Reel Britannia

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism   This week, Scott and Steven are joined by Mark from The Good The Bad and The Odd podcast to chat about, not Hammer horror this time, but Julien Temple's musical from 1986 starring Patsy Kensit and David Bowie   Absolute Beginners (1986)   A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer Colin is hopelessly in love with model Crepe Suzette, but her relationships are strictly connected with her progress in the fashion world. So Colin gets involved with a pop promoter and tries to crack the big time. Meanwhile, racial tension is brewing in Colin's Notting Hill housing estate...     You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts   Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod   email: reelbritannia@gmail.com   #podcast #britmovie #reelbritannia #davidbowie   Thanks for listening   Scott, Steven and Mark  

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism   This week...more from the great Hammer studios as we continue our Hammer horror retrospective   Brides of Dracula (1960)   Classic horror starring Peter Cushing. A young teacher on her way to a position in Transylvania helps a young man escape the shackles his mother has put on him. In doing so she innocently unleashes the horrors of the undead once again on the populace, including those at her school for ladies. Luckily for some, Dr Van Helsing (Cushing) is already on his way.   You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts   Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod   email: reelbritannia@gmail.com   #podcast #britmovie #reelbritannia #hammerhorror    Thanks for listening Scott, Steven and Mark

Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British movies ...with just a hint of professionalism. Classic wartime drama from the 50s this week with Kenneth More in the story of a true British hero. Reach For The Sky (1956) Biopic of famed British World War II flyer Sir Douglas Bader. He joined the RAF in 1928 and easily took to flying, perhaps too easily as his commanders are concerned at the risks he takes with his aircraft. After a nasty crash in 1931, he loses both of his legs above the knee. After a long convalescence and learning to walk again with artificial legs, he returns to flying school where he again passes. The RAF forcibly retires him due to his presumed disability. With the onset of World War II, Bader is re-instated and given command of a fighter squadron. He survives the Battle of Britain but is shot down over enemy territory in 1941 losing one of his artificial legs. He was a POW and the RAF even sent a new leg to replace the one he lost. Known as a problem prisoner because

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. The latest episode in our Hammer horror retrospective The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)   His terrifying secret, his hideous obsession made him... The Man Who Could Cheat Death   Director Terence Fisher (The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Hound of the Baskervilles) transformed the fate of Hammer Pictures with his vibrant and explicit series of gothic horror films, which would become the studio's signature style for nearly two decades. Fisher continued his winning streak for the studio with this tale of scientific debauchery, which remains one of Hammer Films finest achievements. Doctor and amateur sculptor Georges Bonnet (Anton Diffring Circus of Horrors, Fahrenheit 451) has discovered a murderous method of maintaining his youth, once every ten years he murders a young woman and removes her parathyroid glands to replace his own. But after 104 years, he's run into some problems. His collaborator is

Reel Britannia podcast - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. Scott and Steven are joined this week by Anthony, host of Film Gold, Glass Onion : On John Lennon, and Life and Life Only to discuss Train of Events (1949) The portmanteau film “Train of Events” brings together the many talents of Ealing Studios to present four stories linked by a train bound for Liverpool. This Ealing anthology weaves drama and comedy amongst the stories documenting various train passengers, all leading up to an incident to change their lives. Starring Jack Hawkins, Gladys Henson, Leslie Phillips, Joan Dowling, Valerie Hobson, Laurence Payne, John Gregson, and introducing Peter Finch in his first British film (having emigrated from Australia). the film’s segments were directed by Ealing luminaries Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, & Sidney Cole. “Train of Events” opened at the Gaumont Haymarket cinema in Lonodn on the 18th of August 1949. "Well, don't overwhelm me ducks. I du

Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British movies ...with just a hint of professionalism.    Classic kitchen sink drama this week from John Osborne and Tony Richardson featuring an all-star British cast headed by Laurence Olivier  The Entertainer (1960)  London schoolteacher Jean Rice (Joan Plowright) returns to her seaside resort hometown at a time of personal crisis. Her father, Archie (Laurence Olivier), is a star on the music hall circuit, but, in the television age, that old-fashioned entertainment is dying out. His second wife, Phoebe (Brenda De Banzie), is openly contemptuous of her husband's many affairs, and his son, Mick (Albert Finney), is a soldier fighting in the Suez. Despite Archie's unflagging optimism, tragic events unfold.    “You were a pretty little thing. Not that looks are important - not even for a woman. You don't look at the mantelpiece when you poke the fire. “    You can find this and all our previous episodes at:  Amazon Music 

Reel Britannia podcast - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism.   Scott and Steven are joined this week by Anthony, host of Film Gold, Glass Onion : On John Lennon, and Life and Life Only to discuss Alfred Hitchcock's penultimate movie.   Frenzy (1972)   In London, a serial killer is raping women and then strangling them with a necktie. When the reckless and low-class with a bad temper bartender Richard Blaney is fired from the pub Global Public House by the manager Felix Forsythe, he decides to visit his ex-wife Brenda, who owns a successful marriage agency. Her secretary Miss Barling overhears an argument of the couple, and Brenda invites Richard to have dinner with her in a fancy restaurant. Then she put some money in his overcoat and does not tell him to avoid his embarrassment with the situation. Meanwhile, Richard's friend Bob Rusk visits Brenda in her office, rapes her, and kills her with his necktie. When Richard finds the money in his pocket, he visit

Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British movies ...with just a hint of professionalism.   Classic comedy from the 50s this week with Kenneth More, Kay Kendall, John Gregson and Dinah Sheridan and a very famous automobile.   Genevieve (1953)   In this upbeat British comedy, two friends enter an antique car rally. Alan McKim (John Gregson) drives his beloved 1904 automobile, named Genevieve, while Ambrose Claverhouse (Kenneth More) takes his vintage Spyker car. Alan and Ambrose bring their wives (Dinah Sheridan, Kay Kendall) along for the wild ride from London to Brighton, and the trek soon turns fiercely competitive, each driver devising clever ways to sabotage the other in hopes of winning the race.   Rosalind: “Ambrose only seems to think about two things. That silly old car - and the other thing.” Wendy: “What other thing?...Oh...my husband only thinks about the car.”     You can find this and all our previous episodes at: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Libsyn Player FM Podtail Ow

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. The latest episode in our Hammer horror retrospective   The Mummy (1959)     Terence Fisher directs this cult Hammer horror starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Intrepid archaeologist Stephen Banning (Felix Aylmer) and his son John (Cushing) are so determined to locate the resting place of Princess Ananka, an ancient Egyptian high priestess, that they ignore the warnings of locals regarding a curse placed on the tomb. The trio have cause to regret their arrogance when back in England they are tracked down by Kharis (Lee), a mummy who has been brought back to life to avenge the desecration of the tomb. Having watched his father and uncle succumb to Kharis, John realises that he will almost certainly be the next target. However, he hasn't counted on his wife Isobel (Yvonne Furneaux)'s uncanny resemblance to Princess Ananka, which threatens to confuse the vengeful mummy...    " Seems I've spent the be

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies - with just a hint of professionalism. A very special episode this week with a very special friend. Scott and Steven are joined by their dear friend Adam Roche, host of the Secret History of Hollywood, Attaboy Clarence and The Labours of Hercule podcasts. An invite stretching back about five years ago has resulted in an episode recorded way back last year, just before Christmas, and finally seeing the light of day...anyone would think we really didn't want him on the show! But, of course, we did and we spent a most enjoyable Sunday morning chatting and having a really good laugh as we duscussed a movie very close to Adam's heart.   Night of the Demon (1957) American psychologist John Holden (Dana Andrews) arrives in England to discover that his colleague, Henry Harrington (Maurice Denham), has suddenly died following his efforts to discredit notorious occultist Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis). The cynical Holden dismisses Karswell's warnings

Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British movies ...with just a hint of professionalism. Classic comedy from the 80s this week as Siobhan Finneran stars in this darkly funny drama set in Thatcher's Britain.    Rita Sue and Bob Too (1987) Following an acclaimed career in hard-hitting TV drama, director Alan Clarke achieved a cinema hit with his much-loved comedy. Bradford teenagers Rita and Sue regularly babysit for successful couple Bob and Michelle, whose comfortable suburban lifestyle contrasts with their own bleak existence. One evening when Bob is taking them home, he suggests a detour to the moors. Impressed by his flashy car and worldly ways the girls are smooth-talked into a three-way sexual relationship that becomes very much part of their lives. At first it's a bit of a laugh but people are quick to point the finger and the affair is soon out in the open. The screenplay was adapted from a series of acclaimed plays by Andrea Dunbar, which were based on her own upbringing on

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. The latest episode in our Hammer horror retrospective The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1959)   Returning to his family's manor house on the lonely moors after his father dies under mysterious circumstances, Sir Henry Baskerville is confronted with the mystery of the supernatural hound that supposedly takes revenge upon the Baskerville family. The famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson are brought in to investigate     "Elementary, my dear Watson. Tarantulas are not from South Africa."   You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts   Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod Join us over at our Facebook Group ….we’d love to chat with you   email: reelbritannia@gmail.com   #podcast #britmovie #reelbritannia #hammerhorror #frankenstein   Thanks for listening Scott, Steven and Mark

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. The latest episode in our Hammer horror retrospective - and the return of the Baron.... The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) Having escaped death by the guillotine, Dr. Frankenstein relocates to Carlsbruck. There, as Dr. Victor Stein, he successfully establishes himself as a physician with a large practice and a hospital for the poor. After three years however he is recognized by Dr. Hans Kleve but rather than expose him, the young doctor wants to join him in his research. Frankenstein has resumed his experiments and is on the verge of re-animating a body he has constructed using the brain of Fritz, the deformed assistant who helped him escape from his death sentence. The operation goes quite well and Fritz is quite pleased with his new body. An encounter with a drunken hospital attendant however sends him on the run. As his mind and his body deteriorates, he publicly reveals the good Doctor's true identity

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism.   The Long Arm (1956) After an elusive burglar robs a safe and leaves innocent victims in his wake, police edetective Tom Halliday (Jack Hawkins) is on the case, meticulously following up every possible lead.  Halliday leaves his desk behind and enlists the help of not only his assistant, but people outside the police force, including fingerprint and safe-building experts. Though his wife, Mary (Dorothy Alison), doesn't approve of his job and worries for his safety, he won't rest until the perppetrator is behind bars. You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts   Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod email: reelbritannia@gmail.com   #podcast #britmovie #reelbritannia #jackhawkins   Thanks for listening   Scott and Steven    

Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British movies ...with just a hint of professionalism. A special episode this week where Scott is joined by his fellow co hosts of the Stinking Pause podcast, Paul and Charlie to chat about rabbits, rough Soho strip joints and Mr Robbie Coltrane (this episode was recorded a few weeks before his recent passing) Mona Lisa (1986) “After getting out of prison, George (Bob Hoskins) looks for a job, but his time in prison has reduced his stature in the criminal underworld. The only job he can find is to be a driver for beautiful, high-priced call girl Simone (Cathy Tyson), with whom he forms an at first grudging, and then a real, affection. But Simone's playing a dangerous game, and when George agrees to help her, they both end up in deep trouble with Mortwell (Sir Michael Caine), the local kingpin.” “Being cheap is one thing. Looking cheap is another. That really takes talent.” You can find this and all our previous episodes at: Amazon Music Apple Podc

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. An Inspector Calls (1954) When a young girl is found dead an inspector is sent to investigate a prosperous Yorkshire household. It emerges that each member of the family has a guilty secret - each one is partly responsible for her death. Based on the play by J.B. Priestley, this British mystery follows Inspector Poole (Alastair Sim) as he investigates the apparent suicide of Eva Smith (Jane Wenham), a young working-class woman. Paying a visit to the wealthy Birling household, Poole arrives in the middle of a dinner party and slowly reveals how each family member, including stern patriarch Arthur Birling (Arthur Young) and his uptight wife, Sybil (Olga Lindo), could have had a hand in Eva's death. "She wasn't very pretty when I saw her last in the infirmary." You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod Join us over at our Faceboo

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. The latest episode in our Hammer horror retrospective - and a possibly the movie that truly defined the classic Hammer horror genre... Dracula (1958) Jonathan Harker takes employment with Count Dracula, ostensibly to catalog his vast library. In fact, he is on a mission to kill the Count, a vampire. Before he can do so however, the Count gains the upper hand and Harker soon finds himself as one of the walking dead. Dracula has taken an interest in Harker's fiancée, Lucy Holmwood and it is left to Harker's colleague, Dr. Van Helsing to protect her. He has difficulty convincing Lucy's brother, Arthur Holmwood, of the dangers or even the existence of vampires. Soon, however, Arthur's wife Mina is targeted by Count Dracula and he and Van Helsing race to find his lair before she is lost to them forever. "Please try and understand this is not Lucy the sister you loved. It's only a shell possessed and corrupted

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. The darkest of dramas this week as Scott is joined by his Stinking Pause Podcast co hosts, Paul and Charlie to chat about Sidney Lumet, Sean Connery, Trevor Howard, Ian Bannen....and Bracknell. The Offence (1973) A veteran British police inspector, Sgt. Johnson (Sean Connery), has grown increasingly disturbed by the rapes and murders he has investigated over the years. When he finds a young girl in the woods who has been raped, police begin searching for a suspect. When Kenneth Baxter (Ian Bannen) is brought in for questioning, Johnson snaps, beating him during an unauthorized interrogation. Lt. Cartwright (Trevor Howard) is then brought in to interview him about the incident.   "Nothing I have done can be one half as bad as the thoughts in your head."   You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod Join us over at our Facebook Gr

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. This week, join Scott and Steven as they review Mike Leigh's tale of twins, pineapples, burger vans and and chocolate coated sex. Life Is Sweet (1990) The working-class malaise of suburban London is captured in this comedic drama, which focuses on twin sisters Natalie (Claire Skinner) and Nicola (Jane Horrocks) and their parents: easygoing Andy (Jim Broadbent) and his optimistic wife, Wendy (Alison Steadman). While Natalie has a plumbing job, and tends to take after her mom with her bright outlook, Nicola is on the dole and perpetually dwells on the negative. Will the cloud over Nicola's head ever lift? "Take my word for it - that is an evil spoon." You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod Join us over at our Facebook Group ….we’d love to chat with you   email: reelbritannia@gmail.com   #podcast #britmovie #reelbritannia #li

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. Murder and voyeurism are the order of the day this week as Scott is joined by his Stinking Pause Podcast co hosts, Paul and Charlie to chat about Michael Powell's classic movie: Peeping Tom (1960) Loner Mark Lewis (Carl Boehm) works at a film studio during the day and, at night, takes racy photographs of women. Also he's making a documentary on fear, which involves recording the reactions of victims as he murders them. He befriends Helen (Anna Massey), the daughter of the family living in the apartment below his, and he tells her vaguely about the movie he is making. She sneaks into Mark's apartment to watch it and is horrified by what she sees -- especially when Mark catches her. "Do you know what the most frightening thing in the world is? It's fear." You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod Join us over at our Facebook Gro