Matinees Reviews
March
‘The Man Who Would Be King’
The sparse audience in the Woodway Room thoroughly enjoyed their Friday afternoon watching ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ and chatting about it afterwards over the tea and biscuits.
After hearing that John Huston had first thought of casting Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable in the leading roles, and then Paul Newman and Robert Redford, it was agreed by all that Sean Connery and Michael Caine were inspired casting. As two pals newly out of the army, they are at their sparkling, witty best. A young Kipling, played by Christopher Plummer, provided a neat introduction to the story as we watched Peachy (Caine), steal his watch at the station. They had been separated in the crush of passengers when Peachy finds the insignia of the Free-masons inscribed on the watch, and as a fellow mason he knows he must return it. Much later in the film, this link leads into the title of the story. What follows introduces us to his friend, Daniel (Connery), and their journey across India, through the Khyber Pass and into Kafiristan in the Hindu Kush, in search of their fortunes.
The photography does justice to the stunning beauty of the terrain as the pair have various adventures on camels, then mules and finally on foot, up into the snow clad mountains. They eventually are able to put their soldiering skills to good use and build up an army of followers as they move from village to village, freeing the innocents from the tyranny of warring bands until they reach their goal.
At their final destination, Daniel is greeted as a god and crowned as a descendant of Alexander the Great, when it is found that he wears the free-mason insignia. The jewels, gold and precious stones waiting for Alexander’s ‘son’, cause the pairs’ eyes to pop out of their heads – and it is all theirs’ for the taking. However, the idolatry goes to Daniel’s head and Peachy can’t persuade him to leave. So at the end we see the essential differences between the two friends – one whose swaggering arrogance comes to the fore, and the other who stays canny to the end. Great entertainment.
What a pity that we didn’t have a bigger audience to enjoy this classic. But, the friendly folk who came, stayed on to help Nick, the projectionist, pack up the screen and take down the speakers, before carrying the considerable amount of equipment out to his car. Thank you one and all.
February
‘Ratatouille’
The February movie was ‘Ratatouille’, chosen as a film for half-term with appeal for all the family. The story revolved around Remy the Rat who had grand aspirations of becoming a great chef. He pals up with Linguine, a boy with very little talent, and their adventures in the kitchen of an elegant restaurant produced the laughs. There are the inevitable ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’, a love interest and last minute dramas for Remy and Linguine to overcome. But eventually all works out for the best and we all left the Woodway Room with a smile on our faces.
January
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Our first afternoon screening was very well received by the small audience who came along.
‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’ was all that we remembered it to be: huge fun from beginning to end. With the beautiful voice of Jane Powell and the honeyed baritone of Howard Keel taking us back to an era before women’s lib and political correctness. Those were the days when girls (apparently) were just waiting to be carried off by handsome, virile men so that they could keep them at arms’ length until they were prepared to marry them.
Although at least half the audience was well below retirement age, they all found the lovely songs and athletic dancing to be quite a contrast to, and just as entertaining as, the more sophisticated and raunchy fare that is presented in modern musicals. Several of us were tempted to sing along with, ‘Bless your beautiful hide.’ and, ‘They say when you’re married in June, you’re a bride all your life...’ Even the cardboard scenery, plastic flowers (and, was it a fake avalanche?) could not detract from a good old Hollywood musical. This was certainly romantic, escapist bliss.
Afterwards, over the tea & biscuits, we found that we had a Doris Day fan in our midst. We then vied with one another to remember which other musicals Jane Powell had been in, and couldn’t remember any. But when the discussion turned to Howard Keel, we were reminded that he had starred with Doris Day in ‘Calamity Jane’ and appeared on TV, in Dallas.
The next matinee is a family film for half-term, so we hope to see some of you with your children or grandchildren.
CHUDLEIGH FILM SOCIETY
