Best Of British (41-45)

The Return Of The Pink Panther (1975)

Carry On Loving (1970)

The Early Bird (1965)

An Alligator Named Daisy (1955)

Saturn 3 (1980) ///

The Return Of The Pink Panther (1975) Sketchy plot concerning theft of invaluable diamond provides series of set pieces for Peter Sellers' endearing slapstick and language mangling as Inspector Clouseau, sending Herbert Lom into murderous lunacy. Series of comic gems.

Carry On Loving (1970) Unsurprisingly, the community of Much-Snogging-In-The-Green is infected by an obsession with sex. As comic innuendo turns to more explicit bawdiness, marriage experts Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams provide the only genuine laughs.

The Early Bird (1965) Extended opening of expert visual and physical comedy is left unfulfilled by flimsy plot and paucity of comic invention. Plucky milkman Norman Wisdom causes typical chaos, accidentally bringing down ruthless corporation and buoyed by lively Ron Goodwin score.

An Alligator Named Daisy (1955) After carefree budding composer Donald Sinden is left with the title character, romantic diversions with Jean Carson disrupt proposed marriage to wealthy Diana Dors. Uneven musical interludes collide with strained farce. Supporting cast and chaotic ending enliven interest.

Saturn 3 (1980) Persuasively designed and smoothly produced, a sometimes provoking Frankenstein story with Harvey Keitel imbuing robot Hecor with his own murderous personality to terrorize Farrah Fawcett and Kirk Douglas on remote space station. Uneven storytelling dissipates tension.

Films: October 20 - 26

"Pimpernel" Smith (1941)

The Bubble (2022)

They Live (1988)

Prince Of Darkness (1987)

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Pink String And Sealing Wax (1945)

Catherine Called Birdy (2022) ///

"Pimpernel" Smith (1941) Loose, amiable spin on his Pimpernel persona, Leslie Howard as eccentric archaeologist taking students through German digs on eve of war who is secretly helping prisoners escape. Meandering narrative and plain style accentuate laid-back, nimble propaganda.

The Bubble (2022) Initially amusing satire of Covid pandemic filmmaking and US studio politics in producing mindless genre sequels, yet gags rapidly turn flat. Without acidic bite, ensemble cast flail and scattershot set pieces feel stuffed into overlong narrative. Unfortunately bland.

They Live (1988) Elegantly unsophisticated, polished visuals provide impetus for bluntly effective satiric thriller, as homeless Roddy Piper finds sunglasses that reveal alien control of consumerism is subjugating humanity. Precise pacing elevates astute, enjoyable mix of humor and scares.

Prince Of Darkness (1987) Coolly detached style gradually unpicks nonsense of distilled evil contained in church basement, as priest Donald Pleasence, professor Victor Wong and various students investigate with predictably disastrous results. Unnerving atmosphere builds to striking imagery.

The Magnificent Seven (1960) Robustly conceived and produced, swaggering Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen lead all-star warriors to protect Mexican village from brutal Eli Wallach. Smart script develops sympathetic characters, uncomplicated visuals accentuate action, Elmer Bernstein delivers defining score.

Pink String And Sealing Wax (1945) Scraping away surface of middle-class Victorian society to reveal seedy Brighton underworld, manipulative, abused Googie Withers ensnares innocent Gordon Jackson in her murder plan. Detail and conflict maintain interest without being compelling.

Catherine Called Birdy (2022) Maintaining enjoyable energy, loose narrative never hides its emotions as young Bella Ramsey tries to avoid financial marriage in 13th century England. Coming of age comedy strains modern relevance, while composed visuals miss lived-in, honest spontaneity.