!

Episode 5

Only one song this week, and only a very short burst of:

I Like It by Gerry and The Pacemakers. Another Mitch Murray composition, this was number one in the UK charts in June 1963, so spot on for this summery episode. Gerry's follow up to his first number one included in episode 3.

Episode 6

Two great songs this week.

Come Outside by Mike Sarne. (I don't think we heard Wendy Richard (an actress famous for the TV show "Are You Being Served" who provided spoken interjections.) Written by Charles Blackwell, t reached number one in the summer of 1962.

It Might As Well Rain Until September by Carole King. Written by the singer and long term collaborator Gerry Goffin, The song was actually written for Bobby Vee because at the at time Carole was not a singer and just wrote hits with Gerry for other artists. However, she sung this on a demo recording to show how it should be done and everyone was so impressed it was released as a single, paving the way for her great career as a singer/songwriter. It was released on 1962 and did far better in the UK (reaching number three in the charts, her best performing single here) than the USA where it languished at number twenty two.

Episode 7

Two songs again this week.

Stay by Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs. Written by Williams himself when he was only fifteen years old and recorded in 1960. At one minute 36 seconds, it remains the shortest single ever to reach the American charts. Not sure why this was played on the radio, when, in 1963 it was the version by The Hollies that reached number 8 in the UK charts.

I must admit, I cannot remember the original. The most familiar versions to me are those by The four Seasons and Jackson Browne, having heard the latter sing it live as his closing number many times.

Wonderful World by Sam Cooke. Thank you producers of Call the Midwife for playing this at full volume, it took me right back to when I was fifteen. My friend David played it on his parent's radiogram and I had my first crush on his older sister. The song was composed by Lou Adler and Herb Alpert with extra lyrics by Cooke that resonated with some of my experiences at school:

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book,
Don't know much about the french I took
But I do know that I love you,
And I know that if you love me, too,
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography,
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra,
Don't know what a slide rule is for
But I do know that one and one is two,
And if this one could be with you,
What a wonderful world this would be

The song was released in 1960 and reached number 27 in the UK. Strangely, a release in 1986 made it to number 2!

Listening on YouTube, I stumbled on Lesley Gore's 1963 hit You Don't Own Me. I had posted in November 2016 about the version on Strictly Come Dancing and how I have always loved this song.

Episode 8

Teddy Bear's Picnic by Henry Hall with the BBC Orchestra and sung by Val Rosing. The melody was written in 1907 and was recorded as an instrumental until Jimmy Kennedy wrote the lyrics for the BBC and Henry Hall in 1932.

Tricks of the Trade by Vince Hill. One of his early solo recordings from 1962 - 1964 for Piccadilly, part of Pye Records. Not released as a single. Writer unknown.

Amy and Isabelle, A Far Cry from Kensington and Various Voices

Amy and Isabelle is an intense dissection of a mother's relationship with her daughter. This book is so beautifully written, it sometimes takes your breath away. At the beginning I was less than enthused about what seemed to be another boring family drama, but gradually the author pulls you in to the depths and detail of their day to day lives. Isabelle, the mother, has no husband and no friends. Sometimes she seems far too melodramatic for her own good, and far too fixated on her sixteen year old daughter Amy for that relationship to thrive. Even though her father had told her "you have to be friendly to have friends", this may be beyond her capabilities. So, apart from Amy, she is alone.

The story is told in the third person alternating mainly between the two women. There are a couple of very short pieces from the view of male characters. The father of Amy's best friend contemplates why his daughter hates him so much, and later on an even shorter one by the janitor of the school. Both equally devastating. But in the end, we find how true is the saying "like mother, like daughter".

I liked how Strout picked on experiences that any reader would feel they had shared in the past. "Shyness is often mistaken for unfriendliness". Then after twenty devastating pages later in the book, the next chapter starts "Daisies and pink clover grew alongside the back roads of Shirley Falls. There were wild sweet peas too etc. " Typical of the lyrical descriptions of the landscape and seasons of this small community, particularly the long hot summer that dominates the story. 

My first Muriel Spark novel and what a joy it has been. Wonderfully entertaining. I loved the conversational aspect of the book, this was taken to a new level as the narrator speaks directly to us: "It's fun. You should try it." and on the subject of willpower: "I offer this advice without fee- it is included in the price of the book.".

Set in 1954/5 in South Kensington. I was ten and living in West Kensington, so there was much for me to enjoy. The house where our narrator, Mrs Hawkins, lives is described as a "rooming house" where a three storey terrace is divided into tiny apartments, really no more than rooms. The attic reminded me of where Bob Owen and I shared on Airedale Avenue in Chiswick in 1965.

The author describes "espresso bars", but in 1955 I'm sure they were called simply coffee bars. At least ours in Braintree was. And 1955 was a little early for one of the character's boyfriend managing a rock and roll band. Although Bill Haley was storming the charts, Elvis and Lonnie only made it a year later, with Cliff and Marty Wilde in 1958. But who cares. The book was brilliant.

Much as I enjoy the plays written by Harold Pinter, I'm afraid I couldn't get on with his writing. The first of the three sections was the best: letters, speeches and other bits of prose. But the poetry, which was a particular love of the writer, left me cold. Although I have to say that most poetry does. But like those pieces earlier, the poems on cricket were the most accessible. Then the last section on political writing was not for me and I skipped most of it. If only they had saved the first for last. 

Tring Book Club - The Girl who Fell from the Sky by Simon Mawer

There is much to enjoy in Simon Mawer's The Girl who Fell from the Sky. The exciting first five pages tells us we are in for treat. The whole story is well constructed, there are a succession of great set pieces, from Marion's training to her exploits in Paris. Wartime Britain and France are well described. But the author does not linger, he wants to get on with the plot that rattles along. So not the most literary of novels, but one that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through.

Star Wars - The Last Jedi, Molly's Game and All the Money in the World

Why didn't I just read my post of the previous Star War movie when I said that was the last I would ever go to see. But the reviews this time of The Last Jedi were all excellent. And I don't know why. I cannot remember anything of real merit, although the dialogue was OK. The story was all too familiar and predictable. As I said last time, I must be getting old.

Despite the wonderful script from Aaron Sorkin, I felt Molly's Game lacked any real emotional punch. Which is really weird. Jessica Chastain, whilst excellent as usual, seemed to play a very one dimensional character although her sparring with Idris Elba was interesting. But here again there was little spark between them. It is my view that the writer is not a great director, and that is the fault of a movie that could have been great. There was quite a lot that didn't add up and a new director would have that sorted. As they would have slowed down some of the rushed parts that missed that crucial emotional impact those scenes deserved. They may have also eliminated the narration that did the movie no help.

Contrast the above with the direction of Ridley Scott. All the Money in the World is a strange story of kidnapping, especially as the messing about with the real story didn't really work. Even the added excitement in the middle fell like a damp squib and the climax felt muddled. But what we did have was good dialogue and stand out performances from Michelle Williams and Christopher Plummer. Here Scott's direction was perfect. He should stick to drama and forget the set pieces until a good thriller comes along.

King Lear at the Aldwych Theatre 1962/3

I just happened to google "King Lear" 1963, as this was the play we did for "A" Level English Literature. Up popped an advert on eBay for the programme. It was also for the production in London  at the Aldwych Theatre that followed the run at Stratford.

We went as a group from sixth form to see a performance at the Aldwych, probably a matinee. It was the only time I saw Paul Schofield on stage, and it still ranks as one of the best Lear's ever. What I didn't remember was  a young 24 year old  Diana Rigg playing Cordelia, and lately appearing as Becky's mother in Detectorists.