2006 Classic Film Festival
Another autumn, another Classic Film Festival! This was the 8th year that we have organised this festival and it continues to go from strength to strength. Here’s this year’s line up.
Rosemary’s Baby The work of a young Polanski based on the novel by Ira Levin. Once a psychological scarefest, time and changing mores have affected how this movie is read. Surprisingly there were a lot more laughs than I’d been expecting.
White Christmas This was the big surprise for me. I only had dim memories of this movie. I’m pretty sure I saw this on tv when I was young. This film was hugely enjoyable, lots of humour, dancing and songs I recognised though anachronistic in places and clearly of it’s time. The opening, set in 1944 war torn Europe, was quite poignant.
Hud Stark and dark and a young dynamic Paul Newman. What more could you ask for? How about Patricia Neal firing on all cylinders?
To Catch a Thief This was the worst print of the four shown. We suspect it was from the original release back in 1955 and you could really see the wear and tear of a long and busy life. All the usual Hitchcock elements were here and we went along for a great ride. The age difference between Grant and Kelly was a little disturbing. Sadly, movie makers are still casting older men in romantic relationships with young women. Clearly the actress playing Kelly’s mum would have made a more appropriate relationship for Mr. Grant.
Current temperature 27F/-3C
November 2nd, 2006 at 4:09 pm
I’ve always been fond of White Christmas, but I have a great memory of watching it with Mother when she was in the middle stages of her dementia.
She probably saw it when it first came out in 1944, but it was completely fresh to her because of her memory loss. She really enjoyed it, particularly the male rendition of ‘Sisters’
When it finished, she said, “I think that will do very well.” Her film critic faculties were obviously still working!