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Powell & Pressberger: what a streak of terrific films...

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The run of great films by Powell & Pressburger, from One of Our Aircraft is missing in 1942 to Black Narcissus in 1947, is a remarkable achievement by any standard.

I would consider the following films absolutely essential P&P viewing:

The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
A Canterbury Tale (1944)
I Know Where I'm Going (1945)
A Matter Of Life & Death (1946
Black Narcissus (1947)
The Red Shoes (1948)

I also happen to admire the 1942 war movie One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing, an exemplary film of its kind.

Rent 'em, buy 'em, put 'em in your que from Netflix, but see all these gems from the 40's listed above. The later films are harder to find and not as highly regarded as P&P's more famous films. (possibly because they're not as widely seen).

The Small Back Room (1949) is an intreresting movie that I haven't seen in a long time - it's not available in the US. One of these days I'm going to order the DVD from Amazon.UK. I can't say for certain how well this one holds up.

Gone To Earth (1950) is another film I intend to track down - I saw it one cable years ago and was quite intrigued. The US version, re-named The Wild Heart, was re-edited by the studio, which cut nearly 20 minutes from the original release - avoid this version. It's a mess. The original version is available only on UK DVD.

The Tales of Hoffman (1951) is not typical of P&P, but it's quite enjoyable and very well done it's especially notable for the performers it reunites from The Red Shoes. I've never seen Oh Rosalinda (1955), P&P's similar take of Die Fledermaus. Ditto The Battle of the Rover Plate (1956) or Ill Met By Moonlight (1957).

Michael Powell's 1940 version of the Thief of Baghdad is a real charmer. Peeping Tom is still disqieting, even after all these years.




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  • Powell & Pressberger: what a streak of terrific films... - Harmonia 23:50:35 08/03/04 (0)


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