BFI Southbank Programme Notes

For a Few Dollars More

Morricone grew to resent the focus on his collaboration with Leone, despite his contribution to the ‘Dollars trilogy’ affording him creative freedom. Moreover, it helped shape the tone of the seque...

August 7, 2021 | MORRICONE

The Untouchables

SPOILER WARNING The following notes give away some of the plot. Perhaps the most remarkable moment in Morricone’s collaboration with Brian De Palma is the panpipe air accompanying the death plun...

August 6, 2021 | MORRICONE

Dark Victory

SPOILER WARNING The following notes give away some of the plot. A Long Island socialite (Davis) who lives life to the full is unaware of an unwelcome medical diagnosis while becoming close to the...

August 6, 2021 | BETTE DAVIS – HOLLYWOOD REBEL

The Big Lebowski

The success of Fargo put to rest a long-held myth about the Coen Brothers: that their films were strictly esoteric or enigmatic. This belief seems to be based partly on the way their earlier films ...

August 6, 2021 | BIG SCREEN CLASSICS

The Sparks Brothers

There aren’t many bands who arrive at their 50th anniversary on a creative roll, still luring in new generations of fans, making Top 10 albums, and doing so by releasing music every bit as challeng...

August 6, 2021 | NEW RELEASES

Salò or The 120 Days of Sodom

Morricone and Pasolini One of the first CDs I ever bought was a 1993 compilation of film themes by Ennio Morricone. I remember the cover being pretty uninspiring – five film reels seen through a p...

August 5, 2021 | MORRICONE

Now, Voyager

Nervous spinster Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) is stunted from growing up under the heel of her puritanical Boston Brahmin mother (My Fair Lady’s Gladys Cooper), and remains convinced of her own unw...

August 5, 2021 | RE-RELEASES

Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte

Following the unexpected success of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), Robert Aldrich didn’t look far for a follow-up. Henry Farrell, author of the Baby Jane source novel had an unpublished s...

August 5, 2021 | BETTE DAVIS – HOLLYWOOD REBEL

Les Demoiselles de Rochefort

Following on from the success of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg comes Les Demoiselles de Rochefort – Jacques Demy’s large-scale tribute to the Hollywood musical featuring screen legend Gene Kelly. The...

August 5, 2021 | BIG SCREEN CLASSICS

All About Bette Davis

In this richly illustrated and insightful discussion our invited speakers will explore Bette Davis’ extraordinary career, including her acting style, the key aspects of her star persona, and the fi...

August 5, 2021 | BETTE DAVIS – HOLLYWOOD REBEL

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Over here to publicise her latest film, “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?”, Bette Davis has about as much physical resemblance to the character she plays in it as her 19-year-old Stanley in In This...

August 4, 2021 | BETTE DAVIS – HOLLYWOOD REBEL

The North Water

+ Q&A with director Andrew Haigh and actor Sir Tom Courtenay (in person) plus live via Zoom, actors Colin Farrell and Jack O’Connell. Hosted by broadcaster and critic Rhianna Dhillon. Adapted...

August 4, 2021 | BFI & RADIO TIMES TELEVISION FESTIVAL PRESENTS
TV PREVIEW

Jezebel

Jezebel, that’s where the career really began to take shape. Hal [Wallis] found Jezebel for me. I remember David Selznick wanted to sue us because we came out with it just before Gone with the Wind...

August 4, 2021 | BETTE DAVIS – HOLLYWOOD REBEL

Boyz N the Hood

+ pre-recorded intro by film critic Leila Latif (Wednesday 4 August only) With so much of John Singleton’s film raging against the curtailing of life, it was painful to read of his sudden, recent ...

August 4, 2021 | BIG SCREEN CLASSICS

What the Hell Is It This Time?
Sparks Live in London

+ intro by Edgar Wright Dive into the Maelstrom with this full-length live Sparks concert, filmed on their most recent world tour at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town in May 2018. An infectiously energ...

August 3, 2021 | SONIC CINEMA

Earwig and the Witch

What’s it about? Ten-year-old orphan Earwig is taken in by a witch, who teaches her how to cast magic spells in return for helping around the house. With the aid of a talking cat, Earwig starts to ...

August 3, 2021 | BFI FAMILIES

Bright Star

SPOILER WARNING The following notes give away some of the plot. Jane Campion on ‘Bright Star’ Did you have a particular idea about the Romantics that led you to make Bright Star ? I’d read Richa...

August 3, 2021 | BIG SCREEN CLASSICS

All about Eve

Davis is on prime, imperious form in All about Eve, imbuing acclaimed stage actress Margo Channing with the imposing resilience of a woman who’s made it to middle age in an industry that reveres yo...

August 3, 2021 | BETTE DAVIS – HOLLYWOOD REBEL

The Sounds of Ennio Morricone

To launch the Ennio Morricone season, we gather together a panel of special guests to discuss Morricone’s celebrated career as the cinema’s foremost film composer. Through clips and lively convers...

August 2, 2021 | MORRICONE

Pool of London

1951 was something of a vintage year for Ealing Studios: two of its best remembered comedies, Alexander Mackendrick’s The Man in the White Suit and Charles Crichton’s The Lavender Hill Mob, and the...

August 2, 2021 | EARL CAMERON