sandall Reviews

Brideshead Revisited (1981)

Don't miss it it's life changing!

[10/10 · 3 December 2006]

Today, nearly all television is dominated by the cult of celebrity. From soaps to reality TV it is built around this format. So to find a gem - "Brideshead Revisited" - amongst this gaudy glitz is an utter revelation.

Unfortunatately, I suspect younger audiences raised on fast paced presentation may find it a struggle to sit still long enough to become enthralled by it but, if they give it a chance, they will be. Majestic it certainly is from the fabulous locations - Venice - Castle Howard, the superb acting - Lawerence Olivier, Nikolas Grace, Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Diana Quick, Mona Washbourne and Cordelia (apologies I can't remember her name) all wonderful and, finally, to the captivating music of Geofrey Burgeon - it is TV at its very best.

PS Apologies if any name misspelled.

The History Boys (2006)

Correction to main Listing

[10/10 · 18 October 2006]

Firstly the quotations, on the main page, contain a big error. The character to whom Dakin is interrogating is NOT Crowther it is Scripps and similarly Posner is NOT pouring his heart out to Crowther but again to Scripps.

I have not yet been to see this film. I have however seen the play four times! Three in London and the last time on Broadway. I think the Broadway performance was the best - and in particular one scene really stood out. Richard Griffiths as Hector and Samuel Barnet as Posner discuss the poem "Drummer Hodge". This scene closes the first half of the play and shows Griffiths' extraordinary depth of feeling as an actor.

I have seen many clips from the film and I am not at all disappointed from what I have seen so far. Nick Hytner has captured the essence of the play very successfully. Alan Bennett has clearly made a few changes, unsurprisingly, to the original script but, on the whole, it appears to work - contrary to some of the reviews I have read in the papers.

When I finally see it I will add my comments to this.

The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954)

Brilliant - British comedy at its best.

[10/10 · 17 October 2006]

Alistair Simms inspired portrayal of Miss Fritton transcends drag. It is one of the great comedy characters in film. Equally wonderful is Joyce Grenfell's character - Ruby Gates.

This is a movie you should curl up on the sofa with on a wet Sunday's afternoon and be transported to a time long ago when terrifying, rampaging school girls only gained our respect - not our ire! I hear that a remake is in the offing with Rupert Everett as Miss Fritton? He will have a hard job competing with the master - or should that be mistress? - Alistair Simms.

Go and rent it - it beats so much of what today goes for comedy.

Brief Encounter (1945)

A brilliant love story

[10/10 · 9 June 2005]

Although to today's audiences Laura and Alec must seem incredibly anachronistic we must remember this is England in 1945. It looks like another country populated by people who speak with extraordinary accents. But it probably seemed like that anyway to many cinema goers of the day! For all that David Lean and Noel Coward have conjured up an absolute masterpiece.

The intensity of this love story, for me, is best displayed in the scene between Alec and Laura in the refreshment room at Milford station. Alec is trying to explain his work to Laura and she admits to not understanding - never the less he continues. As Trevor Howard makes each medical term he uses sound erotically charged Celia Johnson almost faints into her Banbury as she succumbs to his metaphorical ardour. It is one of the sexiest scenes in cinema with the actors keeping their clothes on - a hard act to try and follow today.

David lean directs with great subtlety and shows us, exquisitely, two people falling deeply in love.

And finally, without Rachmaninov's second piano concerto employed to such great effect this would have been a lesser film. If you have seen it you will know what I mean and if you haven't go and rent it NOW. It's life changing.