Went to see this one with three friends, expecting something a bit on the twee / 'Heritage Film' side. Wrong. THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN was generally very watchable and blended the a number of story element well. The person who was bewildered about what sort of a film it was should have borne in mind that films often have elements of humour, drama, tragedy and romance, because life is not all lived on one level. It probably helped that I was not familiar with Cumberbatch's other work, so was able to see his role as the person he was playing, rather than 'Here's Benedict again!'
Reviews
13 Reviews
Cheer the Brave
(1951)
Perhaps not 'sophisticated', but amusing nevertheless.
3 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I'd first heard of CHEER THE BRAVE around forty years ago, when it was available for hire on 16mm. Finally catching up with it, albeit in a poor copy, I am with 'drednm' in finding it a very funny movie which I feel my late partner Deirdre would have probably enjoyed.
McNaughton's henpecked husband is fully sympathetic as he loyally sticks with the appalling Randolph through a nightmare of housework and scrimping. And a surprise to see Geoffrey Keen as the shifty, seedy husband who really should have known better than to attempt blackmail. Very rough-and-ready, but with that essential ingredient in a comedy - laughter.
McNaughton's henpecked husband is fully sympathetic as he loyally sticks with the appalling Randolph through a nightmare of housework and scrimping. And a surprise to see Geoffrey Keen as the shifty, seedy husband who really should have known better than to attempt blackmail. Very rough-and-ready, but with that essential ingredient in a comedy - laughter.
Belle
(2013)
Deadly dull film which lacks authenticity.
22 November 2021
One reviewer enthused 'Be transported to the 1700s', but I would disagree strongly. Aside from Tom Wilkinson's gruff Lord Mansfield and the ever-reliable Penelope Wilton, I found the film an overdressed bore. It is not enough to have nice costumes and genuine stately homes when an interesting premise is reduced to a stuffy essay in ahistorical political correctness as can be seen in the final scenes.
In addition the sound was distracting on occasion, bursting out from some of the loudspeakers (my late partner and I watched it on a liner) and creating a sense on unreality rather than the intended (I presume) natural atmosphere.
In addition, the film dragged on far too long for its content, with its interest petering out around the halfway mark. In fairness, I might add that my partner liked the film, so all was not lost.
In addition the sound was distracting on occasion, bursting out from some of the loudspeakers (my late partner and I watched it on a liner) and creating a sense on unreality rather than the intended (I presume) natural atmosphere.
In addition, the film dragged on far too long for its content, with its interest petering out around the halfway mark. In fairness, I might add that my partner liked the film, so all was not lost.
Three Colors: Blue
(1993)
A Film Which Gives the Term 'Art-House' a Bad Name.
5 November 2021
I was dragooned into this one by my ex and a friend when it came out. Yes, it is a striking-looking film, but my personal reaction was total uninvolvement with Binoche's character despite the obviously tragic situation. One had the feeling of watching a particularly long-winded film equivalent of a colour Sunday supplement in which every mood was calculated to the Nth degree.
One wonders how many people actually liked the film as opposed to thinking they should like a work deliberately aimed at a particular type of niche audience. As a whole, I found the film extremely tedious and have not been tempted in the slightest in seeing the films which followed on. Life is too short!
One wonders how many people actually liked the film as opposed to thinking they should like a work deliberately aimed at a particular type of niche audience. As a whole, I found the film extremely tedious and have not been tempted in the slightest in seeing the films which followed on. Life is too short!
A Devil with Women
(1930)
Saved... ...at the time
3 November 2021
A DEVIL WITH WOMEN was presented (in a double-bill with A HOLY TERROR, 1931) by William K Everson at London's National Film Theatre in 1977. He mentioned that the film was very unstable, but I would assume the copy brought over was a safety copy.
Two friends I saw it with had slightly differing views, one describing it as 'terrible' or words to that effect. Admittedly slight in content, its brief running time meant that it never outwore its welcome and the copy was in pretty decent shape, especially considering the state of film preservation back then. And Mona Maris makes for a most appealing leading lady.
In addition (for me) a talkie from this period was a comparative novelty, which added to its appeal and interest value. One hopes the movie is around still...
Two friends I saw it with had slightly differing views, one describing it as 'terrible' or words to that effect. Admittedly slight in content, its brief running time meant that it never outwore its welcome and the copy was in pretty decent shape, especially considering the state of film preservation back then. And Mona Maris makes for a most appealing leading lady.
In addition (for me) a talkie from this period was a comparative novelty, which added to its appeal and interest value. One hopes the movie is around still...
A Holy Terror
(1931)
Entertaining movie - but needs a good print to appreciate.
2 November 2021
I saw this movie in 1977 at London's NFT paired with A DEVIL WITH WOMEN (1930) and introduced by William K Everson. The copy presented was nice and clear, and much better than ones I have encountered on YouTube, which look horrible. Hopefully good copies of this film exist as it is quite possible that some of the negative views have been affected by these frightful uploads.
Efficiency Edgar's Courtship
(1917)
Difficult to review fairly, but...
31 October 2021
This early comedy feature came over to me as lamentably unamusing, but this could well have been due in part to a poor copy (lots of splices, and some illegible title-cards) as well as the lack of any music accompaniment.
However the main character is enormously tiresome (although presumably popular in print) and ditto with the situations and the repeated use of irises at the end of scenes. The bit with the cat and the saxophone raised a laugh, but I am usually a sucker for cat scenes.
Admittedly films such as this should be salvaged for archival purposes it even in this state of repair. Hopefully anyone viewing this one by chance will not imagine this is typical and be put off silents for life.
However the main character is enormously tiresome (although presumably popular in print) and ditto with the situations and the repeated use of irises at the end of scenes. The bit with the cat and the saxophone raised a laugh, but I am usually a sucker for cat scenes.
Admittedly films such as this should be salvaged for archival purposes it even in this state of repair. Hopefully anyone viewing this one by chance will not imagine this is typical and be put off silents for life.
Detective Dover
(2018)
Misleading for Joyce Porter fans.
19 October 2021
Came across this on YouTube, thinking it was based on Joyce Porter's series about Wilfred Dover, 'Scotland Yard's Most Unwanted Man' and his long suffering sergeant. Turns out to be a very misleading title, and could result in trouble from the copyright holders.
Lost Patrol
(1929)
Bizarre Comparison
8 September 2021
Ironic that F G MacIntyre should compare this missing film with another missing film THE LEGION OF THE CONDEMNED (1928), but at the same time he confesses not to have read MacDonald's book, which is readily available. Potty!
Behind the Rent Strike
(1979)
A Couple of Comments
5 June 2019
BEHIND THE RENT STRIKE was made earlier than 1979, as the events depicted took place six years earlier, in 1973, long before Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister. Saying that, there may have been some influence from her direction, but the events of the Strike were nothing to do with her policies as PM. Nick Broomfield's WHO CARES? is a connected work.
Confessions of a Queen
(1925)
Partly lost film turns up
13 September 2017
CONFESSIONS OF A QUEEN exists in part, at least, as about 35m turned up on YouTube a while back. The first section is, in the main, in splendid condition. There is a short jump, and then a few more minutes. The rest is taken up with a photo of Ellen Terry, with comments on (I presume) the missing footage. My rating is not a realistic one as one can't really judge the film, even on so substantial a fragment.
Young Romance
(1915)
A Delightful Discovery from 1915
31 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
There seems to be some confusion over who directed this splendid little movie, as Robert R Connelly's 'Motion Picture Guide' (Silent Film 1910-1936) also lists George Melford. If so, this is quite a revelation from the director of the turgid THE SHEIK (1921).
Agreed, the plot is slight and predictable, but the film is well paced and developed, with a good thread of humour running through it. The characters' lack of finances and the methods used (second hand clothes, a cheap hotel near the posh one) are amusingly done, and young Tom's extreme discomfort (reminiscent of a similar scene in George Orwell's 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying' is achingly funny and nicely balanced BY the later scene at the more modest diner.
I had not heard of this movie until it cropped up on YouTube, and found it a total delight. Once again, a very good music score is supplied by the tireless Robert Israel.
Agreed, the plot is slight and predictable, but the film is well paced and developed, with a good thread of humour running through it. The characters' lack of finances and the methods used (second hand clothes, a cheap hotel near the posh one) are amusingly done, and young Tom's extreme discomfort (reminiscent of a similar scene in George Orwell's 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying' is achingly funny and nicely balanced BY the later scene at the more modest diner.
I had not heard of this movie until it cropped up on YouTube, and found it a total delight. Once again, a very good music score is supplied by the tireless Robert Israel.
El fantasma del convento
(1934)
A splendid movie - am in agreement with the other reviewers
20 June 2017
Although I had seen one of de Fuentes's films (THE TIGER OF YAUTAPEC) many years back, THE PHANTOM OF THE CONVENT looked very intriguing. Despite a rather rough copy, it held the attention throughout and delivered a good many scares and creepy moments in its eighty minutes or so. In its atmosphere reminded me a little of VAMPYR or WHITE ZOMBIE, and deserves to be much better known. Well worth seeking out.
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