If you haven't seen it yet, you should check out 'In Bruges'. Ralph Fiennes plays a British gangster and he is terrifying. It's an underrrated film with great performances from Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, enjoy.
A Man for All Seasons is a beautiful film. It affected me deeply when I saw it in my early teens. The script is intelligent and human, the sets convincing and the acting just superb. I hope you enjoy it.
When I went to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London we were taken into the Chapel Royal of Saint Peter ad Vincula, where the remains of Anne Boleyn & Katherine Howard, etc, are kept. The Yeoman Warder asked if there were any Catholics amongst us. I wish I'd known what was going to happen next, as my Italian friend got taken downstairs to another room, to see the Relic of Sir Thomas More. I might not be Catholic, but he is a hugely important part of our history, so I would have liked the opportunity to be there. I remember seeing A Man For All Seasons many years ago, which brought to life what we'd been taught at school. Robert Shaw made an excellent Henry VIII too, long before his iconic role in Jaws.
@@shininglightphotos1044 My Catholic primary school had four teams named after British Catholic saints and I was in the St Thomas More team (the green team). So I already kind of associated myself with him when I saw the movie on TV some time in the 70s and found its portrayal of More extremely moving. It was interesting to see More from a different perspective in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, because he really doesn't come out of it looking that great.
I have done a lot of family history and I found that my 10x great-grandfather re-married to a widow who was the granddaughter of Sir Thomas More! So I'm related by marriage 😊
You were commenting on how long “Lawrence of Arabia” is. Back in the day this kind of long movie had an Intermission, in the same way that live theatre has intermissions. That’s how I saw it in the theatre…with a break about half way through the film. I think they also played the theme before starting the second half.
Seeing Ben Kingsley there means I have to tell my story of the time I, um, met the great man. I was at the Old Vic in London for the opening night of Patrick Stewart's one-man adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol'. Because it was opening night there were lots of people in Star Trek costume - they got a glare from Patrick - and there were celebrities the audience. At half time I squeezed myself up to the tiny bar downstairs and bought a glass of white wine. As I attempted to reverse out, I trod quite hard on someone's foot. I spun round to say sorry - and it turned out the foot belonged to none other than Stephen Fry! So mortified was I for standing on the esteemed foot of Mr Fry that I stumbled backwards and almost knocked the person behind me off his bar stool. Round I went again to apologise - to Ben Kingsley. I'd heard he had a bit of a temper so I braced myself for the worst, but he completely ignored me and went on talking to his companions. I managed to squeeze back in behind him and had a bit of an earwig, Turns out he was telling stories of all the times he'd been mistaken for Patrick Stewart! So even celebrities tell stories about celebrities, who knew? So there's my tale of the time I almost took out two of the UK's greatest talents.
"The esteemed foot of Mr Fry". Ha! I think it was Mr Fry who was esteemed. I don't think anyone pays much attention to his feet. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Thanks for taking the time to recount your experience.
King George VI - monarch of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the British Empire. (Not just England.) Btw, many British people sympathised greatly with George VI and the obvious ordeal public speaking and broadcasting were to him. They went through every moment with him until he had finished.
They also had a sense of disgust that his brother had caused such scandal and run off to France and appreciated that bertie (as he was typically known until then) had the crown forced on him without much warning. The Queen mother always blamed Edward for the early death as being king during the war made him a heavy smoker. This is likely to mean Charles will not abdicate I expect no matter how old he gets.
@@glynbayliss5470 He wrote the screenplay, I took it as read that "До́ктор Жива́го" was by Boris Pasternak and we were referring to the English language film from 1966. Sorry I was not clear on that point.
I had to study the stage play of Man For All Seasons at school for O level, it is much better than the film. Whenever you learn about the hidden underlying reasons for a certain line. It is the only play script I have ever read, but the meanings stay with me and I now know how to look at the inner meanings of other things I watch
If the King's Speech were about any random king it would not have had the impact of it being George VI given like Winston Churchill he saw Britain through the events of WW2, just as his father King George V did for WW1.
In the days when DVD drives were new on computers, a free copy of Lawrence Of Arabia came with one I purchased. I'd never seen a DVD before and I was reluctant to buy a DVD player for the television because I was happy with my VHS player. Lawrence Of Arabia changed all that!
@@bionicgeekgrrl "Treading the boards" actually refers to actors performing _on_ _stage_, so your use of the "and" was superfluous....just sayin' so please don't shoot the messenger!!!😢😏🥺❤🏴🤔🇬🇧🙂🖖
"Chariots of Fire" also features The late, lamented Brad Davis. "A Man for All Seasons" is the story of Sir Thomas More, I won't give you any spoiler alerts but to the Roman Catholic religion he is Saint Thomas More, there is a beautiful statue of him in Chelsea, London. I'm sure there are images online. Thanks for your lovely reaction and Love from London 🇬🇧
You absolutely have to watch A Man For All Seasons. The quality of acting in this movie is absolutely astonishing and I cannot think where it has been bettered. I envy you if you have not seen it before.
Please forgive me for this but in my (not so) humble opinion Paul Scofield was one of the greatest actors of all time. He was able to span the theatre and film effortlessly and is largely forgotten today. Laurence Olivier for example was an absolutely dreadful film actor yet I saw him on stage many a year ago and was mesmerized. And check out David Warner. who may possibly not have been in quite the same league as Scofield but nonetheless a very very fine actor indeed.
FYI King George IV had a stammer not a stutter both speech impediments but slightly different. A Stutterer has problems with specific letters such as "b"or "s"or "t' whereas a stammerer problems are not specific letter linked.
George 6th rather than 6th, but yes. The film was only given permission by the Queen mother to be made if she was dead when they made it, so it took a while to get made.
A Man for All Seasons, one of the best films I've ever seen, it's stayed with me through the years. Paul Schofield was an excellent actor, he was brilliant as Martin Chuzzlewit in the BBC's dramatization of the Charles Dickens novel ( you need to watch that too 😊)
We were talking in the pub, when the local know all said that they should have had an Indian guy play Gandhi, not Ben Kingsley. He didn't believe me when I said he changed his name from Krishna Bhanji.
My ex and I used to have "Double Bill Double-Take" evenings, where you watch two movies featuring the same actor in wildly different roles. "Gandhi" and "Sexy Beast" was one classic combination, as was Edward Norton in "American History X" and "Death to Smoochy".
So many classic British films; Im not a movie person, more a reader, but I have great memories of some of those 50s and 60s British movies, like Gunga Din and the Man who Would Be King (to name just a few)
A Man for All Seasons, Lawerence of Arabia & Cromwell are my favourite films, forget how many times I've seen them but for decades I keep watching & never get bored or emotional
Chase down some other Carol Reed films: Third Man, Fallen Idol. Have a look at the Archers' films too, since you have an interest in British Culture: Powell and Pressburger. Appreciate your approach to the subject.
Never watched The English Patient? What a joy you have in store. It is a brilliant film. A host a great actors and a majestic plot. The scenery is breath-taking and the story heart-breaking. You are so luckly.
I remember being taken to see Chariots of Fire by my Mum and Dad but it was a double bill with Gregory’s Girl…which is a lighthearted coming of age Scottish film, so I have absolutely no idea why they were paired together.
Gregory’s Girl a right of passage and the Head Teacher was Chic Murray. A fab Scots comedian. I met him in Glasgow Queen St Station. He in ill health and me returning home to Balloch after a days Highland Dancing competition. I had with my fellow dancers won several trophies and he made me feel so incredibly important and special. Ta Chic a moments kindness lasts a very long time.
@@mairiconnell6282 I’m glad you had such a lovely encounter with Chic Murray. My Mum was the shorthand typist in a solicitor’s that he used but she wasn’t very keen on him at all as apparently he was always very rude to her and had an air of superiority about him…but maybe he just hated dealing with solicitors or secretaries 😊 Of course Gregory’s Girl also features the wonderful Jake D’Arcy (Pete the Jakey from Still Game) as the PE teacher/football coach too. Anyhoo “off you go you small boys” 😊
Twelve Years a Slave is a great movie, but even better, is to read the book. It is not a large book, but it is beautifully written in a very modern prose that is unusual for the time, making it a very easy read. It fills out the story in ways that adds greater dimension to the story and characters, and to hear Solomon telling the story in his own words is super powerful.
Richard Attenborough told Steven Spielberg that ET was a better movie. They were both up for awards at a pre-Oscar bun fight and when Attenborough won best director he went over to Spielberg and said " You should have won this" before collecting the award. Speilberg said when Attenborough died "He was a dear friend and I am standing in an endless line of those who completely adored him.”
When I went to Thailand, one of my must-sees was the actual bridge on the River Kwai. The movie "The Railway Man" (Colin Firth) was filmed in that area also.
Chariots of Fire (and by extension, British cinema) was both celebrated and parodied during the opening of the 2012 London Olympics. This also showcased the British talent for self deprecating comedy. I know I'm biased, but it's still my favourite Olympics opening ceremony - how can you beat The Queen parachuting out of a helicopter with James Bond? Here is the Chariots of fire section, with Rowan Atkinson th-cam.com/video/CwzjlmBLfrQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=geAjKaiH6PJOFPub
Got to say, I went to see The English Patient at the cinema with the attitude of "go on, impress me". Towards the end I realised my mouth was agape and I'd forgotten to breathe. Incredible movie.
I hated anything 'Dickens' when I was at school. 'Oliver!' however, is now my favourite musical film of all time, (or maybe Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). 🤔
Ralph Fiennes is one of my favourite actors as well, I was lucky enough to see him on stage as Prospero. I wouldn’t say the best stage performance I’ve ever seen (that would be David Suchet in All My Sons) but very close and by far the best version of The Tempest that I’ve seen.
The English patient is a wonderful film the photography , acting of Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott are mesmerising , the music and scenery overwhelmingly beautiful and is a picture that stays with you.
I'd never heard of the film "A Man For All Seasons" before now, but I now understand the Simpsons reference, when Monty Burns creates his "A Burns For All Seasons" film!
I think what makes British films stand out is that they are made for a world audience whereas an awful lot, not all but a lot, of American films are made for a domestic audience.
Chariots of fire - the actor who played Eric Liddell realised when he mimicked Eric's running style that he couldn't actually see where he was running and they struggled to film the running scenes because he was all over the place!!! When someone asked Eric Liddell how he could see where he was running he said - 'I know where I am going' - he just trusted God with that!
I first saw Ralph Fiennes at The Barbican in London in the , they were doing a season of Shakespear plays, then saw him a few years later in another play with Glenn Close as his mother I think. THEN I saw him at The Body Shop in Stratford upon Avon 80's and was squealing so hard to my friend, who didn't know what I was squealing about. Then Schindler's List came out and she got it!! :)
A great list, I must admit I've never seen Lawrence of Arabia. I really have to watch it. I would recommend A Man For All Seasons. I bought Chariots of Fire on dvd, but haven't got round to watching that yet. Great reaction and wishing you well
I would recommend a man for all seasons. The story of Thomas More, wonderfully acted, and the visuals, the opening scene is one of my very favourites, the music is just perfect.
JJ - definitely watch the The English Patient. Ralph Fiennes is amazing and it is just a beautiful film. I love the role of the Naveen Andrews, who plays Kip, the Sikh sapper. Wonderful.
Have you seen “Sexy Beast?” Ray Winstone and Sir Ben Kingsley,about retired bank robbers and “one last job” BK plays a savage mentally unstable gangster. Or The Long Good Friday,or Dog Soldiers or Four Lions or…….you get the picture.
Holywood likes British actors because they tend to be very well trained and experienced because of the UK's theatre tradition and TV industry, but also because they are relatively cheap. They also make great villains.
Fun fact: A few years ago, someone brought a wristwatch belonging to T.E. Lawrence onto "Antiques Roadshow"(UK). Apparently he brought it to a jeweller to have it repaired, but for some reason never collected it.
I saw Chariots of Fire in the cinema aged 10/11 and it was in a double feature with Gregory's Girl (A Scottish Comedy). My dad and I preferred Gregory's Girl as I found Chariots of Fire boring. My mum preferred Chariots of Fire. My friends previous foster sister appeared as an extra in Gregory's Girl so that was fun trying to find her in her 90 second appearance.
I remember seeing Chariots of Fire and it was boring but in the U.K. they showed it as a double bill with Gregory’s Girl. That’s a fantastic Scottish comedy, one of my favourite films of all time.
Oliver was the musical that my school put on every year in the 1970s. When asked if we could do something different one year, we were always told that the rights to other musicals were more expensive. 🤔
I am talking about putting on a stage play. The current cost of a school licence to perform Oliver JR is £495, plus £100 per performance. @@PUNKinDRUBLIC72
@@corringhamdepot4434 holy sh*t! We used to do anything, there's no way my skool was paying for that. I suppose with parents filming and posting with phones now you'd definitely be caught!
I dunno what my favorite British film is. Maybe the full montey, i know it's cleche but its too good and soo English. The humour is on point and tugs at your heartsrings. Or maybe Billy Elliott ❤ were good at our comedy dramas
All of Stanley Kubricks films after he moved to England are all english films and not co british but entirely , as they have 1 english production company. 2001 a space odyssey Etc etc
I was at a funeral today and someone's phone went off with the Chariots of Fire music as the ringtone. It's a nice enough piece of music, but overplayed, I think.
Oh just this minute watched a summary of Mr Christie’s life it was chilling. The failures catastrophic. Poor Tim sent to the Gallows because of incompetence. I can’t support Capital Punishment ever.
Yes it was awful...l didn't know Richard Attenborough could be so scary! Have you seen A Taste of Honey? It was another world 50 years ago. People lived in one room flats with no heating....😱🥶
I read just yesterday (yes, belatedly) -& am not sure how true (...?) That Jasper Carrott (really funny 'Brummie' comedian) was behind the "Slumdog Millionaire" film...?😏❤🏴🙂🖖
It's a stretch to call Lawrence of Arabia a "white savior" thing given he is shown to be anything but a saint by the end, and for all his efforts he is shuffled off back home with a promotion while the freedom he helped them work for is frittered away by the politicians in a manner shown to be very underhanded by both his own British commanders and Prince Faisel. Lawrence was an idealist in a world of realists - in the beginning he understood that at least, but by the end he had clearly drunk his own koolaid and taken on so many lessons of the Bedouin life that he was as least as much one of them as he was a British officer, if not more. What's more is while some of the story was changed for dramatic license, it was still largely based on real events. On the other hand literary works based on it like Dune and A Song Of Ice And Fire almost certainly do play into that white savior trope.
How Ralph Fiennes has never won an Oscar amazes me - The English Patient? The White Countess? Quiz Show? In Bruges? Schindler's List??? The Constant Gardener???
'The English patient is one of my all time favourite films' Personally I'd put it a lot higher than 9th. Chariots of Fire is a good film and well worth watching, but when i watched it in the cinema as an 11yr old it was on a double bill with 'Gregory's Girl' which is a fantastic Scottish comedy and everyone came out of the cinema saying they'd enjoyed that more, despite Chariots of Fire having won multiple oscars. N.B. A bit disappointed Wallace & Grrommit weren't on the list - after all they're serial Oscar winners!😁 There are also a number of great films that are UK/US collaborations such as Star Wars. People think it's American and of course the writer/director, George Lucas was and it was a 20th century Fox production, but it was filmed in England at Elstree studios with a British crew and the actors were a mix of US and British.
My dad said every year that Nick Park / Aardman was the only truly deserving recipient of an Oscar and I generally agree! Also Dee Hepburn had better looking legs than anyone in Chariots of Fire
Not only Gregory’s Girl but Local Hero too (also directed by Bill Forsyth) if only for the Mark Knopfler soundtrack and Peter Capaldi looking about 12. It’s my favourite film of all time.
If you haven't seen it yet, you should check out 'In Bruges'. Ralph Fiennes plays a British gangster and he is terrifying. It's an underrrated film with great performances from Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, enjoy.
Couldn't agree with you more. Brilliant film
One of my favs
I watched 'In Bruges' and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up watching Ralph Fiennes performance.😮
Brendan Gleeson is one of the great actors of our time.
Ralph Fiennes is always Terrifying.
A Man for All Seasons is a beautiful film. It affected me deeply when I saw it in my early teens. The script is intelligent and human, the sets convincing and the acting just superb. I hope you enjoy it.
When I went to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London we were taken into the Chapel Royal of Saint Peter ad Vincula, where the remains of Anne Boleyn & Katherine Howard, etc, are kept. The Yeoman Warder asked if there were any Catholics amongst us. I wish I'd known what was going to happen next, as my Italian friend got taken downstairs to another room, to see the Relic of Sir Thomas More. I might not be Catholic, but he is a hugely important part of our history, so I would have liked the opportunity to be there. I remember seeing A Man For All Seasons many years ago, which brought to life what we'd been taught at school. Robert Shaw made an excellent Henry VIII too, long before his iconic role in Jaws.
@@shininglightphotos1044 My Catholic primary school had four teams named after British Catholic saints and I was in the St Thomas More team (the green team). So I already kind of associated myself with him when I saw the movie on TV some time in the 70s and found its portrayal of More extremely moving. It was interesting to see More from a different perspective in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, because he really doesn't come out of it looking that great.
I have done a lot of family history and I found that my 10x great-grandfather re-married to a widow who was the granddaughter of Sir Thomas More! So I'm related by marriage 😊
I highly recommend 'a man for all seasons.' its a truly great film about a pivotal time in English and British history
There's no song l'm aware of called Curious Yourself, but Oliver did include Consider Yourself...are they connected, l wonder?
That's the Mandela effect hard at work. 😁
You were commenting on how long “Lawrence of Arabia” is. Back in the day this kind of long movie had an Intermission, in the same way that live theatre has intermissions. That’s how I saw it in the theatre…with a break about half way through the film. I think they also played the theme before starting the second half.
Ah, little pots of vanilla ice cream and wooden spoons that were more frustrating than helpful!
I remember the intermissions. Ice cream! Boyfriend retrieving his dead arm from around my shoulders.
The mad rush to the loo. And that mad rush back before the lights dimmed again.
That was always the part that annoyed me.
Yeah, also good to have an intermission in Where Eagles Dare, that seemed to go on forever
@paidwitness797 the trick was to let it melt and then drink it, much easier.
Love your reactions, please do ramble more, you have a very soothing voice ☺️
Seeing Ben Kingsley there means I have to tell my story of the time I, um, met the great man.
I was at the Old Vic in London for the opening night of Patrick Stewart's one-man adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol'. Because it was opening night there were lots of people in Star Trek costume - they got a glare from Patrick - and there were celebrities the audience.
At half time I squeezed myself up to the tiny bar downstairs and bought a glass of white wine. As I attempted to reverse out, I trod quite hard on someone's foot. I spun round to say sorry - and it turned out the foot belonged to none other than Stephen Fry!
So mortified was I for standing on the esteemed foot of Mr Fry that I stumbled backwards and almost knocked the person behind me off his bar stool. Round I went again to apologise - to Ben Kingsley. I'd heard he had a bit of a temper so I braced myself for the worst, but he completely ignored me and went on talking to his companions.
I managed to squeeze back in behind him and had a bit of an earwig, Turns out he was telling stories of all the times he'd been mistaken for Patrick Stewart! So even celebrities tell stories about celebrities, who knew? So there's my tale of the time I almost took out two of the UK's greatest talents.
"The esteemed foot of Mr Fry". Ha! I think it was Mr Fry who was esteemed. I don't think anyone pays much attention to his feet. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Thanks for taking the time to recount your experience.
King George VI - monarch of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the British Empire. (Not just England.)
Btw, many British people sympathised greatly with George VI and the obvious ordeal public speaking and broadcasting were to him. They went through every moment with him until he had finished.
They also had a sense of disgust that his brother had caused such scandal and run off to France and appreciated that bertie (as he was typically known until then) had the crown forced on him without much warning.
The Queen mother always blamed Edward for the early death as being king during the war made him a heavy smoker. This is likely to mean Charles will not abdicate I expect no matter how old he gets.
I get so angry with every reference to be England! It happens in every comment from America.
Robert Bolt who wrote A Man for All Seasons
also wrote:
Lawrence of Arabia
and Doctor Zhivago
He did The Mission too
I think you meant Robert Bolt wrote the screen play, he certainly didnt write Dr Zhivago, that was Boris Pasternak
@@glynbayliss5470
He wrote the screenplay, I took it as read that "До́ктор Жива́го" was by Boris Pasternak and we were referring to the English language film from 1966.
Sorry I was not clear on that point.
I had to study the stage play of Man For All Seasons at school for O level, it is much better than the film. Whenever you learn about the hidden underlying reasons for a certain line. It is the only play script I have ever read, but the meanings stay with me and I now know how to look at the inner meanings of other things I watch
I remember doing this for O Level too and enjoying it although it's not stayed with me like it has you. Maybe I'll revisit it..
If the King's Speech were about any random king it would not have had the impact of it being George VI given like Winston Churchill he saw Britain through the events of WW2, just as his father King George V did for WW1.
In the days when DVD drives were new on computers, a free copy of Lawrence Of Arabia came with one I purchased. I'd never seen a DVD before and I was reluctant to buy a DVD player for the television because I was happy with my VHS player. Lawrence Of Arabia changed all that!
I bet it did!!!
Many of these films had as main actors who were already well-known stage actors. They knew how to act !
Some of the greatest actors to tread the boards and stage.
@@bionicgeekgrrl
"Treading the boards" actually refers to actors performing _on_ _stage_, so your use of the "and" was superfluous....just sayin' so please don't shoot the messenger!!!😢😏🥺❤🏴🤔🇬🇧🙂🖖
@@brigidsingleton1596 I'm aware, in this instance I meant stage as in the screen.
@@bionicgeekgrrl
I haven't heard of acting 'on screen' referred to that way....sorry then if I misspoke.
"Chariots of Fire" also features The late, lamented Brad Davis. "A Man for All Seasons" is the story of Sir Thomas More, I won't give you any spoiler alerts but to the Roman Catholic religion he is Saint Thomas More, there is a beautiful statue of him in Chelsea, London. I'm sure there are images online. Thanks for your lovely reaction and Love from London 🇬🇧
Here in Northern Kentucky, USA, there is a Thomas More University.
We love to hear you ramble 😅 love your voice.
You absolutely have to watch A Man For All Seasons. The quality of acting in this movie is absolutely astonishing and I cannot think where it has been bettered. I envy you if you have not seen it before.
Please forgive me for this but in my (not so) humble opinion Paul Scofield was one of the greatest actors of all time. He was able to span the theatre and film effortlessly and is largely forgotten today. Laurence Olivier for example was an absolutely dreadful film actor yet I saw him on stage many a year ago and was mesmerized. And check out David Warner. who may possibly not have been in quite the same league as Scofield but nonetheless a very very fine actor indeed.
FYI King George IV had a stammer not a stutter both speech impediments but slightly different. A Stutterer has problems with specific letters such as "b"or "s"or "t' whereas a stammerer problems are not specific letter linked.
George 6th rather than 6th, but yes. The film was only given permission by the Queen mother to be made if she was dead when they made it, so it took a while to get made.
George VI - the sixth,
(not IV - which is the fourth) 🏴🇬🇧🧡🖖
A Man for All Seasons, one of the best films I've ever seen, it's stayed with me through the years. Paul Schofield was an excellent actor, he was brilliant as Martin Chuzzlewit in the BBC's dramatization of the Charles Dickens novel ( you need to watch that too 😊)
When you watch "A Man For All Seasons", see if you can recognise the grizzled old fisherman Quint, from "Jaws".
It's almost impossible to believe that Gandhi and Don Logan are played by the same actor.
Do you know they wanted Marlon Brando to play Gandhi
Hahaha!...@@da90sReAlvloc
We were talking in the pub, when the local know all said that they should have had an Indian guy play Gandhi, not Ben Kingsley. He didn't believe me when I said he changed his name from Krishna Bhanji.
I did not know that.... Thanks buddy@@harry2.01
My ex and I used to have "Double Bill Double-Take" evenings, where you watch two movies featuring the same actor in wildly different roles. "Gandhi" and "Sexy Beast" was one classic combination, as was Edward Norton in "American History X" and "Death to Smoochy".
Going to see Ralph Fiennes playing McBeth in Edinburgh tomorrow. Can’t wait.
Any good? I'm guessing Ralph milked it for all it's worth🎭
@@burntcrumpets5616 chewed the scenery. What’s not to like!
So many classic British films; Im not a movie person, more a reader, but I have great memories of some of those 50s and 60s British movies, like Gunga Din and the Man who Would Be King (to name just a few)
Oh the Man Who Would Be King. Wonderful, Connery and Caine at their best.
"Chariots of Fire" is a phrase from the hymn "Jerusalem", one of England's unofficial anthems.
It's really from the original poem by William Blake. Parry just put it to a tune.
You can't beat British actors ❤❤
A Man for All Seasons, Lawerence of Arabia & Cromwell are my favourite films, forget how many times I've seen them but for decades I keep watching & never get bored or emotional
Chase down some other Carol Reed films: Third Man, Fallen Idol.
Have a look at the Archers' films too, since you have an interest in British Culture: Powell and Pressburger.
Appreciate your approach to the subject.
Yes! I was going to suggest "A Matter of Life and Death"
Never watched The English Patient? What a joy you have in store. It is a brilliant film. A host a great actors and a majestic plot. The scenery is breath-taking and the story heart-breaking.
You are so luckly.
Agreed. I've watched it a few times over the years and it never fails to break my heart.
I remember being taken to see Chariots of Fire by my Mum and Dad but it was a double bill with Gregory’s Girl…which is a lighthearted coming of age Scottish film, so I have absolutely no idea why they were paired together.
Sport: Athletics/Football...:)
@@Isleofskye a very tenuous link but you are right. Though I do feel that the films themselves were made with very different demographics in mind.
@@lynnejamieson2063 Yes,indeed,Lynne..
Gregory’s Girl a right of passage and the Head Teacher was Chic Murray. A fab Scots comedian. I met him in Glasgow Queen St Station. He in ill health and me returning home to Balloch after a days Highland Dancing competition. I had with my fellow dancers won several trophies and he made me feel so incredibly important and special. Ta Chic a moments kindness lasts a very long time.
@@mairiconnell6282 I’m glad you had such a lovely encounter with Chic Murray. My Mum was the shorthand typist in a solicitor’s that he used but she wasn’t very keen on him at all as apparently he was always very rude to her and had an air of superiority about him…but maybe he just hated dealing with solicitors or secretaries 😊
Of course Gregory’s Girl also features the wonderful Jake D’Arcy (Pete the Jakey from Still Game) as the PE teacher/football coach too.
Anyhoo “off you go you small boys” 😊
Twelve Years a Slave is a great movie, but even better, is to read the book. It is not a large book, but it is beautifully written in a very modern prose that is unusual for the time, making it a very easy read. It fills out the story in ways that adds greater dimension to the story and characters, and to hear Solomon telling the story in his own words is super powerful.
Watch Sir Ben Kingsley in Gandhi, then as Don Logan in Sexy Beast. 😁
"Watch Sir Ben Kingsley in Gandhi, then as Don Logan"
No, no no, no no! No, no, no, no, no! (Etc) ;-)
Wonderful actor....
@@marvinc9994”Yes Marvin, yes, yes, yes, yes”
Richard Attenborough told Steven Spielberg that ET was a better movie. They were both up for awards at a pre-Oscar bun fight and when Attenborough won best director he went over to Spielberg and said " You should have won this" before collecting the award. Speilberg said when Attenborough died "He was a dear friend and I am standing in an endless line of those who completely adored him.”
When I went to Thailand, one of my must-sees was the actual bridge on the River Kwai. The movie "The Railway Man" (Colin Firth) was filmed in that area also.
''TOM JONES'' great book, great film great acting ,and everything. I still laugh at it today.
Chariots of Fire (and by extension, British cinema) was both celebrated and parodied during the opening of the 2012 London Olympics.
This also showcased the British talent for self deprecating comedy.
I know I'm biased, but it's still my favourite Olympics opening ceremony - how can you beat The Queen parachuting out of a helicopter with James Bond?
Here is the Chariots of fire section, with Rowan Atkinson
th-cam.com/video/CwzjlmBLfrQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=geAjKaiH6PJOFPub
Film Trivia both Ben Kingsley and Charles Laughton come from a small fishing town in Yorkshire on the North Sea coast.
For me the Chariots of Fire theme
was "best" done at the London Olympics
th-cam.com/video/CwzjlmBLfrQ/w-d-xo.html
A true joy!
The English Patient is my favourite serious film.
The Were Rabbit is my favourite ever British film
Got to say, I went to see The English Patient at the cinema with the attitude of "go on, impress me". Towards the end I realised my mouth was agape and I'd forgotten to breathe. Incredible movie.
I hated anything 'Dickens' when I was at school. 'Oliver!' however, is now my favourite musical film of all time, (or maybe Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). 🤔
How can you hate "A Christmas carol" :D
Ralph Fiennes is one of my favourite actors as well, I was lucky enough to see him on stage as Prospero. I wouldn’t say the best stage performance I’ve ever seen (that would be David Suchet in All My Sons) but very close and by far the best version of The Tempest that I’ve seen.
And Fiennes is brilliant in The English Patient. I found that film very moving.
Not sure about the white saviour bit tbh, read Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Lawrence makes his disgust pretty clear
The English patient is a wonderful film the photography , acting of Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott are mesmerising , the music and scenery overwhelmingly beautiful and is a picture that stays with you.
I'd never heard of the film "A Man For All Seasons" before now, but I now understand the Simpsons reference, when Monty Burns creates his "A Burns For All Seasons" film!
Dude ,try Kes .a film about a young kid who gets a kestral ..its brilliant. A true British storey.
I think what makes British films stand out is that they are made for a world audience whereas an awful lot, not all but a lot, of American films are made for a domestic audience.
Chariots of fire - the actor who played Eric Liddell realised when he mimicked Eric's running style that he couldn't actually see where he was running and they struggled to film the running scenes because he was all over the place!!! When someone asked Eric Liddell how he could see where he was running he said - 'I know where I am going' - he just trusted God with that!
Most of these wonderful films also have stunning title music too. The music for 'A man for all seasons is fabulous.
A Man for All Seasons is really good
Sexy beast, Local hero, Kes, In Bruge, Goodbye Mr Chips, The Elephant man etc...
A Man for all Seasons is a brilliant film.
I first saw Ralph Fiennes at The Barbican in London in the , they were doing a season of Shakespear plays, then saw him a few years later in another play with Glenn Close as his mother I think. THEN I saw him at The Body Shop in Stratford upon Avon 80's and was squealing so hard to my friend, who didn't know what I was squealing about. Then Schindler's List came out and she got it!! :)
A great list, I must admit I've never seen Lawrence of Arabia. I really have to watch it. I would recommend A Man For All Seasons. I bought Chariots of Fire on dvd, but haven't got round to watching that yet. Great reaction and wishing you well
I would recommend a man for all seasons.
The story of Thomas More, wonderfully acted, and the visuals, the opening scene is one of my very favourites, the music is just perfect.
JJ - definitely watch the The English Patient. Ralph Fiennes is amazing and it is just a beautiful film. I love the role of the Naveen Andrews, who plays Kip, the Sikh sapper. Wonderful.
Have you seen “Sexy Beast?”
Ray Winstone and Sir Ben Kingsley,about retired bank robbers and “one last job”
BK plays a savage mentally unstable gangster.
Or The Long Good Friday,or Dog Soldiers or Four Lions or…….you get the picture.
Absolutely loved Tootsie, great movie. I'd forgotten all about it!
If so great then why forgotten. Not a jibe.Perhaps like me too many to remember.
@@mairiconnell6282 not enough bandwidth!! Lots of water under the bridge. Whatever.
Local Hero with Burt Lancaster, if you're looking for recommendations...
Any and all Bill Forsyth films should be compulsory viewing for everyone. The world would be a much better place with that one small adjustment.
My favourite film of all time, especially as Peter Capaldi looks about 12.
Holywood likes British actors because they tend to be very well trained and experienced because of the UK's theatre tradition and TV industry, but also because they are relatively cheap. They also make great villains.
Fun fact: A few years ago, someone brought a wristwatch belonging to T.E. Lawrence onto "Antiques Roadshow"(UK). Apparently he brought it to a jeweller to have it repaired, but for some reason never collected it.
Might sadly have not been able to as he died rather unexpectedly avoiding two children on his motorbike.
A very early Omega model, quite a story behind it, apparently it went for £9000 at auction.
Might I recommend: "The Man Who Would Be King". It's the film that either, and both, Michael Kaine and Sean Connery ever made.
Edit* Michael Caine ...🙂🏴❤️🇬🇧🖖
I saw Chariots of Fire in the cinema aged 10/11 and it was in a double feature with Gregory's Girl (A Scottish Comedy). My dad and I preferred Gregory's Girl as I found Chariots of Fire boring. My mum preferred Chariots of Fire. My friends previous foster sister appeared as an extra in Gregory's Girl so that was fun trying to find her in her 90 second appearance.
I wasn't afan of The English Patient personally story-wise but the direction. quality and the acting was phenomenal.
I remember seeing Chariots of Fire and it was boring but in the U.K. they showed it as a double bill with Gregory’s Girl. That’s a fantastic Scottish comedy, one of my favourite films of all time.
The King's Peach was epic! Three great actors, but not one peach. Weird.
Maybe no peach but certainly plummy voices...?!!😊🏴❤️🇬🇧🖖
Oliver was the musical that my school put on every year in the 1970s. When asked if we could do something different one year, we were always told that the rights to other musicals were more expensive. 🤔
You can do anything live,you only get in trouble if you record it.🏴
I am talking about putting on a stage play. The current cost of a school licence to perform Oliver JR is £495, plus £100 per performance. @@PUNKinDRUBLIC72
@@corringhamdepot4434 holy sh*t! We used to do anything, there's no way my skool was paying for that. I suppose with parents filming and posting with phones now you'd definitely be caught!
I think that if the school are selling tickets than they will want to be "legal".
@@PUNKinDRUBLIC72
@@PUNKinDRUBLIC72that made me chuckle 🤭 yer we use to do anything as well… all this tech now tho I suppose
I dunno what my favorite British film is. Maybe the full montey, i know it's cleche but its too good and soo English. The humour is on point and tugs at your heartsrings. Or maybe Billy Elliott ❤ were good at our comedy dramas
looking for some hot stuuuuuuff...🤣
In a similar vein, Brassed Off. If only for the chippy being called In Cod We Trust which makes my partner laugh every time he remembers it.
@@katashworth41 IN COD I FECKEN TRUST 👏👏 👍😊
You forgot to mention the soundtrack of "Lawrence of Arabia" which is as stunning as the visuals.
Tinker Tailor soldier spy should be on that list
Original
a bridge too far wow what a cast
@@philiprice7875 Much better in my view than The Longest Day. Watched it last weekend for countless times.
I thought you worked in an audio recording capacity and yet you called the theme from Chariots of Fire a song. 😏
Princess Diana's boyfriend, Dodi Fayed Produced "Chariots of Fire"
Bridge on the River Kwai novel written by the same guy who wrote Planet of the Apes. Both anti war films.
I would recommend (The Lion In Winter ) starring Kate Hepburn and Peter OTool ..
The Queen Mother was approached about the making of the film and she went ape-shit. She firmly told them to never produce it in her lifetime.
Nasty woman....with even more hateful views...
'Curious Yourself' classic Oliver! song
Linda from Scotland here. Joe Biden has overcome his stammer too and, I believe, should be applauded for his efforts too. Enjoying your channel.
Even though he is a senile old fool.
Full metal jacket was filmed in the UK
All of Stanley Kubricks films after he moved to England are all english films and not co british but entirely , as they have 1 english production company.
2001 a space odyssey
Etc etc
I was at a funeral today and someone's phone went off with the Chariots of Fire music as the ringtone. It's a nice enough piece of music, but overplayed, I think.
Another excellent Peter O'Toole film was Murphy's War, with the tag line World War Two.was over World War Murphy was about to begin...
Also, I urge you to watch 'Sexy Beast'. You will see Ben Kingsley in a very different light. I'd advise you to watch with subtitles ;)
10:30 "I saw it in a drive-thru theatre"😄 Which minute of the film did you see?
The Kings Speech . Geoffery Rush = Australian actor. Tootsie and E T is what I would call bubblegum movies, Ghandi was every thing else.
Please check out these two English films "A Taste of Honey".(1961) + "10 Rillington Place". (1971)
You wont regret it .. 🇬🇧😊
Oh just this minute watched a summary of Mr Christie’s life it was chilling. The failures catastrophic. Poor Tim sent to the Gallows because of incompetence. I can’t support Capital Punishment ever.
Yes it was awful...l didn't know Richard Attenborough could be so scary! Have you seen A Taste of Honey? It was another world 50 years ago. People lived in one room flats with no heating....😱🥶
@@carolinejohnson22 I have watched the remake recently and that was in my opinion better Samantha Mortan is sublime in this role.
Yeah. You gotta watch 'The English Patient'.
Interestingly back then we didn't say a movie was pretty long.
We called it EPIC .
I read just yesterday (yes, belatedly) -& am not sure how true (...?)
That Jasper Carrott (really funny 'Brummie' comedian) was behind the "Slumdog Millionaire" film...?😏❤🏴🙂🖖
"Brassed off" is a great movie if you can understand the accents.
And what about "The Wicker Man" ?.
Ps.....John Hurt is in 10 Rillington Place 😁👌
What does "kinda a white saviour" mean, exactly, JJLA? It's kinda a true story...
I was about to post the same. Strange (wokey) thing to say.
@@tmac160 Yeah...can do without that US export nonsense...
don't be silly.
It isn't curious yourself, my goodness. It's CONSIDER yourself. 😂😊
Anyone who knows brit soaps will recognise John Savident in Gandhi, I said Gandhi our Ashley!
Get carter should have won a Oscar
It's a stretch to call Lawrence of Arabia a "white savior" thing given he is shown to be anything but a saint by the end, and for all his efforts he is shuffled off back home with a promotion while the freedom he helped them work for is frittered away by the politicians in a manner shown to be very underhanded by both his own British commanders and Prince Faisel.
Lawrence was an idealist in a world of realists - in the beginning he understood that at least, but by the end he had clearly drunk his own koolaid and taken on so many lessons of the Bedouin life that he was as least as much one of them as he was a British officer, if not more.
What's more is while some of the story was changed for dramatic license, it was still largely based on real events.
On the other hand literary works based on it like Dune and A Song Of Ice And Fire almost certainly do play into that white savior trope.
How Ralph Fiennes has never won an Oscar amazes me - The English Patient? The White Countess? Quiz Show? In Bruges? Schindler's List??? The Constant Gardener???
'The English patient is one of my all time favourite films' Personally I'd put it a lot higher than 9th.
Chariots of Fire is a good film and well worth watching, but when i watched it in the cinema as an 11yr old it was on a double bill with 'Gregory's Girl' which is a fantastic Scottish comedy and everyone came out of the cinema saying they'd enjoyed that more, despite Chariots of Fire having won multiple oscars.
N.B. A bit disappointed Wallace & Grrommit weren't on the list - after all they're serial Oscar winners!😁
There are also a number of great films that are UK/US collaborations such as Star Wars. People think it's American and of course the writer/director, George Lucas was and it was a 20th century Fox production, but it was filmed in England at Elstree studios with a British crew and the actors were a mix of US and British.
My dad said every year that Nick Park / Aardman was the only truly deserving recipient of an Oscar and I generally agree! Also Dee Hepburn had better looking legs than anyone in Chariots of Fire
Not only Gregory’s Girl but Local Hero too (also directed by Bill Forsyth) if only for the Mark Knopfler soundtrack and Peter Capaldi looking about 12. It’s my favourite film of all time.
Curious Yourself? 😂 Even the subtitles know that it’s Consider Yourself!
Can you do a reaction on best british war films like ZULU .
A magnificent film.
Surprised Zulu isn't there!
Well aren't we Brits a talented lot. We love you too 💗💗👵🏴🌹🌹🌹
A most watch is Will Smith film Emancipation that is awesome one of his best movies he's done