In honor of Great English Entertainment

[Phil H]

Of the Ealings, Miss M, my personal favorite is "Passport to Pimlico" - I love its evocation of the post-war mood, it's attention to detail (all the stuff put across by Margaret Rutherford about the Duke of Burgundy is correct factually) and its premise. It also showcases a sort of Londoner, and a style of speech that is no more.

That said, I am also a great fan of "Kind Hearts". Guiness was quite young when he did that portrait gallery of "types" - and it was around the time he did his challenging Fagin for David Lean. What an actor!

Phil H

[Robert]

The Ealing comedies were magnificent. The scene in the Ladykillers where Guinness and his gang are forced to attend a singsong with Mrs Lopsided and her elderly friends....Guinness is hunched over the piano....if ever there was an image of a completely broken man....

[Cogidubnus]

Ealing Comedies

The Ladykillers was indeed superb...a masterpiece at every level, right down to the dull "clung" of the bodies falling into the railway tucks below the bridge...

But as a railway enthusiast I have to say there is a special place in my heart for the Titfield Thunderbolt, a film which in 1953 actually anticipated most of the railway preservation movement (though Tom Rolt's Welsh narrow gauge adventures in 1952 surely had some influence!)...what a lovely tale, and what an amazing cast (including, Stanley Holloway in splendid form, John Gregson and even a very young Sid James)

All the best

Dave

[Beowulf]

I thought this a good article.

"Sir Ian McKellen fears no more acting greats"

"Lord of the Rings actor says that Britain will not produce high quality middle-aged actors because of the loss of rep theatre..."

http://www.fourthwallmagazine.co.uk/2012/11/sir-ian-mckellen-fears-of-no-more-acting-greats/