A welcome screening for The Philadelphia Story, 14.50-16.40hrs, BBC2, 28 Feb. A sharp, wise and sparkling adaptation of Philip Barry's play, directed by George Cukor, and a dream cast of Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey and several distinguished MGM contract players. I shall be seeing it for the umpteenth time with, possibly, a remastered blu-ray print, although i have a few acceptable, off-air, DVD transfers taken from a 2" tape on my shelves.
A treat for me as I've been inclined to stay indoors during the recent cold spell and was delighted to spot a screening of The African Queen (1951) on More4, and record a pristine restored print of John Huston's film; spent an afternoon reading Katharine Hepburn's published diary, The Making of The A.Q. and the horrendous location filming in the Congo. An indefatigable woman and her chemistry with Humphrey Bogart matched her regular partnerships with Spencer Tracy. I only saw her once on the stage, circa 1953, when she played the title role in GB Shaw's, The Millionairess, and her first entrance resembled a whirlwind before she fielded the complex text with true star quality. The season was sold out before the production opened at the New Theatre, now the Noel Coward Theatre, and remember arriving before the box office opened in the morning to pay 6d for a reserved numbered folding stool, in Cecil Court, side of the theatre. which guaranteed my place in the gallery queue. Halcyon days.
A treat for me as I've been inclined to stay indoors during the recent cold spell and was delighted to spot a screening of The African Queen (1951) on More4, and record a pristine restored print of John Huston's film; spent an afternoon reading Katharine Hepburn's published diary, The Making of The A.Q. and the horrendous location filming in the Congo. An indefatigable woman and her chemistry with Humphrey Bogart matched her regular partnerships with Spencer Tracy. I only saw her once on the stage, circa 1953, when she played the title role in GB Shaw's, The Millionairess, and her first entrance resembled a whirlwind before she fielded the complex text with true star quality. The season was sold out before the production opened at the New Theatre, now the Noel Coward Theatre, and remember arriving before the box office opened in the morning to pay 6d for a reserved numbered folding stool, in Cecil Court, side of the theatre. which guaranteed my place in the gallery queue. Halcyon days.