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British Sixties Films A-E
Accident ( 1967 )
An Oxford student is killed in a car crash. His tutor
investigates the happenings and relationships that led
up to his death.
***********
Good performances from all the players. Watchable
Harold Pinter tale despite some lengthy and ambiguous
sequences.
***********
Dirk Bogarde, Stanley Baker, Vivien Merchant
Writer: Harold Pinter Director: Joseph Losey
Act Of Murder
( 1964 )
For their holiday, a couple swap houses with strangers.
Their lives are turned upside-down.
***********
Very well executed thriller. One not to be missed.
***********
John Carson, Anthony Bate, Justine Lord, Dandy Nicholls
Writer: Lewis Davidson Director: Alan Bridges
Alfie ( 1966
)
A cockney Casanova receives a
hard lesson
after a life of promiscuity and maltreatment
of the women in his life.
***********
This is a classic movie and
recommended viewing.
The advertising claimed 'Michael Caine IS
Alfie' with complete justification. Despite
his character's outrageous behaviour and
sexist attitudes, Caine's portrayal makes us
sympathetic and he is a likeable rogue. The
technique employed where Alfie talks to the
camera and involves the viewer is very well
done. Quality performances from
all players. This film is a 'must see'.
***********
Michael Caine, Jane Asher, Julia Foster,
Vivian Merchant, Shelley Winters, Shirley Anne Field
Writer: Bill Naughton Director: Lewis Gilbert
Michael Caine
recuperates helped by Shirley Anne Field
Alfred The
Great ( 1969 )
Alfred takes over the Kingdom from his weak elder brother.
***********
Saved by its fine cast and realistic bloody battle scenes.
***********
David Hemmings, Michael York
Writer: Bill Naughton Director: Lewis Gilbert
The Angry
Silence ( 1960 )
A worker refuses to join an unofficial strike and his
workmates refuse to talk to him. This escalates into
a national story.
***********
A thought-provoking tale where the viewer is likely
to wonder what they would do in the same circumstances.
Brilliantly written and handled with sterling performances
from some reliable stars.
***********
Richard Attenborough, Michael Craig, Alfred Burke
Writer: Bryan Forbes Director: Guy Green
Anne Of The
Thousand Days ( 1969 ) 
The tale of Henry VIII and his marriage to Anne Boleyn,
who inevitably falls foul of his wrath.
***********
A good cast bravely manages to raise this movie to a
higher level than a boring documentary.
***********
Richard Burton, Anthony Quayle, Michael Hordern
Genevieve Bujold
Writers: John Hale, Bridget Boland
Director: Charles Jarrott
The Battle Of
Britain ( 1969 )
In 1940, Britain alone faces the might
of the
Nazi Luftwaffe. A few squadrons of pilots
from Britain, the Empire and the allies stand
between liberty and invasion.
***********
This is a very good technical and
historical account of
the events of that period. It also entertains well,
with good performances from an array of star
names - particularly Susannah York, Christopher
Plummer and Laurence Olivier. There are some good air
sequences. It is surprising that this film did not do
better at the international box offices -
incredibly it lost $10 million world-wide.
***********
Laurence Olivier, Robert Shaw, Michael Caine
Christopher Plummer, Kenneth More, Susannah York
Trevor Howard, Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave
Edward Fox, Ian McShane, Barry Foster
Writers: James Kennaway, Wilfrid Greatorex
Director: Guy Hamilton
Three 'Spits' protecting
Britain's skies
Bedazzled (
1967 )
A Wimpy bar cook is saved from suicide by Lucifer in
human form and is offered seven wishes in
exchange for his soul.
***********
This is a lovely and hilarious film.
Written by
Peter Cook and starring him with Dudley Moore, it is full
of clever lines and situations and reminiscent of their
best tv work. Evidently, Moore wore three pairs of
underpants to spare his embarrassment in the sexy scenes
with Raquel Welch - apparently these failed to hold
back the forces of nature! Great title music too.
***********
Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Raquel Welch,
Barry Humphries, Eleanor Bron
Writer: Peter Cook
Director: Stanley Donen
Diminutive Dudley trying to
keep his cool - poor chap!
Billy Liar (
1963 )
A young man in a dead-end job in
a north of England town
dreams of a life of excitement and thrills. When he meets a
lovely girl who promises to take him to London to fulfill
his dreams, he has second thoughts.
***********
A beautifully crafted film, funny and observant. It
introduced Julie Christie to the film-going public.
Many great scenes and diversions, including a great
parody of any number of British comedians complete
with silly catchphrase "It's all
'appening" and a
silly gesture to go with it!
***********
Tom Courtenay, Julie Christie, Helen Fraser
Writers: Keith Waterhouse, Willis Hall
Director: John Schlesinger
Daydreaming
Billy ( Tom Courtenay ) takes
Helen Fraser by surprise
Blow-Up (
1966 )
A young photographer takes some
early morning shots
in a park. When these are developed and enlarged
he seems to have photographed and witnessed a murder.
***********
A triumph of style over content, this film attracted
a big audience to the cinemas. Nudity and the swinging
London scenes were probably what a lot of people were
coming to see as the plot is wafer thin. As a snapshot of
that exciting and seminal period in history, however,
it deserves a viewing.
***********
David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles
Writer and Director: Michelangelo Antonioni
Vanessa Redgrave
and David Hemmings
Born Free (
1966 )
A British game reserve warden and
his wife rear lion cubs
in Kenya. Reaching maturity, they have to be set free.
***********
Although a little twee and rather 'fifties' in its
Englishness, and seemingly cobbled-together in places,
this is a lovely story. Real-life husband and wife team
Travers and McKenna do their stiff-upper-lip bit but the
lions and wildlife, of course, steal the show.
***********
Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, Geoffrey Keen
Writer: Gerald L. C. Copley
Director: James Hill
Casino Royale
( 1967 )
A James Bond spy spoof.
***********
As Bond movies were already parodying themselves one
could ask "why bother unless you have something very
funny or clever to say?" This film has neither and this,
coupled
with a poor script and a total waste of so many huge talents
( how these stars were persuaded to appear remains one of
life's great mysteries ) makes this a definite one to avoid.
Nice music though, from Burt Bacharach.
***********
David Niven, Deborah Kerr, Orson Welles
Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, Woody Allen
William Holden, Jacqueline Bisset, George Raft
Peter O'Toole, John Huston
Writers: Wolf Mankowitz, John Law, Michael Sayers
Directors: John Huston, Ken Hughes
The great Orson
Welles in one of his less-memorable
roles. He contemplates the chips - those on the left could
denote the film's profits - those on the right the film's
costs
The Charge Of
The Light Brigade ( 1968 )
Theoretically based on the events at Balaclava when a
British cavalry brigade was uselessly slaughtered due
to mistaken orders and on Alfred Lord Tennyson's
poem relating this sad and futile event.
***********
A rather muddled and confusing amalgam of historical
events and clever imagery. It leaves the viewer without
a clear picture or understanding of the causes of the
tragic and ill-conceived engagement at Balaclava.
In its attempt to be arty and to look good it does
nothing to pay respect to the courage and suffering of
the men of the light brigade.
***********
Trevor Howard, John Gielgud, David Hemmings
Vanessa Redgrave, Harry Andrews, Peter Bowles
Writer: Charles Wood
Director: Tony Richardson
Charlie
Bubbles ( 1968 )
A top novelist, having sampled the superficiality
of fame and success, seeks the simple life.
***********
Very enjoyable observations and funny
situations make this a winner.
***********
Albert Finney, Billie Whitelaw, Liza Minnelli
Writer: Shelagh Delaney
Director: Albert Finney
Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang ( 1968 )
An unsuccessful inventor reclaims an abandoned vintage
car.
This has magical properties and whisks them to a country
where children are not tolerated. Together, they manage
to bring the government of this country down.
***********
A mildly pleasing tale for children which doesn't quite
live up to expectations, given the male lead star
and the writers.
***********
Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries
Writers: Roald Dahl, Ken Hughes
Directors: Ken Hughes
The Comedy
Man ( 1964 )
A failing middle-aged actor draws on his contacts
and becomes the star of a TV commercial.
***********
A good, effective melodrama with light moments and
good performances. Rather depressing in places and
could have been played in a lighter mood, given the
comedic talent available ( Price, Parker ).
***********
Kenneth More, Cecil Parker, Dennis Price,
Angela Douglas, Billie Whitelaw,
Norman Rossington, Frank Finlay
Writer: Peter Yeldham
Director: Alvin Rakoff
The Criminal
( aka The
Concrete Jungle - 1960 )
A villain is sent to jail for a robbery at a racecourse.
Fifteen years later, he is freed and tries to regain
the loot but is followed and killed by other villains.
***********
This movie shows a stark picture of prison life and the
underworld. It is a great encouragement to go straight.
***********
Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Patrick Magee
Writers: Alun Owen, Jimmy Sangster
Director: Joseph Losey
Crooks
Anonymous ( 1962)
An attractive lady thief joins a society for reforming
criminals. She succumbs to temptation and in the
process so do the others in the society.
***********
A fantastic comedic cast, an early appearance from
Christie, and a highly entertaining story.
***********
Leslie Phillips, Stanley Baxter, Wilfrid Hyde-White,
Julie Christie, James Robertson-Justice
Writers: Jack Davies, Henry Blyth
Director: Ken Annakin
Darling (
1965 )
A fashionable and ambitious young girl leaves a
journalist, destined for relationships with a company
director, a photographer and an Italian prince.
***********
A snap-shot of swinging London society, looking
rather dated now, but nevertheless interesting as a
moment in history. The sexual exploits and partner
changes seem incredible in today's context. Lots of
superficial images and thrills packaged in a stylish
and professional way. Worth a look.
***********
Julie Christie, Laurence Harvey, Dirk Bogarde
Writer: Frederic Raphael
Director: John Schlesinger
Dirk Bogarde
wonders if Julie Christie
really only has eyes for him
Dr. No ( 1962
)
A British secret service agent has to tackle
a master criminal who is operating in the West Indies.
***********
Can there be anyone on the planet who is not
aware of James Bond? This was the first of many
movies which drew on the novels of Ian Fleming. The
mixture of exotic locations, sex, high-speed action, sex,
clever gadgets and devices, sex, exciting storylines,
sex, tongue-in-cheek humour and sex have ensured
continued success into the 90's. Here, Connery
established himself as the archetypal Bond.
***********
Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Jack Lord
Writers: Richard Maibaum,
Johanna Harwood, Berkley Mather
Director: Terence Young
Dr.
Strangelove ( 1963 )
A mad US air force general launches a nuclear
attack on Russia. When attempts to recall the
missiles fail and it is obvious that retaliation will
follow, the commanders await the destruction of the world.
***********
This film encapsulates an exact mood of fear that
existed at that time ( the Cuban missile crisis was
still a recent memory ). Peter Sellers plays three of
the key roles as only he can. This is a milestone film
- a very watchable black comedy.
***********
Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Peter Bull
Writers: Stanley Kubrick, Terry Southern, Peter George
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Peter Sellers
plays the US president.
A high-ranking madman has foolishly pressed the button.
Fortunately this scenario could never happen in real life
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