FilmNite Autumn Term - From Tuesday 4 October

FilmNite re-commences on Tuesday 4th October @ Sohohouse 7-9pm.

The first two sessions will cover EALING COMEDIES.

British Film is known the world over for, The British Documentary movement, Hammer Horror, the James Bond franchise and of course Ealing Comedies. As the title suggests these were a clutch of comedies made at Ealing studios over a relatively short period namely early 1940's to late 1950's.These highly inventive and genuinely funny films owe their genius to a small clutch of talented people. Whilst Sir Michael Balcon is generally seen as the driving force behind the Ealing output, he did have around him a group of directors such as Robert Hamer (Kind Hearts & Coronets), Alexandre MacKendrick (Whisky Galore) coupled with TEB Clarke (writer of The lavender Hill Mob) and a family of actors, Alec Guinness (Kind Hearts, The ladykillers), Stanley Holloway (the Lavender Hill Mob), Dennis Price (Kind Hearts) Katy Johnson (The Ladykillers) and so on. Between them great films surfaced which stand the test of time. John Cleese loved them so much that he persuaded Charles Chrichton (The Titfield Thunderbolt) to come out of retirement in 1988 to direct A Fish Called Wanda.

Ealing studios still exist on Ealing Green and are still producing films. 

            The films are so good that you never tire of seeing them

The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) dir Charles Chrichton

I first saw this Ealing Comedy when it came out and I would have been 8 at the time. I recall the nitric acid test on a gold Eiffel tower, but I didn't understand it so had to get my older brother to explain on the way home.  I was pleased with this newly acquired knowledge and was able to sneak it in from time to time at school, which made me look clever.

I just loved Ealing Comedies and used to beg my dad for money to see the latest one. I would usually succeed, as he quite liked them as well. He was particularly fond of Alec Guinness so I knew I was on to a winner if I mentioned the great actor's name.

Ealing Comedies (Source: Wikipedia)

• Hue and Cry (1947)
• Another Shore (1948)
• Passport to Pimlico (1949)
• Whisky Galore! (1949)
• Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
• A Run for Your Money (1949)
• The Magnet (1950)
• The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
• The Man in the White Suit (1951)
• The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)
• Meet Mr. Lucifer (1953)
• The Love Lottery (1954)
• The Maggie (1954)
• The Ladykillers (1955)
• Who Done It? (1956)
• Barnacle Bill (1957)
• Davy (1957)

Highlights this FilmNite term include:

• British Film lecturer Richard Dacre will give a presentation on Ealing Comedies including Passport to Pimlico, Whisky Galore and Peter Bradshaw's favourite film Kind Hearts & Coronets.
• We will see four recently released films - every other week in various cinema locations in the West End (i.e. Curzon Soho, Renoir, Mayfair, Odeon Covent Garden, Odeon West End etc).
• The following week there will be a presentation (7-9pm at Sohohouse, Soho, London) on the film seen the previous week. Class discussion on the film seen is encouraged. 

• £135 per term (£125 for former class members) - best value in town to attend a unique film class.
• For more information, contact Vincent on vmfilmnite@googlemail.com.