Films: March 11 - 17

The Girl In The Spider's Web (2018) 

Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) 

Sphinx (1981) 

Cover Girl (1944) 

White Dog (1982)

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954) 

The Devil And Daniel Webster (1941) ///

The Girl In The Spider's Web (2018) Polished visuals provide surface energy yet anonymous interest as blandly vengeful Claire Foy faces disturbed sister Sylvia Hoeks and dangerous computer code. Robust Roque Baños score even as characters flounder amid bleakly generic set pieces.

Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) Cynical, bitter noir, as jaundiced ex-cop Ed Begley recruits edgy gambler and jazz musician Harry Belafonte as well as violent war veteran Robert Ryan to rob suburban bank. Racial tensions and gloomy desperation infuse expressive visuals & bleak tension.

Sphinx (1981) Production makes full use of expansive Egyptian locations, yet handles convoluted thriller narrative with staid seriousness rather than mystery or genre energy. Confused archaeologist Lesley-Anne Down falls for mysterious Frank Langella in pursuit of lost treasures.

Cover Girl (1944) Lush visuals and lively, fresh dance sequences with appealing leads overcome slim and ponderous narrative as striking chorus girl Rita Hayworth needs to choose between stardom and nightclub owner Gene Kelly. Though drama is unconvincing tuneful songs and comic touch add spice.

White Dog (1982) Framed as melodramatic thriller and conceived with a pulpish style, corrosive nature of snarling racism is seen through Paul Winfield's efforts to retrain dog corrupted to attack black people. Propulsive cinema, bleakly uncompromising in its tragic portrait of hatred.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954) Extravagantly designed and vigorously staged, mystery and adventure suitably conjured as mythical sea monster is revealed as fantastical submersible commanded by imperious, despairing James Mason. Set piece driven narrative held together by solid cast.

The Devil And Daniel Webster (1941) Evocative visuals and deliciously wicked Bernard Herrmann score accompany crafty, diabolic Walter Huston, promising riches for farmer James Craig's soul. Tempting Simone Simon claims victims' hearts, as dreamy style infuses playful storytelling.

Best Of British - I Spy (trailer)

 

See the full episode of I Spy on YouTube at:
https://bit.ly/BOB-103-I-Spy or
https://youtu.be/J1NujOtk1P0

Best Of British is a TV series celebrating the history of British films from the 1930s to the 1980s. Designed as entertainment for a broad audience, each episode examines a different theme or genre through extensive use of clips and minimal narration.

Narrated by John Mills and Anthony Quayle, 5 seasons of 67 episodes were produced, providing a comprehensive and unique look at the creative vitality of British film heritage.

SEASON ONE, EPSIODE THREE – I SPY

Narrated by

Sir John Mills

I Spy looks at British spy thrillers ranging from classic Hitchcock films of the 1930s to eighties paranoia in Defence Of The Realm.

Films featured: The 39 Steps (1935), The 39 Steps (1959), Defence Of The Realm (1986), High Treason (1951), I See A Dark Stranger (1946), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Lady Vanishes (1979), The Net (1953), Sabotage (1936), The Thirty Nine Steps (1978), Young And Innocent (1937)

Stars featured: Gabriel Byrne, Madeleine Carroll, Derrick De Marney, William Dewhurst, James Donald, Robert Donat, Taina Elg, Elliott Gould, Oscar Homolka, Deborah Kerr, Margaret Lockwood, Kenneth More, Nova Pilbeam, Robert Powell, Michael Redgrave, Edward Rigby, Cybill Shepherd, Desmond Tester, Wylie Watson, May Whitty, Noel Willman

BEST OF BRITISH

Written & created by

Ashley Sidaway

Robert Sidaway

and

Maurice Sellar

Lou Jones

Produced by

Robert Sidaway

Maurice Sellar 

Find out more about Best Of British:

Friendship Films website https://bit.ly/BOB-ff

Wikipedia https://bit.ly/BOB-wiki

IMDb https://imdb.to/38hwgvx 

Further videos at:

Best Of British playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK4RsnIVzQW4fva0s2vQV7DyqdxDtkAy