A Canterbury Tale- A 1944 Movie Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger- One Hour Thirty Eight Minutes

 

A Canterbury Tale is a 1944 British film directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It is a modern-day retelling of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, set during World War II. The film follows three pilgrims on their way to Canterbury: British Army Sergeant Peter Gibbs (Dennis Price), U.S. Army Sergeant Bob Johnson (John Sweet), and a "Land Girl", Miss Alison Smith (Sheila Sim).

The three pilgrims are delayed in the small town of Chillingbourne when Bob mistakenly gets off the train. They soon find themselves drawn into a mystery involving a serial criminal who is putting glue in women's hair. Alison becomes the latest victim of the glue-slinger, and the three pilgrims must work together to solve the mystery and catch the culprit.

The film is a complex and multi-layered work that explores themes of faith, patriotism, and the English national character. It is also a visually stunning film, with some of the most iconic images in British cinema.

A Canterbury Tale is a unique and unforgettable film that is still relevant today. It is a celebration of the human spirit and a powerful testament to the power of community.

I loved the marvelous open of the play when the opening of The Canterbury Tales is read.

The spreading of glue into the hair of women is a very odd, creepy crime.

The film has a deep sense and love for English history. The impact of the on going war is a marvel to treasure.  

Gone to Earth - A 1950 Film - Directed and written by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger - Run Time One Hour Fifty Minutes

Available on YouTube 

Some visceral reactions

1. The Casting of Jennifer Jones is brilliant 

2. I love Foxy

3. Traditional English Fox Hunting is vile.

4. The film beautifully evokes a pagan England

Gone to Earth is a 1950 British Technicolor film created by the director-writer team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It stars Jennifer Jones, David Farrar, Cyril Cusack and Esmond Knight. The film was significantly changed for the American market by David O. Selznick and retitled The Wild Heart in 1952.

The film is based on the 1917 novel of the same name by author Mary Webb. 

The film is set in the Shropshire countryside in 1897. Hazel Woodus (Jennifer Jones) is a child of nature who loves and understands all of the wild animals more than she does the people around her. She is also a bit of a witch, and she consults the book of spells and charms left to her by her gypsy mother. Her father is a coffin maker and a musician. He and his daughter, his only child, have a relationship fraught with quarrels and deep love.

Local squire Jack Reddin (David Farrar) sees Hazel and wants her for himself. But Hazel has already promised herself to the Baptist minister Edward Marston (Cyril Cusack). A struggle for Hazel's body and soul ensues.

Gone to Earth is a beautifully shot and atmospheric film. It is also a complex and challenging film that explores themes of love, passion, nature, and religion. The film was not a commercial success when it was first released, but it has since come to be regarded as one of Powell and Pressburger's best films.

Mel Ulm

Black Narcissus- A 1947 Film Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger 101 Minutes

Available on YouTube

Black Narcissus is based on the 1939 novel of the same name by Rumer Godden. The film stars Deborah Kerr as Sister Clodagh, a headstrong Irish nun who is sent to a remote Himalayan mountaintop to establish a convent. The film also stars Kathleen Byron, Sabu, David Farrar, and Flora Robson.

Black Narcissus is a visually stunning film that explores the themes of colonialism, religion, and sexuality. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered a classic of British cinema

The film begins with Sister Clodagh and her fellow nuns arriving at the palace, which is located in a remote Himalayan valley. The palace is a beautiful and secluded place, but it is also a place of danger and mystery. The nuns soon begin to experience strange and disturbing events, and they start to question their faith.

Sister Clodagh is particularly affected by the events at the palace. She is drawn to the palace's beauty and its sense of isolation, but she is also troubled by its dark history. As the film progresses, Sister Clodagh's faith is shaken

The use of color is beyond marvelous. The background paintings used to create a monastery in the Himalayas are works of great art.

Mel Ulm
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The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp- A 1943 Film Directed ahd and Written by Michael Powell and Emeric - run time 169 Minutes

Of the sixty or so movies I have featured on The Reading Life, this and another film from William Powell and Emeric Pressburger, The Red Shoes, jointly are in first place on my in the works list of favourite films, Mel's Marvelous Movies.

The film stars Roger Livesey as Clive Candy, a British officer who serves in the British Army from the late 19th century to the Second World War. The film follows Candy's life and career, and explores themes of patriotism, nationalism, and the futility of war.

The film was a critical and commercial success, and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won the award for Best Original Screenplay. The film is considered to be one of the greatest British films ever made.

The film is divided into three parts:

The first part, set in the late 19th century, tells the story of Candy's early career in the British Army. He is a young and idealistic officer who is eager to fight for his country.

The second part, set in the First World War, tells the story of Candy's experiences in the trenches. He is a more cynical and disillusioned officer, but he still believes in the importance of fighting for his country.

The third part, set in the Second World War, tells the story of Candy's final years in the British Army. He is a retired officer who is watching the war from the sidelines. He is no longer sure what he believes in, but he still believes in the importance of fighting for what is right

Here are some of the things that make The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp a great film:

The performances: Roger Livesey gives a tour-de-force performance as Clive Candy. He captures the character's evolution from a young and idealistic officer to a cynical and disillusioned one. The supporting cast is also excellent, with Deborah Kerr, Anton Walbrook, and Stanley Holloway all giving memorable performances.

The direction: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger are masters of filmmaking. They use a variety of techniques to tell the story, including flashbacks, dream sequences, and symbolism. The film is visually stunning, and it is full of memorable images

I felt a strong personal identity with both of the lead male characters living now as widowers as do I.

Below is one of the very powerful scenes 

The Archers made 20 films together, it is my hope to post on them all.

Mel Ulm