Very much so! The main characters live in Central London and have pretty relaxed attitudes. It's not exactly The Stepford Wives. Great film. Well worth watching again.
A John Schlesinger film? Most would jump to Midnight Cowboy, Darling and Marathon Man but I always thought this was one of his gems. Glenda Jackson and Peter Finch...beautiful yet subtle, a fabulous choice here Luke, thank you.
I haven't seen that in a long time but it's wonderful, Polanski's take on Tess of the D'Urbervilles? And I agree about Darling, that is a must cover I think.
A great film that shows a lost London - not, as you rightly point out, suburbia!
If one were to write a monograph on films where the telephone (network) is effectively a lead character this would take top billing. The opening titles make wonderful use of a dear old Strowger exchange, doing its clockwork-Newtonian-best to make sense of the messy lives these realistic, flawed but ultimately sympathetic people lead. And it all culminates on an English Sunday. Another potential monograph subject. What's not to like?
Yep. That 'suburban drama' comment does make me wonder if they've even seen it! That's exactly what it isn't. It's a film about rather sophisticated, arty London people- in 1971. Incidentally, I tried to research the GPO (presumably?) messaging service (also used in Blow-Up) and found nothing. Do you have any info?
All I know is that it was a subscriber service from, I think, the late-fifties through to the mid-seventies. It comes in around the time exchanges were automated and fades out with the arrival of cheap and reliable answering machines. I believe it started in the London '01' areas, and extended outwards to other areas, rolled out with the automation. At this same period exciting services like dial-a-secretary (for dictation and typing), dial-a-disc (listen to your favourite pop song), dial-a recipe and many other niche services were operating. The oil crisis, inflation and three day week put paid to al this gaiety.
I remember dial a disc well. What a damp squib! And of course, all this nationalised. A private messaging service, presumably, illegal at that time? But there is something rather slick about all of this- reminds me of those splendid Fortnum's catalogues, where you could dial up a plate of smoked eel or celeriac remoulade for instant delivery. I expect the messaging service was expensive. My parents would have disapproved of it- like those people who had private number-plates or went ex-directory, or became Lloyds names. Or had gold top, rather than silver top milk. All a trifle flash. Love it.
Indeed. A world where your choice of dairy, to deliver your daily gold or silver top, could determine whether you were u or non-u as far as the neighbours were concerned!
Interesting. I'd assumed it was a GPO service, as it involves some network switching. But a private service, just covering City and West End customers, could have been both technically and economically viable at the time. It would have been a 'luxury' service with a high subscription cost. In Blow Up DH has a car-radio telephone I recall? That again is effectively a messaging service, using a local wireless network. Bleep messaging services, as used for doctors, were another rather cheaper wireless operated subscriber service. The latter crops up in a 1965 Avengers episodes where the bleep gadgets are deadly!
One wonders what the equivalent would be in the internet age and mobiles... But people do not change, they live and love in squares, paint their livesin circles, and love and suffer in triangles.
Oh, absolutely. The intentions and the feelings don't change, but carrying things through is tricky, what all the health issues, and the new puritanism
Think I will watch this one again as I can probably identify with lots in the film. I think the Spencer Park house was owned by friends of my father’s (it was only sold a dozen or so years ago) and no doubt I will recognise lots of the references as someone who grew up in fairly ‘sophisticated ‘ London of that era !
This is a movie not heard about in years. One I loved and you're right, surely the opposite of suburbia?
Very much so! The main characters live in Central London and have pretty relaxed attitudes. It's not exactly The Stepford Wives. Great film. Well worth watching again.
A John Schlesinger film? Most would jump to Midnight Cowboy, Darling and Marathon Man but I always thought this was one of his gems. Glenda Jackson and Peter Finch...beautiful yet subtle, a fabulous choice here Luke, thank you.
As much as I like 'Darling'- I'm going to point a long finger at Sunday Bloody Sunday. It's a superb film.
I loved Darling too but I absolutely agree with you here.
Always open to requests! Polanski's Tess (1979) is on the radar, but only available on DVD, no download. I might go for a 20s silent...
I haven't seen that in a long time but it's wonderful, Polanski's take on Tess of the D'Urbervilles? And I agree about Darling, that is a must cover I think.
But Darling could be a great film to cover - in a few months time. Need to think up what I'm going to write about this weekend. Any suggestions?
Everything I enjoy in a movie, not about , (yawn) suburbia. You really do find the best of the best to showcase.
Thank you! No idea why the BFI described it, as such?
A great film that shows a lost London - not, as you rightly point out, suburbia!
If one were to write a monograph on films where the telephone (network) is effectively a lead character this would take top billing. The opening titles make wonderful use of a dear old Strowger exchange, doing its clockwork-Newtonian-best to make sense of the messy lives these realistic, flawed but ultimately sympathetic people lead. And it all culminates on an English Sunday. Another potential monograph subject. What's not to like?
Yep. That 'suburban drama' comment does make me wonder if they've even seen it! That's exactly what it isn't. It's a film about rather sophisticated, arty London people- in 1971. Incidentally, I tried to research the GPO (presumably?) messaging service (also used in Blow-Up) and found nothing. Do you have any info?
All I know is that it was a subscriber service from, I think, the late-fifties through to the mid-seventies. It comes in around the time exchanges were automated and fades out with the arrival of cheap and reliable answering machines. I believe it started in the London '01' areas, and extended outwards to other areas, rolled out with the automation. At this same period exciting services like dial-a-secretary (for dictation and typing), dial-a-disc (listen to your favourite pop song), dial-a recipe and many other niche services were operating. The oil crisis, inflation and three day week put paid to al this gaiety.
I remember dial a disc well. What a damp squib! And of course, all this nationalised. A private messaging service, presumably, illegal at that time? But there is something rather slick about all of this- reminds me of those splendid Fortnum's catalogues, where you could dial up a plate of smoked eel or celeriac remoulade for instant delivery. I expect the messaging service was expensive. My parents would have disapproved of it- like those people who had private number-plates or went ex-directory, or became Lloyds names. Or had gold top, rather than silver top milk. All a trifle flash. Love it.
Indeed. A world where your choice of dairy, to deliver your daily gold or silver top, could determine whether you were u or non-u as far as the neighbours were concerned!
My parents were Telegraph and Silver Top. My grandparents Times and Gold Top. Which makes my parents Duppies. Downwardly mobile.
Or Times or Telegraph?
Turns out it was a local, private subscriber service, based in Chelsea. Makes sense that, also, presumably used by Hemmings in Blow-Up?
Interesting. I'd assumed it was a GPO service, as it involves some network switching. But a private service, just covering City and West End customers, could have been both technically and economically viable at the time. It would have been a 'luxury' service with a high subscription cost. In Blow Up DH has a car-radio telephone I recall? That again is effectively a messaging service, using a local wireless network. Bleep messaging services, as used for doctors, were another rather cheaper wireless operated subscriber service. The latter crops up in a 1965 Avengers episodes where the bleep gadgets are deadly!
Wonderful film!
Isn't it! Incredibly subtle, fabulous acting. Delicious slice of London Life circa 1971.
Peter Finch is EXTRAORDINARY.
Yep. Incredibly sympathetic. You REALLY like him- as with Glenda.
One wonders what the equivalent would be in the internet age and mobiles... But people do not change, they live and love in squares, paint their livesin circles, and love and suffer in triangles.
Indeed... but the Free Love stuff, perhaps, more of that time- the very early 70s than now, don't you think?
Oh, absolutely. The intentions and the feelings don't change, but carrying things through is tricky, what all the health issues, and the new puritanism
Well said! Kensington and Chelsea life styles always appear to be stimulating and curious - with the end results tends to be both up and down.
Think I will watch this one again as I can probably identify with lots in the film. I think the Spencer Park house was owned by friends of my father’s (it was only sold a dozen or so years ago) and no doubt I will recognise lots of the references as someone who grew up in fairly ‘sophisticated ‘ London of that era !