Lindsay Anderson’s third ‘Mick Travis’ movie is a crazy comedy eager to overstep lines of cinematic decorum. Britain in 1982 is a country at war with itself, torn by elitist snobbery and working-class revolt. Union grievances cripple the functioning of a major public hospital, on a day when the Queen is set to visit. A huge comic cast grapples with satire that reaches beyond cynicism to express total dysfunction. And the comedy has a wicked sting in its tail: Graham Crowden’s mad-as-a-hatter scientist has diverted National Health funds into grisly experiments with human body parts. The ‘visionary’ maniac spills more blood than Peter Cushing and Sam Peckinpah, put together.
Britannia Hospital
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1982 / Color / 1:85 widescreen/ 117 (111) min. / Street Date June 29, 2020 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Leonard Rossiter, Vivian Pickles, Graham Crowden, Jill Bennett,
Marsha A. Hunt, Joan Plowright, Malcolm McDowell, Mark Hamill.
Cinematography: Mike Fash...
Britannia Hospital
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1982 / Color / 1:85 widescreen/ 117 (111) min. / Street Date June 29, 2020 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Leonard Rossiter, Vivian Pickles, Graham Crowden, Jill Bennett,
Marsha A. Hunt, Joan Plowright, Malcolm McDowell, Mark Hamill.
Cinematography: Mike Fash...
- 7/7/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
From the director of the beloved Local Hero: ‘Pure Simple Joy’ is an apt way to describe this deceptively meek, completely endearing Scottish film with a universal theme about adolescence and the reality of teen love. John Hughes’ teen pix do not hold a candle to the innocent charm found here. The gawky yet boundlessly optimistic Gregory falls head over heels for the teenaged wonder girl of his dreams… his only problem is that she’s light years ahead of him in terms of maturity. But the female social system takes on the problem in what must be the most gentle (make that Utopian) view of high school ever. Writer-director Bill Forsythe struck independent hit gold.
Gregory’s Girl
Blu-ray
Film Movement Classics
1980 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 91 min. / Street Date January 21, 2020 / 20.05
Starring: Gordon John Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, Jake D’Arcy, Clare Grogan, Robert Buchanan, Billy Greenlees, Alan Love.
Cinematography: Michael Coulter
Film Editor:...
Gregory’s Girl
Blu-ray
Film Movement Classics
1980 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 91 min. / Street Date January 21, 2020 / 20.05
Starring: Gordon John Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, Jake D’Arcy, Clare Grogan, Robert Buchanan, Billy Greenlees, Alan Love.
Cinematography: Michael Coulter
Film Editor:...
- 1/21/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
You never heard of the Great Glasgow Ice Cream Wars? They weren’t exactly Armageddon, and the gentle director Bill Forsyth makes a radio personality’s involvement with two competing ice cream companies more of a plunge into amiable drollery. If you like Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero you’ll understand the odd, unhurried attitude of this oddball show from 1984.
Comfort and Joy
Region B Blu-ray
Studiocanal
1984 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 100 min. / Street Date February 29, 2016 / At Amazon UK / £ 9.99
Starring: Bill Patterson, C.P. Grogan, Eleanor David, Alex Norton, Patrick Malahide.
Cinematography: Chris Menges
Film Editor: Michael Ellis
Original Music: Mark Knopfler
Produced by Davina Belling, Clive Parsons
Written and Directed by Bill Forsyth
Quick, name some great filmmakers before the 1990s that hail from Scotland. Actually, there are plenty, it’s just that most made their careers and reputations in London, and some later in Hollywood. The home-grown talent Bill Forsyth...
Comfort and Joy
Region B Blu-ray
Studiocanal
1984 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 100 min. / Street Date February 29, 2016 / At Amazon UK / £ 9.99
Starring: Bill Patterson, C.P. Grogan, Eleanor David, Alex Norton, Patrick Malahide.
Cinematography: Chris Menges
Film Editor: Michael Ellis
Original Music: Mark Knopfler
Produced by Davina Belling, Clive Parsons
Written and Directed by Bill Forsyth
Quick, name some great filmmakers before the 1990s that hail from Scotland. Actually, there are plenty, it’s just that most made their careers and reputations in London, and some later in Hollywood. The home-grown talent Bill Forsyth...
- 6/23/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The director-centric 1970s were a time for pushing the boundaries of 'acceptable' film content, but John Byrum's witty and profane period piece about a Hollywood porn director was a step too far. Richard Dreyfuss leads a cast of utterly fearless actors in a witty and intelligent dissection of movieland decadence. Inserts Region A Blu-ray Twilight Time 1975 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 115 min. / Street Date June 14, 2016 / (Nc-17) / Available from Twilight Time Movies Store29.95 Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Jessica Harper, Veronica Cartwright, Bob Hoskins, Stephen Davies. Cinematography Denys N. Coop Art Direction John Clark Costumes Shirley Russell Produced by Davina Belling, Clive Parsons Written and Directed by John Byrum
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
At least in Los Angeles, the theatrical showings of John Byrum's remarkable Inserts came and went (cough) so fast that nobody had time to be outraged. The reviews made it sound like sordid trash that could only attract men in plastic raincoats.
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
At least in Los Angeles, the theatrical showings of John Byrum's remarkable Inserts came and went (cough) so fast that nobody had time to be outraged. The reviews made it sound like sordid trash that could only attract men in plastic raincoats.
- 7/8/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It turned unknown punk singer Hazel O'Connor into a household name, but that wasn't the only way the 1980 movie mirrored events in the star's own life
Hazel O'Connor, singer/actor
I was a struggling singer-songwriter who had signed to Albion Records for a pound. To make extra money, I also did shifts answering their phones. One day, a casting agency rang up asking if they could speak to someone about Hazel O'Connor. I said: "That's me."
Andy Czezowski, who ran the Roxy punk club in London, had suggested me for a role as an extra in Breaking Glass, a film about a struggling punk singer who makes it big and goes gaga. I'd been reading a book called Bring Out the Magic in Your Mind. So I daydreamed three things: a) at the auditions they go, "My God, she's amazing – let's give her the lead"; b) they ask me to...
Hazel O'Connor, singer/actor
I was a struggling singer-songwriter who had signed to Albion Records for a pound. To make extra money, I also did shifts answering their phones. One day, a casting agency rang up asking if they could speak to someone about Hazel O'Connor. I said: "That's me."
Andy Czezowski, who ran the Roxy punk club in London, had suggested me for a role as an extra in Breaking Glass, a film about a struggling punk singer who makes it big and goes gaga. I'd been reading a book called Bring Out the Magic in Your Mind. So I daydreamed three things: a) at the auditions they go, "My God, she's amazing – let's give her the lead"; b) they ask me to...
- 3/11/2014
- by Dave Simpson
- The Guardian - Film News
Award-winning movie producer Clive Parsons has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 66.
Parsons, who produced and developed 20 feature films with partner Davina Belling, passed away on 12 August in his native England.
His work on 1974 film Inserts, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Bob Hoskins, began a string of production credits including Britannia Hospital, Scum, Breaking Glass, A Business Affair, True Blue, I Am David and director Franco Zeffirelli's films Tea With Mussolini and Callas Forever.
Parsons also served as president at Kings Road Productions in the U.S. and later moved to Warner Bros, Europe as head of business affairs.
In 1971, Parsons and Belling formed Film and General Productions, continuing to pursue movie projects while also producing childrens' British TV series The Queen's Nose and The Giblet Boys, which won a BAFTA award for Best Children's Drama for 2005/2006.
Parsons, who produced and developed 20 feature films with partner Davina Belling, passed away on 12 August in his native England.
His work on 1974 film Inserts, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Bob Hoskins, began a string of production credits including Britannia Hospital, Scum, Breaking Glass, A Business Affair, True Blue, I Am David and director Franco Zeffirelli's films Tea With Mussolini and Callas Forever.
Parsons also served as president at Kings Road Productions in the U.S. and later moved to Warner Bros, Europe as head of business affairs.
In 1971, Parsons and Belling formed Film and General Productions, continuing to pursue movie projects while also producing childrens' British TV series The Queen's Nose and The Giblet Boys, which won a BAFTA award for Best Children's Drama for 2005/2006.
- 8/21/2009
- WENN
Artisan Entertainment and Walden Media have struck a deal to partner on the North American release of I Am David, an adventure story about a young boy's journey in post-World War II Europe written and directed by Paul Feig. Based on the novel North to Freedom by Anne Holm, David stars Joan Plowright, Jim Caviezel and newcomer Ben Tibber. It centers on a boy (Tibber) who escapes from captivity in postwar Bulgaria and his journey across Western Europe. Clive Parsons, Davina Belling and Lauren Levine produced the film. According to the announcement, Artisan and Walden will work together to introduce the film to families and teachers by hosting special screenings, community outreach events and supplemental materials. Artisan is eyeing a 2004 release.
- 10/21/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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