Powell & Pressburger

Innocentrailway · 30/11/2024 23:22

They are wonderful. There's a recent documentary about them made by Martin Scorcese - it's really worth checking out.

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wildfellhall · 30/11/2024 23:26

I've watched it - fascinating

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GhostOrchid · 30/11/2024 23:59

Truly brilliant. The Scorsese documentary was wonderful. I may have to watch it again.

CrossPurposes · 01/12/2024 16:26

The documentary is on iPlayer and it is superb. iPlayer also has The Red Shoes and I Know Where I'm Going.

My favourite P&P is Black Narcissus which is on ITVx along with several others.

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0025785

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger

Eminent American film-maker Martin Scorsese shares his lifelong love affair with the films of Powell and Pressburger.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0025785

Nettleteaser101 · 05/12/2024 08:03

I love all these films. The posh english accents get me everytime. Love The Red Shoes, the acting is so over the top but it was for most films back in the day.

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wildfellhall · 06/12/2024 09:46

I've watched 'I know where I'm going' and 'Black Narcissus' again recently- they're such fantastic films

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Igmum · 07/12/2024 13:13

❤️ Powell and Pressburger. Such brilliant films.

JoanOgden · 07/12/2024 13:27

They're brilliant! Black Narcissus is my favourite too. Must watch the documentary

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wildfellhall · 07/12/2024 13:42

The documentary is excellent

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HardlyLikely · 07/12/2024 13:48

Black Narcissus is one of my favourite films. The novel by Rumer Godden is also wonderful, if anyone hasn’t read it.

The Red Shoes is brilliantly mad, especially that kind of German expressionism ballet sequence.

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wildfellhall · 07/12/2024 14:16

A Canterbury Tale and Black Narcissus are both on YouTube but not the Small Back Room (it does sound bleak though)

Hardlylikely
I love the Red Shoes - it's gloriously demented and is it Anton Walbeck (?) who I'm crazy about now having watched the Life & Death of Col Blimp recently? (On the iplayer)

Also can we side bar briefly to discuss the short shorts of the smouldering man in Black Narcissus? Mr Whatever he's called? And his hilariously jittery, unmanly arrival on a tiny horse with his ickle shorts, troubling sandals and worzel gummidge hat? Those shirts are short enough for Paul Mescal.

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wildfellhall · 07/12/2024 14:17

Sorry too many typos!

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CrossPurposes · 07/12/2024 14:23

wildfellhall · 07/12/2024 14:16

A Canterbury Tale and Black Narcissus are both on YouTube but not the Small Back Room (it does sound bleak though)

Hardlylikely
I love the Red Shoes - it's gloriously demented and is it Anton Walbeck (?) who I'm crazy about now having watched the Life & Death of Col Blimp recently? (On the iplayer)

Also can we side bar briefly to discuss the short shorts of the smouldering man in Black Narcissus? Mr Whatever he's called? And his hilariously jittery, unmanly arrival on a tiny horse with his ickle shorts, troubling sandals and worzel gummidge hat? Those shirts are short enough for Paul Mescal.

It's those shorts on Mr Dean that would have driven any woman to distraction.

If you want more Anton Walbrook gloriousness may I recommend The Queen of Spades which is just wonderfully overwrought. He's also amazing in the British version of Gaslight. Both films were directed by Thorold Dickinson.

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wildfellhall · 07/12/2024 15:05

Yes! Those shorts are merciless. He also suddenly appears without his shirt!
The poor nuns!

I will check out more Anton- he's such a great actor as is Woger Livesey. I love him in I Know Where I'm Going.

Gaslight is so good but I haven't seen it since I discovered P&Pressburger.

I also didn't know that Powell had relationships with a number of these actresses in his films including both of the main nuns!

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JoanOgden · 07/12/2024 16:15

wildfellhall · 07/12/2024 15:05

Yes! Those shorts are merciless. He also suddenly appears without his shirt!
The poor nuns!

I will check out more Anton- he's such a great actor as is Woger Livesey. I love him in I Know Where I'm Going.

Gaslight is so good but I haven't seen it since I discovered P&Pressburger.

I also didn't know that Powell had relationships with a number of these actresses in his films including both of the main nuns!

What! With Deborah Kerr? Good Lord

cushionfiend · 07/12/2024 16:19

Have you watched Peeping Tom? That's one weird film. I love P&P.

JoanOgden · 07/12/2024 16:27

I never have watched Peeping Tom - put off by the subject matter. Is it worth it?

I like a couple of the more obscure ones, like The Spy in Black and 49th Parallel.

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wildfellhall · 07/12/2024 16:31

Peeping Tom looks very scary indeed; I haven't seen it - it seems to be the film which derailed Powell's career and reputation.

I want to see those more obscure ones!

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wildfellhall · 07/12/2024 16:35

DK! Goddess.

His biography is apparently gloriously indiscreet, but I think us out of print.

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CrossPurposes · 07/12/2024 16:47

JoanOgden · 07/12/2024 16:27

I never have watched Peeping Tom - put off by the subject matter. Is it worth it?

I like a couple of the more obscure ones, like The Spy in Black and 49th Parallel.

I personally think Peeping Tom was vile and I would never watch it again. It certainly makes me realise how P&P were a real partnership. Peeping Tom reminds me of Frenzy by Hitchcock which is Hitchcock without fetters. I don't like that either! Obviously.

I really like The Spy in Black. Valerie Hobson is so underrated.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 07/12/2024 16:51

Roger Livesey’s voice...

Nettleteaser101 · 08/12/2024 10:52

I love Roger Livesey's voice too.
His wife played Anton's girlfriend in the rest home in Col Blimp. Fantastic acting from Anton in Col Blimp when he was talking about his sons and the Nazis in Germany and why he left. He should have got an Oscar for that. Love the way he talks too.

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wildfellhall · 08/12/2024 18:52

I saw a programme on the iPlayer about Michael Powell and it has an interview with Stephen Frears who says something like Peeping Tom was Powell without Pressburger, or unfettered.
Interesting idea.

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CyranoDeBergerQuack · 18/12/2024 14:39

wildfellhall · 30/11/2024 23:20

Have recently watched I know where I'm going, A Matter of Life and Death & the life and death of Col Blimp.
They are amazing films, don't know how I've only just discovered them.

They were brilliant. A matter of life and death is a favourite!

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wildfellhall · 18/12/2024 15:20

Roger Livesey is such a LOVELY MAN! 💕💕

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