Change Your Image
peter-2689
Reviews
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Truly Phenomenal Film
I read the abridged version of " Seven Pillars of Wisdom " by T E Lawrence at school in the 1950's and regardless of any historical , political or military inaccuracies this film is a phenomenal interpretation . Superb actors , dialogue , musical score and plot but the main star just has to be the panoramic images captured with skilful camera work and of course made long before CGI .
As an aside in the 1960's I took the opportunity to visit Lawrence's cottage near Bovington and remember it as being quite small , spartan and the key feature in what must have been his main room a huge leather day bed on which he would recline .
English Harvest (1938)
Rare Pre WW2 British Colour Film Skilfully Crafted
First came across this rare pre WW2 UK colour documentary a couple of years ago . The background music , The Pastoral Symphony by Beethoven , is a perfect choice . The commentary contains some fine dialogue including " Ploughing .The King of jobs . The most charming disguise that work can wear ".
Made in a time long past and now nearly lost .
Every year I see ploughing taking place in the fields all around where I live but no longer at the leisurely pace captured in the film .
Thunder Birds: Soldiers of the Air (1942)
RAF Crew Involvement in Film
My wife's uncle , George Wood ,was an RAF trainee Sergeant Pilot at the Base when this film was made . The film as part of its propaganda purpose made use of his , and other courses , and he appears full head and shoulders in a scanned shot of a parade . He looks like a young boy . He completed his training and went on to fly Wellington Bombers , regrettably he was shot down over Holland in 1943 . We knew he had appeared in a film but were not sure of the title and by chance came across a Cinema Poster for Thunder Birds on the Internet and this showed RAF personnel marching past aircraft . We had a black and white photograph of him standing by similar aircraft and thus established a possible link . We were subsequently able to obtain a copy of the film . The aerial shots are astounding and do seem ahead of their time .
Target for To-night (1941)
F For Freddie Crew and Film Style
This film I believe the was one of the first in a series made during the Second World war using only serving forces personnel and not actors . The crew of F for Freddie were skippered by Squadron Leader Pickard . I think one of the subtle messages that comes across is the informal method of command within the crew for they all knew that their lives depended upon the skills and performance of each other . The crew captain's role was to ensure they worked as a team and this film demonstrates aspect this well . It indeed would be interesting to know if any of the crew survived the war . Regrettably I do know that Group Captain Pickard , as he became , was killed in action about four years after the film was made . His last operation was the bombing of the Amiens Jail to release imprisoned French Resistance Fighters . The raid involved precision bombing by Mosquitoe Bombers to create breaches in the perimeter walls and demolish German Guard buildings . The raid was a success and over 100 Resistance Fighters escaped . Group Captain Pickard was killed during the return journey to England .