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Winter & Dumas's avatar

One of my favourites because of the incredibly atmospheric backdrop.. almost eerie in places... which lends to the poignancy of the film .. which of course was beautifully heartbreaking and honestly..it haunted me for a long time...just as a film like this intends I believe and it delivered. Exceptional choice Luke!

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Luke Honey's avatar

Thank you. I think the visuals are extraordinary. Clearly influenced by Victorian black and white street photography.

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Nick SW8's avatar

An incredibly atmospheric film, almost timeless in its style, that captures Victorian locations many of which have now vanished as London powers ever onwards. Poor Merrick's skeleton remains in the collection of the Royal London Hospital's museum, yards from where I'm writing this.

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Dr. Levent Mollamustafaoğlu's avatar

Thank you for reminding me about this marvellous film which I had watched when it came out in Turkey in the ‘80s. It is one of my favourite films of all time, particularly for John Hurt’s amazing performance and the B&W cinematography. Truly a gem.

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Luke Honey's avatar

Thanks! It's an EXTRAORDINARY film. Freddie Francis' cinematography is wonderful- thinking about it, the best evocation of Victorian London on the silver screen...

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Adam Morris's avatar

This film marks the centre of the venn diagram of David Lynch, Mel Brooks and Dexter Fletcher 👌

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Susan Witz's avatar

Once again, thank you for reminding me of this fantastic film and I will be re-watching it. You mention 84 Chairing Cross Road. I never saw the film (having seen the west end production in the early 80s), but that also looks like a decent contender for my list.

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