Coming attraction: Scott Walker, 'The Drift' LP & '30 Century Man'

So finally after 11 years the new Scott Walker album is out next Monday, 8th May. Three albums in 22 years ('Climate of Hunter' 1984, 'Tilt' 1995), I personally can't wait.

I revisited 'Tilt' today. I found it totally inaccesible when I bought the record in 1995 the week it came out. Today, it fell into place a little more, perhaps in anticipation for 'The Drift', after all on release in 1969 'Scott 4' disappeared and was quickly deleted because it was also inaccessible to the majority of fans.

Scott discusses in 2 British magazine interviews The Wire, May 2006 issue (p24-29) and Mojo, June (p44-p48) 2006 'The Drift' along with his creative processes making the album, the music he likes and his cinematic influences which as we all know have been there from the 60's 'Scott 4' with 'The Seventh Seal' and even on 'Tilt' the first track; 'Farmer in the City' (Remembering Pasonlini).

Ian Harrison: Do you want to punish or confuse listeners?
Scott Walker: "....I've been watching movies and seeing art for years, things that I really like but I don't know what they are...."

Ian Harrison: Did a moment in your youth send you this way?
Scott Walker: "I remember as a kid watching daytime TV, and seeing things like [Jean Cocteau's 1946 film] La Belle Et La Bete and The Rocking Horse Winner, a British film. The chiaroscuro aspect of the European movies clicked with my child's mind and stayed with me, much more than American films unless they were film noir. Later, when I used to go down to the cinema on Hollywood Boulevard after school, I saw and Ingmar Bergman film, The Virgin Spring, in a triple bill of horror movies. It totally changed my life. I started to go to the art houses on Wilshire Boulevard and saw everything - Fellini, Visconti, Bresson, more Bergman. That's what made me want to come Europe, to be closer to the film and the culture.

Ian Harrison: But if it all goes belly up...is it back to the darkened cinema?
Scott Walker: I'm not such a big film fan these days, 'cos there's such shocking garbage around. But I did see Hidden [Michael Haneke's 2005 film], which was wonderful, and The New World[Terrence Malick's film from the same year], I liked that. I'd love to have made a film. That's my only big regret. I'm fearless about producing, so I'd have no fear about directing. I don't think I'll do it, but it would have been nice. You can't do everything.

Later this year we have '30 Century Man' a documentary about Scott to look forward to.

Some links:

The main 4AD page, link.
The microsite for 'The Drift', lyrics etc, link.
'30 Century Man' at IMDB, link.

I'm also grateful to Stephen Cooke of 'If Charlie Parker was a Gunslinger...' for pointing out the Scott Walker clips on You Tube:

The Culture Show, link.
'Rosary' from 'Tilt' on Later with Jools Holland, link.
'Track 3' from 'Climate of Hunter' on The Tube, link.

Stars of stage and screen # 13: Kay Hammond

Reverse reads: A series of 48, no 32

Kay Hammond is the daughter of Sir Guy Standing, well known on the London stage and the American screen. She was born in 1909, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and made her debut in "Tilly of Bloomsbury." Her appearances include "77 Park Lane" and "Nine Till Six," and she played with Gertrude Lawrence in "Can the Leopard....?" Her screen career started in 1931 with "Carnival," followed by "A Night Like This" and "Out of the Blue."
Park Drive Cigarettes, Gallaher Ltd. Virgina House, London and Belfast.

Kay Hammond entry on IMDB, link.
Wikipedia, link.
Cinemorgue, link.

From the archive: Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren 'Goodness Gracious Me' / 'Grandpa's Grave'

Sadly no picture sleeve but I thought I'd post as it is film related.

Coming attraction: More Rivette

The Jaques Rivette season continues at NFT in May, link.

Stars of stage and screen # 12: George Robey

Front reads: George Robey in the Gainsborough picture Chu Chin Chow
Reverse reads: A series of 48, no 30

Britain's "Prime Minister of Mirth" has appeared at every music hall of note in the kingdom. George Robey is still exuberantly active in his sixties. He was awarded the C.B.E. after the War for the highly succesful charity performances he organised, and later toured with his own revue company in this country and in Canada. He appeared in "Helen!" in 1932, and recently in the films "Don Quixote" and the new version of "Chu Chin Chow".
Park Drive Cigarettes, Gallaher Ltd. Virginia House. London and Belfast.

George Robey Wikipedia entry, link.
IMDB entry, link.
The magic of pantomine - Itsbehindyou.com on Robey, link.
Another site, link.

Wing Shya Exhibition

Wing Shya started working with Wong Ka Wai on 'Happy Together' which ends beautifully at Igassu Falls.

The Photografic World of Wing Shya, Mori Arts Center Gallery, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, Japan, link.
My thanks to Paul Richardson for bringing me back these flyers from his last trip to Tokyo.

Alida Valli

I'd missed this but yesterday it was announced that Alida Valli had passed away. Perhaps one of my favourite scenes ever is in 'The Third Man' when she comments to Jospeh Cotton that the cat only loved Harry and the camera follows the cat out of the window into the street where it nestles on a nicely shined pair of shoes, a light comes on...

Reuters news, link.
Alida Valli on IMDB, link.
Campaspe's personal post on Alida Valli: 'Alida and Me', link.

Meanwhile...

Monty & Liz, circa 1952.

Meanwhile over at Agence eureka, Pila is posting some superb covers from French film magazine Cinemonde, well worth a click, link.

Dandy # 1: George Sanders as Addison De Witt

George Sanders as Theatre Critic Addison De Witt in 'All About Eve', 1950.

IMDB entry for 'All About Eve', link.

A new series: Dandies

According to my edition of the Oxford English Dictionary a Dandy is both a noun and an adjective and is described as such; " a man unduly devoted to style, smartness, and fashion in dress and appearance."

Municipal encyclopedia Wikipedia adds "refined language", "cultivation of leisurely hobbies" and that "Some dandies, especially in Britian in the late 18th and 19th century, often strove to affect aristocratic values even though many came from common backgrounds - thus a dandy could be considered a kind of snob."

Whilst recently flicking through two books from the late 1960's by Ian and Elisabeth Cameron 'The Heavies' and 'Broads' (the covers of both are posted below) I thought that 'The Dandies' would make an interesting theme for a series partly because I haven't decided how I can use these two books on this blog, yet. Further in the history of the cinema, there are those, who it occured to me could be classed as 'Dandies' and that, for me it would be an interesting series to try out.

Wikipedia entry for Dandy, link.

'The Heavies' by Ian and Elisabeth Cameron. Movie Paperbacks series published by Studio Vista, 1967.

'Broads' by Ian and Elisabeth Cameron. Movie Paperbacks series, published by Studio Vista, 1969.

Gene Tierney

Real location # 1 - Frenzy

I thought I'd try this for a series. I am not sure how far this will develop and it could be quite difficult to produce more than a handful of these posts. It is partly because I read an article in The Times about film location tourism spurned on by the forthcoming film of 'The Da Vinci Code' and the Harry Potter films and partly because it couples my interest in films with my interest in architecture.

Last Friday I walked up from NFT to Holborn Tube via the East side of Covent Garden, I walked right past the Nell of Old Drury and snapped the below picture. Years ago when I had first seen 'Frenzy' I had spotted two pubs featuring in what in the early 1970's was still the fruit and vegetable market of Covent Garden. The two pubs; The Globe and the Nell of Old Drury are both still there and to me at least, look as they did in 1971 or 1972 whenever Hitchcock filmed 'Frenzy'.

Links:

You can forget the Da Vinci tour, Britian is one giant film location. Article from The Times, link.
Frenzy on IMDB, link.
Nell of Old Drury, the official website, link.
A review of The Globe, also featured in 'Frenzy', link.

Nell of Old Drury as it is in 2006.

Jon Finch plays Richard Ian Blaney in 'Frenzy'. He approaches the Nell of Old Drury, Catherine Street, Covent Garden.

Stars of stage and screen # 11: Benita Hume

Reverse reads:

A series of 48, no 26

Benita Hume was born in 1906 and studied for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before making her debutat the age of 17 at Drury Lane. She is well known on stage and screen on both sides of the Atlantic, having toured Canada in her big success, "Symphony in Two Flats", which had long runs in both London and New York. Recently filming in England, she played in "The Private Life of Henry VIII," "Don Juan," and "Jew Suss."
Park Drive Cigarettes, Gallaher Ltd. Virginia House. London and Belfast.

IMDB entry for Benita Hume, link.
Benita, it seems later than the above was published (I estimate 1934) was married to Ronald Colman. Picture of them together, link.

Angie Dickinson

The post, by Tom Sutpen of If Charlie Parker was a Gunslinger... that started it all, link.
Flickhead and Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule for more on Angie Dickinson today.

Dream Double Bill # 13 'Dressed to Kill' and 'Sisters'

This double bill is part of the Angie Dickinson blog-a-thon taking place today.

The observant amongst you will quickly realise that this isn’t an Angie Dickinson double bill but a Brian DePalma double bill. This wasn’t my intention, but looking out for Angie Dickinson films for today, the first of which I watched was ‘Dressed to Kill’ which I hadn’t seen. Shortly after there was a double bill of 'Carrie' and 'Sisters', the later I hadn’t seen.

It seemed to me that two of the key elements used by DePalma in ‘Sisters’ are also used again later in ‘Dressed to Kill’, namely the split screen and the more than passing influence of Hitchcock and that they’d work well as a double bill.

Some links:

The Making of 'Dressed to Kill', including some insight from Angie Dickinson herself, I like the quote "Let them think it's Tahiti, even it is Burbank" on the shower scene, link.

An interview with Brian DePalma from Filmaker's Newsletter, September 1973 , just after 'Sisters' was released, link.

Directed by Brian DePalma site, review of 'Dressed to Kill', link.

Dressed to Kill.

The museum scene, a nod to 'Vertigo'? Angie Dickinson as Kate Miller.

Michael Caine as Doctor Robert [Elliott] and Nancy Allen as Liz Blake.

Sisters.

Jennifer Salt as Grace Collier and Margot Kidder as Danielle Breton.

The final scene, a nod to ‘Rope’? The body is in the sofa bed.

Mizoguchi season at NFT

I think this programme is from the mid 1960's, although I'm not certain of this.

Camera Studies # 9: Jose Dalmaine

Reverse reads: In Firth Shephard's new muical comedy, "Running Riot" at the Prince's Theatre, London.

Stars of stage and screen # 10: Jeanne Stuart

Reverse reads:

A series of 48, no 15

Jeanne Stuart, born in 1908, made her debut on the New York Stage in "Nine Till Six." In London she scored a big success in John Van Druten's play "After All" followed by "It's a Girl" and "Roadhouse." Her film career started in 1931 with "Mischief" and her later films are "Leap Year" and "The Great Defender," which is Matheson Lang's new production. This famous actor's portrait is No.27 in this series, and Margaret Bannerman, also appearing in his new film is No. 38.
Park Drive Cigarettes, Gallaher Ltd. Virginia House. London and Belfast.

Jeanne Stuart seemed to have led a very interesting life insofar as she had a three year relationship with James Stewart and afterwards married into the Rothschild family. There seem to be very few images on the internet of Jeanne, I could find only one.

Links:

Wikipedia entry for Jeanne Stuart, link.
IMDB entry, link.
Obituary from The Sydney Morning Herald, reproduced from The Daily Telegraph, London link.

Dream Double Bill # 12 'King of Kings' and 'The Gospel According to St. Matthew'

This week's double bill is timed to coincide with Easter Sunday. In my opinion two of the greatest films about Jesus; ‘King of Kings’ (1961) directed by Nicholas Ray and ‘The Gospel According to St. Matthew’ / ‘Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo’ (1964) directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.

According to Nicholas Ray’s biography; ‘An American Journey’ by Bernard Eisenshitz ‘King of Kings’ was originally to be titled ‘Son of Man’, and how they registered the title with the MPAA as Cecil B DeMille had not registered the title in the 1920’s when he made ‘The King of Kings’.
For me ‘King of Kings’ is a great epic and everything an epic should be. I enjoyed the voice over by Orson Welles (written by Ray Bradbury), the music and of course the imagery, particularly the scene where the crucifix is raised and the camera follows.

King of Kings.

The crucifixion.

The resurrection.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo)

The crucifixion.

The resurrection.

Jacques Rivette : A Cinema of Paradox

From last Thursday until 31st May the National Film Theatre has a Jacques Rivette retrospective, official link. The season kicked off with a new print of 'Paris nous appartient' (Paris belongs to us) from which this still is taken.

IMDB entry for Jacques Rivette.
Senses of Cinema article.

Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney.

Stars of stage and screen # 9 : Enid Stamp-Taylor

Reverse reads:

A series of 48, no 13

Upon leaving school Enid Stamp-Taylor won a beauty competition and appeared in Andre Charlot's revenue. After only three months she was playing prominent parts in musical comedy and revue. Her stage successes include "Madame Pompadour", "R.S.V.P." and "Gay Love" (in the film version of which she is now playing). She has been filming for some years, and her other pictures include "Money on the Air" and "Virginia's Husband."
Park Drive Cigarettes, Gallaher Ltd. Virginia House. London and Belfast.

Enid Stamp-Taylor IMDB entry, link.

She worked with Alfred Hitchcock in 1927 for 'Easy Virtue' aside from 'The Wicked Lady' and 'The Lambeth Walk' the other films listed on IMDB are all new to me. This card dates this series at 1934 or thereabouts, the year "Gay Love" was released.

From the archive: Nico I'm Not Sayin' / The Last Mile

Originally released on Immediate Records in 1965 # IM003.

Ladies They Talk About

Ava Gardner : The Last Goddess

Ava Gardner season at NFT, South Bank, link.

James Coburn

This months Sight and Sound magazine profiles actor James Coburn.

Stars of stage and screen # 8 : Owen Nares

Reverse reads:

A series of 48, no 12

Born in 1888, Owen Nares has had an almost continuous West End stage career since 1908. His chief successes were in "The Calendar", "Cynara", "Pleasure Cruise" and "Sixteen" one of the most succesful plays of 1934. He made his film debut in 1934 with "Loose Ends", with Adrianne Allen, whose portrait is No. 44 in this series. He has since appeared in several British films, including "The Middle Watch", "Sunshine Susie" and "One Precious Year".
Park Drive Cigarettes, Gallaher Ltd. Virginia House. London and Belfast.

Owen Nares, IMDB link.
Photograph of Owen Nares by Bassano at National Portrait Gallery.

Coming attraction: I am a Sex Addict

I guess this is what you'd call a viral or word of mouth marketing campaign for this independent film 'I am a Sex Addict' written, directed, co-produced and starring in an autobiographical role Caveh Zahedi. The film opened on April 5th in San Francisco and will be in New York on April 12th. No word yet on a European release date.

Actually the film, looks interesting as it's based on Zahedi's own experiences. Reading the notes from IFC Films who are releasing the film Zahedi went to Switzerland to try to work with Godard.

IMDB link.
Official site, trailer etc.
The director and stars video blog, link.

The distributor has three signed copies of the film poster to give away, but this promo is open only to North America. If you are interested please email me and I will pass your information on for them to send you the poster.

From the archive : Tom Courtney sings Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter and other songs from the ATV production 'The Lads'

Trevor Peacock link on IMDB.
The TV show 'The Lads' which I've never heard of, is not listed on Tom Courtenay's IMDB entry, link.
I did, once try to watch the film 'Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter' much to my suprise the Mrs. Brown of the title turned out to be a greyhound, quite suprising when I'd been looking at this EP sleeve from 1963. Link.