Have set the recorder for a screening of Powell & Pressburger's (P & P),
The Red Shoes, BBC 2, 13.30-15.40hrs, Sat, 11 March. I already have several copies on the shelves from 2" master tapes and hope that tomorrow's transmission may be a Blu Ray remastering. I've just spent the last two hours revisiting Michael Powell's 1986 biography, A Life in Movies, although as a teenager in 1948, I recall its impact in the draconian years of austerity in the post-war era; the splendid technicolour sequences in Monte Carlo, the joy of a 15mins ballet sequence, Brian Easdale's compulsive score and the sense of a world premiere performance, danced by Moira Shearer- fabulous red hair and that lovely, attractive shape - partnered by Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine. Anton Walbrook dominates as the company manager, clearly based on the enigmatic and formidable, Sergei Diaghilev.
Some years later, early 60s, I was walking down Frognal, towards Hampstead u/g, when I was surprised to see Mr Walbrook, outside, cleaning his windows. I spoke to him, ready to depart instantly if his expression showed any resentment. Not at all, he was charming and was more interested in my career as a thesp, rather than his fascinating backlog.
I still rate the partnership of P & P as one of the most creative in the history of cinema and regularly view The Edge of the World, (1937), 49th Parallel,(1941), The Life & Death of Col Blimp,(1943, I Know Where I'm Going,(1945), Black Narcissus, (1946), and A Matter of Life and Death, (1946).
The Red Shoes, BBC 2, 13.30-15.40hrs, Sat, 11 March. I already have several copies on the shelves from 2" master tapes and hope that tomorrow's transmission may be a Blu Ray remastering. I've just spent the last two hours revisiting Michael Powell's 1986 biography, A Life in Movies, although as a teenager in 1948, I recall its impact in the draconian years of austerity in the post-war era; the splendid technicolour sequences in Monte Carlo, the joy of a 15mins ballet sequence, Brian Easdale's compulsive score and the sense of a world premiere performance, danced by Moira Shearer- fabulous red hair and that lovely, attractive shape - partnered by Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine. Anton Walbrook dominates as the company manager, clearly based on the enigmatic and formidable, Sergei Diaghilev.
Some years later, early 60s, I was walking down Frognal, towards Hampstead u/g, when I was surprised to see Mr Walbrook, outside, cleaning his windows. I spoke to him, ready to depart instantly if his expression showed any resentment. Not at all, he was charming and was more interested in my career as a thesp, rather than his fascinating backlog.
I still rate the partnership of P & P as one of the most creative in the history of cinema and regularly view The Edge of the World, (1937), 49th Parallel,(1941), The Life & Death of Col Blimp,(1943, I Know Where I'm Going,(1945), Black Narcissus, (1946), and A Matter of Life and Death, (1946).
Comment