I know I have been absolutely terrible at keeping up on my blog over the past two weeks and I apologize. Let’s just say that I’ve been working on some pretty amazing things (most of which I have to keep under wraps) but in a sense they are legendary and world changing. Seriously, I need to write a book.
That being said, in the past two weeks I have been working a lot, playing a little and seeing a bunch of films – either iconic classics because of how great they are or how absolutely horrific that they are. London is a film based culture – I would argue even moreso than LA. Yes, I realize what I just typed. While the West End theatre gets a bunch of the credit for being artistic and cutting edge, the film scene is even a bit livelier and definitely more focused on history and quality. This does translate into movie channels on Sky and Virgin Cable that are absolutely focused on classic films, in their entirety and in a lot of cases either uncut or restored to the original director’s cut. For example, last week on Sky Classics, the following movies were on: To Sir With Love, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Twelve Angry Men, Rebel Without a Cause, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, A Star is Born (1954) and Network. I’d like to say there is a common theme here, but, it escapes me. Other than the fact that these are all classics and were Academy Award or BAFTA winners in their own right.
On another channel, there was a Steve McQueen marathon, and not just The Thomas Crown Affair, Bullitt and The Magnificent Seven. The sublime (and subversive) Love With the Proper Stranger with Natalie Wood was on. To see the range of his acting across all of those films shows what a consummate professional that he was, and why many people found him ruggedly sexy. In the States, TCM is the only channel that seems to be really consistent with having this type of historical film context and it doesnt shy away from the lesser known films that made actors who they are. It certainly isn’t without consequence, but, there ends up being more of a focus on the historical context of the film industry here in England than in the US. I love it.
Which brings me to the British Film Institue – the significant center of the film scene here in London. They have a couple screens throughout the city, but, the big center is at Southbank, the combination of theatres, the London Eye, Art Galleries, the Tate Modern, chain restaurants, graffiti and skateboarders that give a whole new meaning to modern consumption and angst. The BFI is in the center of that location, and holds four screens. They are HARDCORE about film. Right now on their screens is a special showing of Stage Door – with Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Ann Miller (at 14!), Lucille Ball, and Eve Arden. This film would be classic enough in it’s own right there, until you think about the fact that it was 1937 and set the latter three onto the path of musicals and comedy in the future. Without Stage Door, there wouldn’t have been I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks or any of the dancing talent that Ann Miller showed in the 40’s and 50’s.
Also at the BFI is Les Diaboliques, a French classic and probably one of my top five films of all time. Simone Signoret is brilliant in this Hitchcock paced story about a wife and mistress of a lothario who plan to murder him. Seeing this on the big screen is completely on my agenda for Sunday and I cannot wait. Things to note about the BFI – Don’t arrive late. You will not be seated. Don’t think you will be able to get up in the midst of the movie. You will not get back in. There is also no popcorn, junior mints or 96oz sodas. This is film appreciation at its most highbrow. Also, dress well. You may be in there with MP’s, bankers, Professors or royals. Stranger things have happened.
American Expat in London 