the uncle

"Custard legs!"
The summer holidays start for 7 year old Gus (Robert Duncan), and with it endless days of playing out. The only downside, is the arrival of his cousin Tom (Christopher Ariss), which starts the other kids teasing him for being an uncle.
A charming boys eye view of childhood on a Plymouth estate in the mid 60's. Nothing much happens of note, other than to show you how carefree and unfettered children where then compared to modern childhood.

they can't hang me (1955)

"Happy Birthday Jill!"
When senior civil servant Robert Pitt (André Morell) is condemned to hang, he tries to parlay his sentance down with a claim that he knows the identity of master spy Leonidas, who is about to smuggle out some top secret information. But will inspector Brown (Terence Morgan) believe him, and uncover the plot before Pitt hangs.
Thriller that shows potential, but lacks focus, with the light hearted banter interupting an otherwise serious drama.

the boy who stole a million (1960)

"Stop him!"
12-year-old Paco (Maurice Reyna) works in a Spanish bank, and takes out an unofficial short-term 'loan' so his father can pay a repair bill on his taxi, and earn the money back. But before he can give his father the money, the bank realises it has been robbed and from then on Paco are on the run, not only from the police, but also crooks who want what Paco has.
Simple comedy / drama rises to another level just by setting it in Valencia, and introducing us its poverty and seedy underbelly.

danger within (1959)

aka Breakout.
"This way Benucci can sit back and watch us fight amongst ourselves."
In a WWII POW camp everyone becomes a suspect When a break out ends up with the escapee being killed. The escape committee leader, Lieutenant Colonel David Baird (Richard Todd), suspects an informer is operating in the camp. The race is on to find the spy and to stage a mass breakout before the camp is handed over to the Germans.
Star studded film, that has the added attraction of being a murder mystery as well as wartime drama.

ladies who do (1963)

"It's uncanny. How does he do it?"
A cleaner (Peggy Mount), lucks onto some insider information, and through her contact The Colonel (Robert Morley), makes a tidy sum. This sets them thinking that if they went in with her fellow cleaners, they could all make some money. Then when she finds out one of her bosses (Harry H. Corbett) has bought her street and plans to knock it down to build flats, the scheme takes on a more earnest turn.
Clichéd look at the East End in 1963, full of self made men determined to 'improve' the lot of the working classes by breaking up communities and scattering them to the winds. But this still proves to be an entertaining comedy, all be it, not one that will have you rolling in the aisles.

hobson's choice (1954)

"Good head for business your daughter..."
Henry Hobson (Charles Laughton), a widower, runs a successful bootmaker's shop, and three disgruntled daughters, as he is determined none will marry, and leave him to fend for himself. But Hobson comes up against an immoveable object, in daughter Maggie (Brenda de Banzie). For Maggie has found Will Mossop (John Mills), the best leather worker in Salford, and has a plan to make her father allow her marriage.
A class production all round, from the script, through direction and especially the acting. All combine to make it a delight to watch the story unfold.

milligan at large no.1 (1961)

aka Spike Milligan Meets Joe Brown. Milligan at large No 1 - Spike Milligan meets Joe Brown.
"This gentlemen, if he keeps still, is Joe Brown, an up and coming beat singer."
Spike, (in voice over), investigates the appeal of Joe Brown, including interviews with Larry Parnes and Jack Good, in his own idiosyncratic way. Fascinating, and entertaining look at the late 50's rock and roll scene in London. British, Comedy, Music, Boulting Brothers, Gerard Bryant, British Lion,

milligan at large no.2 (1961)

aka Milligan at large No 2 - Spike Milligan on Treasure Island. Spike Milligan on Treasure Island."
"Everyone on the street knows about Dick!"
Spike Milligan investigates Tin Pan Alley, following a song, 'Treasure Island', from inception by songwriters Compton and Morgan, through Tin Pan Alley, its recording and eventually the record store, where all the hepcats ignored it.
Entertaining and funny time capsule about the English music scene focused around Denmark Street in the late 50's, prior to the beat boom which changed the industry irreparably.

espresso bongo (1960)

aka A Singing Idol.
"From now on half of everything you earn will go to you."
Johnny Jackson, (Laurence Harvey) is a wheeler dealer talent agent, who discovers reluctant star in the making, Bert Rudge (Cliff Richard). Rechristaned Bongo Herbert, Bert is soon on the road to stardom, but Jackson's success by any means, soon drives a wedge between the two.
Well made film which doesn't shy away from the seedy underbelly of Soho life, counter balanced by a wonderfully comic performance from Harvey.

the wrong arm of the law (1963)

aka Gentlemenkillers.
"No one knows where we are any more."
The London underworld is up in arms, as their tried and tested methods of robbing people are disrupted when a new gang arrives in town, stealing from them by impersonating the police. Thus Police Inspector Parker (Lionel Jeffries) joins up with gangland boss Pearly Gates' (Peter Sellers) in an attempt to catch these interlopers, and return to the status quo.
A classic comedy, where Lionel Jefferies steals the show as the pompous policeman, no mean feat when he's acting against Peter Sellers.

twisted nerve (1968)

"He won't be any trouble."
Martin (Hywel Bennett) is a troubled young man drifting through life, retreating into an alternate personality; that of a six-year old Georgie. Then he meets Susan (Hayley Mills). Infatuated with her, he uses Georgie to wiedle his way into her life, but when she starts to get too close to another lad, Martin snaps...
A supremely subtle portrait of a psychopath, which underplays the horror, to concentrate on the twisted character of Martin.

fright (1972)

"I wish you hadn't said that about the ghost."
A young woman (Susan George) arrives at a house to babysit for Helen and Jim (Honor Blackman and George Cole). But her nerves are soon set on edge when she spots a face at a window. Her unease isn't helped when boyfriend Chris (Denis Waterman) arrives telling her that the child's biological father is in a mental asylum. Annoyed she throws Chris out, then the real father turns up...
Understated horror, that plays on false shocks, whilst developing the creepy atmosphere, in this home alone chiller.

ooh...you are awful (1972)

"How do I get to look at their tattoo's?"
Charlie Tully (Dick Emery) is a conman who has to find out the combination to a fortune deposited in a Swiss bank. The numbers are written as tattoo's on four women. Complicating matters is Sid Sabbath (Derren Nesbitt) and his gang, who are also after the money.
A classic piece of British comedy, i.e. take a popular TV comedy character, and make a lack-luster film. In this instance they take a stock of Dick Emery's TV characters and weave them into a crime story.

just for you (1966)

aka Discotheque Holiday. Disco-Tek Holiday.
"All this lying about makes me dead tired."
A rudimentary plot, where Sam Costa, the DJ, is badgered to get up by his automated bed, but he would rather watch a number of pop videos from the likes of The Applejacks, Peter and Gordon, Louise Cordet, and Freddie and the Dreamers.
A wonderful dip into 60's beat pop.

rising damp (1980)

"Hello boys."
New resident John (Christopher Strauli) is conned by landlord Rigsby (Leonard Rossiter) into sharing a room with Philip (Don Warrington). Philip would rather have a room of his own, which happens to be next door to Ms Jones (Frances de la Tour). She would also like Philip to have a room of his own, so she can get him to herself. Then enters Seymour (Denholm Elliott) on the scene, who is obviously only after one thing from Ms Jones, her money.
The usual British film comedy routine. Take one popular tv series, stretch it to 90 minutes and end up with something weaker and less funny.

the small world of sammy lee (1963)

aka The Small Violent World of Sammy Lee.
"What do you mean you can't accept any more bets from me?"
A compère at a seedy strip club, Sammy Lee (Anthony Newley) is an inveterate gambler. With the subsequent problem of having reached his limit with the bookie, and he want his money, now! Cue Sammy's desperate struggle to keep one step ahead of the bookies heavies whilst wheeling and dealing to make the money he owes.
A film that is packed with early 60's flavour in and around London's Soho district. Based on a BBC play this doesn't sugar coat Sammy or his life, but it's to Newleys credit that you still want him to win out in the end.

till death us do part (1969)

"If the bombs don't kill us, we'll starve to death eating this crap!"
A prequel to the popular TV series. The film gives us the story of Alf Garnett (Warren Mitchell) and his family as they survive the Blitz during WWII and move on from these dark days, charting the ups, the birth of Rita (Una Stubbs), and downs, the break up of the tight-knit community in the 1960's.
Episodic, and slightly flat, but has its moments, mostly when we watch the delight Mrs Garnett (Dandy Nichols) has as Alf inevitably ends up squirming, due to his big mouth and or actions.

don't look now (1973)

"This one who's blind. She's the one that can see."
Laura and John Baxter (Julie Christie & Donald Sutherland) suffer a tragedy when their daughter drowns. To try and work through their loss the couple take a job restoring a Venitian church. Whilst he works, she starts a friendship with a psychic who claims to be able to contact Laura's child. Meanwhile John keeps glimpsing an elusive figure in the narrow streets, a dwarf woman in a red coat...
Famous for its naturalistic sex scene. This builds an unsettling atmosphere around the tragedy of a childs death and the parents subsequent grief, interwined is the serial killer sub-plot, with its faintly ludicrus reveal.

he who rides a tiger (1965)

"Get back!"
Peter Rayston (Tom Bell), is released from prison for the eighth time, having been in and out all his life. True to form, he immediately returns to his life of crime, in an attempt to pay for his lavish lifestyle. Then he meets Joanne (Judi Dench), a single parent, who is reluctant to get mixed up with Peter, but cannot help but be charmed by him, but can he change for her sake?
A mix of doomed romance and b-movie crime drama, well played and stylishly directed with an effortless 60's style.

daleks' invasion earth: 2150 a.d. (1966)

"Forward or you will be exterminated."
The Doctor (Peter Suching) and his companions arrive in the year 2150 to find England overrun by Daleks. They are enslaving people to work in a mine in Bedfordshire, and the Doctor is determined to find out why and stop them.
60's big budget, (compared to the TV series), and unintentionally campy revisioning of the classic TV series.