Millions of people around the world remember when Prince William and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) tied the knot on April 29, 2011.
The day was quite busy for the couple. After their nuptials in front of 1,900 people at Westminster Abbey, the newlyweds greeted thousands of well-wishers from the balcony of Buckingham Palace before attending a luncheon at the Palace hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II with 600 guests followed by a dinner reception hosted by then-Prince Charles for 300 guests.
Here’s more on William and Kate’s big day including who had a hand in selecting their wedding music and which room of the Palace was turned into a nightclub.
Who chose the music for Prince William and Kate’s wedding? Prince William, then-Prince Charles, and Kate Middleton prior to Will and Kate’s evening wedding reception at Buckingham Palace | John Stillwell – Wpa Pool/Getty Images...
The day was quite busy for the couple. After their nuptials in front of 1,900 people at Westminster Abbey, the newlyweds greeted thousands of well-wishers from the balcony of Buckingham Palace before attending a luncheon at the Palace hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II with 600 guests followed by a dinner reception hosted by then-Prince Charles for 300 guests.
Here’s more on William and Kate’s big day including who had a hand in selecting their wedding music and which room of the Palace was turned into a nightclub.
Who chose the music for Prince William and Kate’s wedding? Prince William, then-Prince Charles, and Kate Middleton prior to Will and Kate’s evening wedding reception at Buckingham Palace | John Stillwell – Wpa Pool/Getty Images...
- 4/30/2024
- by Michelle Kapusta
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
King Charles had a romantic surprise for Kate Middleton and Prince William during their 2011 wedding ceremony. The couple, who tied the knot almost 13 years ago, found themselves at the center of a beautiful tribute as they said “I do” at Westminster Abbey less than one year after their engagement announcement.
The king curated music specifically for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding
King Charles leaned on his knowledge of classical music to make choices for music played at the couple’s nuptials, which he revealed to Alan Titchmarsh on Classic FM in 2020. The United Kingdom’s king has been passionate about the genre for many years.
“I love trying to organize some interesting, I hope, pieces of music for certain occasions, particularly for weddings, if people want,” King Charles explained.
“I know my eldest son was quite understanding. He was perfectly happy for me to suggest a few pieces for their wedding,...
The king curated music specifically for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding
King Charles leaned on his knowledge of classical music to make choices for music played at the couple’s nuptials, which he revealed to Alan Titchmarsh on Classic FM in 2020. The United Kingdom’s king has been passionate about the genre for many years.
“I love trying to organize some interesting, I hope, pieces of music for certain occasions, particularly for weddings, if people want,” King Charles explained.
“I know my eldest son was quite understanding. He was perfectly happy for me to suggest a few pieces for their wedding,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Three lighthouse keepers make an astonishing discovery on a remote Scottish island in this tense and powerful thriller
Plenty of beards, glowering stares and the distant susurration of surf in this serviceably tense drama-thriller from screenwriters Joe Bone and Celyn Jones, directed by Kristoffer Nyholm. It has nothing to do with George Sluizer’s horror classic and is based on a true story: the mystery of the Flannan Isles lighthouse in the Outer Hebrides.
In 1900, three lighthouse keepers simply disappeared from that remote island. No one could find any explanation. The apparently supernatural event entered into popular culture, and was the subject of Peter Maxwell Davies’s 1980 opera The Lighthouse, a mystical evocation of suppressed guilt cosmically rolling in with the fog – not a million miles from some ideas in this movie.
Plenty of beards, glowering stares and the distant susurration of surf in this serviceably tense drama-thriller from screenwriters Joe Bone and Celyn Jones, directed by Kristoffer Nyholm. It has nothing to do with George Sluizer’s horror classic and is based on a true story: the mystery of the Flannan Isles lighthouse in the Outer Hebrides.
In 1900, three lighthouse keepers simply disappeared from that remote island. No one could find any explanation. The apparently supernatural event entered into popular culture, and was the subject of Peter Maxwell Davies’s 1980 opera The Lighthouse, a mystical evocation of suppressed guilt cosmically rolling in with the fog – not a million miles from some ideas in this movie.
- 3/28/2019
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Assessing the Legacy of Ken Russell’s Masterpiece 45 Years Later.
Ken Russell’s The Devils (1971) holds the distinct honor of simultaneously being the most controversial and the most banned film of all time. It is a film lauded by film critics as a masterpiece, one that routinely tops Must See and Best Film lists, and yet it is still largely unavailable on DVD and has never been released without the interference of heavy handed studio censorship and edits. It is a film that critics encourage viewers to watch via an illegal stream, simply because it must be seen. So what is it about The Devils that makes it so beloved by everyone but the studio holding the key to its release?
The History
The Devils is based on The Devils of Loudun, a 1952 book by Aldous Huxley, as well as The Devils, a 1960 play by John Whiting. All three tell the story of the 1632 possession of 27 nuns...
Ken Russell’s The Devils (1971) holds the distinct honor of simultaneously being the most controversial and the most banned film of all time. It is a film lauded by film critics as a masterpiece, one that routinely tops Must See and Best Film lists, and yet it is still largely unavailable on DVD and has never been released without the interference of heavy handed studio censorship and edits. It is a film that critics encourage viewers to watch via an illegal stream, simply because it must be seen. So what is it about The Devils that makes it so beloved by everyone but the studio holding the key to its release?
The History
The Devils is based on The Devils of Loudun, a 1952 book by Aldous Huxley, as well as The Devils, a 1960 play by John Whiting. All three tell the story of the 1632 possession of 27 nuns...
- 7/18/2016
- by Jamie Righetti
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Life isn’t easy for witches. Sure, they have magical powers, live for hundreds of years, and can fly around on broomsticks — but it’s not all fun and games. Beyond the stinging social stigma attached to those who witch for a living, there’s also the constant threat of unruly villagers brandishing torches and pitchforks, hungry for a good old-fashioned witch-burning. It’s starkly amusing to recall that the archetypal witch caricature was born out of the cold-blooded, unlawful murder of innocent people, acts committed vainly in the name of religion. On film, the witch is prolific, with countless examples dating back to the dawn of the art form.
When examining the witch film genre, mounting similarities cannot be ignored. Some employ the witch in fairy tales, macabre bedtime stories intended to evoke fear and wonderment in equal measure. Others depict a society gone mad, fingers ever pointed at...
When examining the witch film genre, mounting similarities cannot be ignored. Some employ the witch in fairy tales, macabre bedtime stories intended to evoke fear and wonderment in equal measure. Others depict a society gone mad, fingers ever pointed at...
- 2/17/2016
- by Tony Hinds
- The Film Stage
Special Mention: Dead Ringers
Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by David Cronenberg and Norman Snider
Canada, 1988
Genre: Thriller / Drama
Dead Ringers is one of David Cronenberg’s masterpieces, and Jeremy Irons gives the most highly accomplished performance of his entire career – times two. This is the story of Beverly and Elliot Mantle (both played by Irons), identical twins who, since birth, have been inseparable. Together, they work as gynecologists in their own clinic, and literally share everything between them, including the women they work and sleep with. Jealousy comes between the two when Beverly falls in love with a new patient and decides he no longer wants to share his lady friend with Elliot. The twins, who have always existed together as one, have trouble adapting and soon turn against one another. Unlike the director’s previous films, the biological horror in Dead Ringers is entirely conveyed through the psychological...
Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by David Cronenberg and Norman Snider
Canada, 1988
Genre: Thriller / Drama
Dead Ringers is one of David Cronenberg’s masterpieces, and Jeremy Irons gives the most highly accomplished performance of his entire career – times two. This is the story of Beverly and Elliot Mantle (both played by Irons), identical twins who, since birth, have been inseparable. Together, they work as gynecologists in their own clinic, and literally share everything between them, including the women they work and sleep with. Jealousy comes between the two when Beverly falls in love with a new patient and decides he no longer wants to share his lady friend with Elliot. The twins, who have always existed together as one, have trouble adapting and soon turn against one another. Unlike the director’s previous films, the biological horror in Dead Ringers is entirely conveyed through the psychological...
- 10/29/2015
- by Ricky Fernandes
- SoundOnSight
Family feature will go head-to-head with Under The Skin and Pride.
Jonathan Glazer’s dark sci-fi Under The Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson, is to go up against family comedy Paddington and gay/miners strike feature Pride at the UK’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards.
The awards, which announced its nominees today, will be hosted by Melvyn Gregg in London on June 7.
The TV comedy category will see Michael Winterbottom’s The Trip to Italy, starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, go up against BBC satire W1A, and Sky Living’s Doll & Em. A film version of The Trip To Italy premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
The TV drama category includes Golden Globe winner The Honourable Woman starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, which will compete against crime drama Line of Duty and Happy Valley.
Full list of nominees
Dance
A Dream within a Midsummer Night’s Dream - Ballet Black
Lest We Forget - English National Ballet...
Jonathan Glazer’s dark sci-fi Under The Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson, is to go up against family comedy Paddington and gay/miners strike feature Pride at the UK’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards.
The awards, which announced its nominees today, will be hosted by Melvyn Gregg in London on June 7.
The TV comedy category will see Michael Winterbottom’s The Trip to Italy, starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, go up against BBC satire W1A, and Sky Living’s Doll & Em. A film version of The Trip To Italy premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
The TV drama category includes Golden Globe winner The Honourable Woman starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, which will compete against crime drama Line of Duty and Happy Valley.
Full list of nominees
Dance
A Dream within a Midsummer Night’s Dream - Ballet Black
Lest We Forget - English National Ballet...
- 4/10/2015
- by mam27@bu.edu (Monica Mendoza)
- ScreenDaily
Derek Jarman is remembered as an innovative film-maker and artist but his stage work is key to his career – even his own residence was a performance
Derek Jarman wandered into theatre, as he did into much of his creative life. The stage design department at the Slade School of Art in 1963 was casually structured, and, for the era, an uncloseted zone of gaiety. He'd previously slapped a distemper brush on scenes for Lorca's Blood Wedding and other plays put on by fellow students at King's College, London. He had not seen much theatre, as movies – even concerts – came cheaper; the first production that really excited him was Peter Brook's short and gory staging of Antonin Artaud's Spurt of Blood in the RSC's 1964 Theatre of Cruelty season.
Jarman put a lot of effort into his design course, outlining a surreal play, The Billboard Promised Land (a mashup of The Wizard of Oz...
Derek Jarman wandered into theatre, as he did into much of his creative life. The stage design department at the Slade School of Art in 1963 was casually structured, and, for the era, an uncloseted zone of gaiety. He'd previously slapped a distemper brush on scenes for Lorca's Blood Wedding and other plays put on by fellow students at King's College, London. He had not seen much theatre, as movies – even concerts – came cheaper; the first production that really excited him was Peter Brook's short and gory staging of Antonin Artaud's Spurt of Blood in the RSC's 1964 Theatre of Cruelty season.
Jarman put a lot of effort into his design course, outlining a surreal play, The Billboard Promised Land (a mashup of The Wizard of Oz...
- 3/9/2014
- by Veronica Horwell
- The Guardian - Film News
BBC Radio 3 produces little-known screenplay The Beach of Falesa, taken up by Richard Burton but never made into a film
It is not a typical Dylan Thomas subject – murder, mystery and intrigue in the South Pacific – and the script he wrote, despite being bought by the actor Richard Burton, never developed into the film he was hoping for.
But now at least it will be performed on the airwaves. Radio 3 has said it will broadcast the world premiere of the all but forgotten work The Beach of Falesa.
The drama will be broadcast in May to mark the centenary of Thomas's birth and will be the first production of the little-known piece.
Matthew Dodd, head of Radio 3 speech programmes, called the production a "fantastic thing" for the station and said it continued a relationship with Thomas that went back 50 years – it was the Third Programme, Radio 3's predecessor, that first broadcast Under Milk Wood.
It is not a typical Dylan Thomas subject – murder, mystery and intrigue in the South Pacific – and the script he wrote, despite being bought by the actor Richard Burton, never developed into the film he was hoping for.
But now at least it will be performed on the airwaves. Radio 3 has said it will broadcast the world premiere of the all but forgotten work The Beach of Falesa.
The drama will be broadcast in May to mark the centenary of Thomas's birth and will be the first production of the little-known piece.
Matthew Dodd, head of Radio 3 speech programmes, called the production a "fantastic thing" for the station and said it continued a relationship with Thomas that went back 50 years – it was the Third Programme, Radio 3's predecessor, that first broadcast Under Milk Wood.
- 1/30/2014
- by Mark Brown
- The Guardian - Film News
Washington, Dec 31: Actresses Angela Lansbury and Penelope Keith have topped the New Year's Honours list, which for the first time features more women than men.
Around 611 women make up the majority (51 percent) of the list, while the previous highest proportion was 47 percent, the BBC reported.
Former Wimbledon champion Ann Jones and football boss Karren Brady became CBEs, while Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones becomes an MBE in the honour list.
DJ Pete Tong received an MBE and composer and conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who is Master of the Queen's Music, became a Companion of Honour.
Other.
Around 611 women make up the majority (51 percent) of the list, while the previous highest proportion was 47 percent, the BBC reported.
Former Wimbledon champion Ann Jones and football boss Karren Brady became CBEs, while Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones becomes an MBE in the honour list.
DJ Pete Tong received an MBE and composer and conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who is Master of the Queen's Music, became a Companion of Honour.
Other.
- 12/31/2013
- by Shiva Prakash
- RealBollywood.com
Every year, we here at Sound On Sight celebrate the month of October with 31 Days of Horror; and every year, I update the list of my favourite horror films ever made. Last year, I released a list that included 150 picks. This year, I’ll be upgrading the list, making minor alterations, changing the rankings, adding new entries, and possibly removing a few titles. I’ve also decided to publish each post backwards this time for one reason: the new additions appear lower on my list, whereas my top 50 haven’t changed much, except for maybe in ranking. Enjoy!
Special Mention:
Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking dance routines and unique vocals have influenced generations of musicians, dancers, and entertainers. He was one of entertainment’s greatest icons, and like most gifted individuals, he was always pushing boundaries, reinventing himself, and testing his limits. One of his biggest accomplishments was Thriller, a 14-minute...
Special Mention:
Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking dance routines and unique vocals have influenced generations of musicians, dancers, and entertainers. He was one of entertainment’s greatest icons, and like most gifted individuals, he was always pushing boundaries, reinventing himself, and testing his limits. One of his biggest accomplishments was Thriller, a 14-minute...
- 10/17/2013
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
CineVue has teamed up with the BFI this month to offer Two lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to see the late Ken Russell's 1971 cult classic The Devils on Friday 9 November at the BFI Southbank (8:45pm), as part of their Uncut season. Featuring magnificent performances from Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, as well as Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' sublimely dissonant score, The Devils stands as a profound commentary on religious hysteria, political persecution and moral corruption. This is an exclusive competition for our Facebook and Twitter fans, so if you haven't already, 'Like' us at facebook.com/CineVueUK or follow us @CineVue before answering the question below.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 11/2/2012
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
(Ken Russell, 1971, BFI, 18)
Ken Russell's best work was done by the early 1970s. First his poetic TV essays on Elgar and Delius. Then, for the big screen, his bravely flamboyant adaptation of Lawrence's Women in Love and this sensational adaptation of John Whiting's 1961 RSC play, based on The Devils of Loudun, Aldous Huxley's remarkable 1952 study of how the church and state conspired to exploit an apparent case of demonic possession in 17th-century France in order to destroy Father Urbain Grandier, a charismatic libertine who challenged their authority. The censors, the film's Hollywood producers and the tabloid press reacted to the film much the way the French authorities did to Grandier in 1634, and this excellent double-disc box contains the longest version yet released of this much cut movie, accompanied by a commentary (by Mark Kermode, Russell and others) and a documentary by Kermode and Paul Joyce that sets...
Ken Russell's best work was done by the early 1970s. First his poetic TV essays on Elgar and Delius. Then, for the big screen, his bravely flamboyant adaptation of Lawrence's Women in Love and this sensational adaptation of John Whiting's 1961 RSC play, based on The Devils of Loudun, Aldous Huxley's remarkable 1952 study of how the church and state conspired to exploit an apparent case of demonic possession in 17th-century France in order to destroy Father Urbain Grandier, a charismatic libertine who challenged their authority. The censors, the film's Hollywood producers and the tabloid press reacted to the film much the way the French authorities did to Grandier in 1634, and this excellent double-disc box contains the longest version yet released of this much cut movie, accompanied by a commentary (by Mark Kermode, Russell and others) and a documentary by Kermode and Paul Joyce that sets...
- 3/25/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Dread Central and genre fans alike were shocked and saddened last year with the passing of a great auteur – Ken Russell. UK fans can now look forward to a fitting DVD tribute to one of his best works courtesy of the British Film Institute.
The Oliver Reed film The Devils features a bumper treasure trove of extra material and the original X-rated print of the flick!
From the Press Release:
BFI has announced the release of The Devils for the 19th of March, priced at around £19.99. Details of bonus material can be found below, along with the artwork.
DVD premiere presentation of the original UK X certificate version Newly filmed introduction with broadcaster and critic Mark Kermode (2012, 2 mins) Audio commentary with Ken Russell, Mark Kermode, editor Michael Bradsell and Paul Joyce Hell on Earth (Paul Joyce, 2002, 48 mins): documentary exploring the film's production and the controversy surrounding its original release...
The Oliver Reed film The Devils features a bumper treasure trove of extra material and the original X-rated print of the flick!
From the Press Release:
BFI has announced the release of The Devils for the 19th of March, priced at around £19.99. Details of bonus material can be found below, along with the artwork.
DVD premiere presentation of the original UK X certificate version Newly filmed introduction with broadcaster and critic Mark Kermode (2012, 2 mins) Audio commentary with Ken Russell, Mark Kermode, editor Michael Bradsell and Paul Joyce Hell on Earth (Paul Joyce, 2002, 48 mins): documentary exploring the film's production and the controversy surrounding its original release...
- 3/8/2012
- by Aaron Williams
- DreadCentral.com
It’s always sad when an actor or filmmaker dies, and in 2011 we have had to mourn the loss of many great stars of past and present. Pete Postlethwaite, John Barry, Maria Schneider, Jane Russell, Michael Gough, Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Lumet, Peter Falk – all great losses, many of them at much too young an age. Only ten days ago John Neville, the delightfully charismatic star of Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, passed away peacefully aged 86.
But perhaps none of these deaths should be mourned more than that of Ken Russell, who died this week in his sleep at the ripe old age of 84. Aside from his short-lived and ill-advised appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, his name will be unfamiliar to the majority of young filmgoers – people who didn’t grow up with his biopics of Elgar and Mahler, people who didn’t spend their twenties listening to Who records,...
But perhaps none of these deaths should be mourned more than that of Ken Russell, who died this week in his sleep at the ripe old age of 84. Aside from his short-lived and ill-advised appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, his name will be unfamiliar to the majority of young filmgoers – people who didn’t grow up with his biopics of Elgar and Mahler, people who didn’t spend their twenties listening to Who records,...
- 11/29/2011
- by Daniel Mumby
- Obsessed with Film
Naked wrestling, religious mania and The Who's Tommy: director Ken Russell transformed British cinema. His closest collaborators recall a fierce, funny and groundbreaking talent
Glenda Jackson
I worked with Ken on six films. Women in Love was the first time I'd worked with a director of that genius, and on a film of that size. What I remember most was the creative and productive atmosphere on set: he was open to ideas from everyone, from the clapperboard operator upwards. Like any great director, he knew what he didn't want – but was open to everything else.
As a director he never said anything very specific. He'd say, "It needs to be a bit more … urrrgh, or a bit less hmmm", and you knew exactly what he meant. I used to ask him why he never said "Cut", and he said, "Because it means you always do something different." They gave...
Glenda Jackson
I worked with Ken on six films. Women in Love was the first time I'd worked with a director of that genius, and on a film of that size. What I remember most was the creative and productive atmosphere on set: he was open to ideas from everyone, from the clapperboard operator upwards. Like any great director, he knew what he didn't want – but was open to everything else.
As a director he never said anything very specific. He'd say, "It needs to be a bit more … urrrgh, or a bit less hmmm", and you knew exactly what he meant. I used to ask him why he never said "Cut", and he said, "Because it means you always do something different." They gave...
- 11/29/2011
- by Melissa Denes, Laura Barnett
- The Guardian - Film News
Following the initial announcement last week, we’ve managed to get our hands on the artwork (pictured above) and full details on the BFI’s release of Ken Russell’s controversial film The Devils, and sadly it’s only half as good as we expected… First the bad news, there will be no Blu-ray release of the film.
Why? Well it seems the BFI have only managed to acquire the original British X cut of the film and not the restored and extended version that has been doing the rounds since 2004, as the the 2004 edition exists only as an Sd Digibeta, and its release would warrant a full HD restoration – which Warner’s will not stump up the cash for (be grateful they’ve at least licensed the film to the BFI seems to be what everyone is saying).
But what will be included on this 2-disc DVD release are a whole heap of extras,...
Why? Well it seems the BFI have only managed to acquire the original British X cut of the film and not the restored and extended version that has been doing the rounds since 2004, as the the 2004 edition exists only as an Sd Digibeta, and its release would warrant a full HD restoration – which Warner’s will not stump up the cash for (be grateful they’ve at least licensed the film to the BFI seems to be what everyone is saying).
But what will be included on this 2-disc DVD release are a whole heap of extras,...
- 11/26/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Thirty years after it was originally released and seven years after the restored version of maverick director Ken Russell’s The Devils was screened at The National Film Theatre in London, the British Film Institute have announced that they are to finally release the film on DVD in the UK. The Devils remains one of Russell’s most controversial works, causing outrage when one of the longest-running battles with the BBFC was resolved and it opened in cinemas. However, Russell went on to win a Best Director prize at Venice, and the film’s reputation has continued to grow over the decades.
From the press release:
The Devils is based on events that took place in 17th century Loudun, when an alleged mass possession of nuns swept through a convent. The film features a magnificent performance from Oliver Reed as a priest, whose presence triggers an erotic obsession in Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave,...
From the press release:
The Devils is based on events that took place in 17th century Loudun, when an alleged mass possession of nuns swept through a convent. The film features a magnificent performance from Oliver Reed as a priest, whose presence triggers an erotic obsession in Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave,...
- 11/17/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
The British Film Institute has announced today that it'll be giving Ken Russell's The Devils (1971) its first-ever release on DVD next year on March 19. Mark Kermode, who's championed Russell's work for years (and yes, that includes the late work) — here he is in 2008 calling for a release of The Devils in its complete form — says: "Ken Russell is one of Britain's greatest living filmmakers and The Devils remains his most incendiary work — an extraordinary and impassioned depiction of the unholy marriage of church and state which is as relevant today as it was when the film was first released."
Which is when it was promptly banned in several countries (see the Wikipedia entry for details), even though Russell would win Best Director awards in Venice and from the National Board of Review in the Us. The BFI: "The Devils is based on events that took place in 17th century Loudun,...
Which is when it was promptly banned in several countries (see the Wikipedia entry for details), even though Russell would win Best Director awards in Venice and from the National Board of Review in the Us. The BFI: "The Devils is based on events that took place in 17th century Loudun,...
- 11/15/2011
- MUBI
'I didn't ever decide I was going to be a composer. It was like being tall. It's what I was. It's what I did'
Sidney Lumet's 1974 film version of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express was something of a landmark in crime cinema. The star-studded cast (Bacall, Bergman, Connery, Finney, Gielgud, Redgrave . . .) and lavish production values provided both the template for later movie adaptations of Christie's work and paved the way for the successful trend of high-end television crime series. Richard Rodney Bennett, who had been writing for the screen since he was 18, and who was a technically brilliant classical composer with a deep knowledge of 1930s popular music, was an ideal choice to write the score.
"Stephen Sondheim recommended me," recalls Bennett. "And as soon as I saw the rushes I told Sidney that no one in their right mind was going to be scared out their wits by Agatha Christie.
Sidney Lumet's 1974 film version of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express was something of a landmark in crime cinema. The star-studded cast (Bacall, Bergman, Connery, Finney, Gielgud, Redgrave . . .) and lavish production values provided both the template for later movie adaptations of Christie's work and paved the way for the successful trend of high-end television crime series. Richard Rodney Bennett, who had been writing for the screen since he was 18, and who was a technically brilliant classical composer with a deep knowledge of 1930s popular music, was an ideal choice to write the score.
"Stephen Sondheim recommended me," recalls Bennett. "And as soon as I saw the rushes I told Sidney that no one in their right mind was going to be scared out their wits by Agatha Christie.
- 7/22/2011
- by Nicholas Wroe
- The Guardian - Film News
The axe has fallen on the arts. Were the cuts fair? As some groups celebrate and others face oblivion, David Hare, Stephen Poliakoff, Jude Kelly and more give their verdicts
Richard Eyre: director
What Arts Council England has done seems quite smart. Equal misery for all would have been deplorable, and lazy. Instead, they've applied the more substantial cuts to the larger organisations, which have a better chance of raising funding through other means. The National theatre, for instance, has been cut by 15%: I imagine that's roughly what they were expecting, and they can pull in sponsorship to make up the shortfall.
Ace has been intelligent in deciding which organsations should receive increases, or be brought into the new portfolio of funded companies; Ace has thoughtfully applied criteria based around talent and risk-taking. The Barbican and the Arcola in London are deserved recipients of their rises [of 108% and 82% respectively]. But I...
Richard Eyre: director
What Arts Council England has done seems quite smart. Equal misery for all would have been deplorable, and lazy. Instead, they've applied the more substantial cuts to the larger organisations, which have a better chance of raising funding through other means. The National theatre, for instance, has been cut by 15%: I imagine that's roughly what they were expecting, and they can pull in sponsorship to make up the shortfall.
Ace has been intelligent in deciding which organsations should receive increases, or be brought into the new portfolio of funded companies; Ace has thoughtfully applied criteria based around talent and risk-taking. The Barbican and the Arcola in London are deserved recipients of their rises [of 108% and 82% respectively]. But I...
- 3/30/2011
- by Laura Barnett, Nosheen Iqbal
- The Guardian - Film News
From the Oscar-winning Inside Job to heartthrob physicist Professor Brian Cox, documentaries are now one of our most valuable – but neglected – art forms
You lose count of the number of times you hear documentaries trashed. The argument is as old as the documentary, and it goes like this. Docs manipulate reality, over-relying on effects such as music. They aren't really journalistic at all. Maybe one should think of them as drama without actors, cheaply made and with few pretensions to seriousness. Shamelessly, they pander to our worst voyeuristic impulses. Under the guise of telling the truth, docs entertain us with lies.
It would be more accurate to say that documentaries are among the most valuable, neglected cultural forms of our time. They aren't all good, to be sure, but the best are unusual, persuasive, seductive. And their success has something to do with the way they are taken for granted,...
You lose count of the number of times you hear documentaries trashed. The argument is as old as the documentary, and it goes like this. Docs manipulate reality, over-relying on effects such as music. They aren't really journalistic at all. Maybe one should think of them as drama without actors, cheaply made and with few pretensions to seriousness. Shamelessly, they pander to our worst voyeuristic impulses. Under the guise of telling the truth, docs entertain us with lies.
It would be more accurate to say that documentaries are among the most valuable, neglected cultural forms of our time. They aren't all good, to be sure, but the best are unusual, persuasive, seductive. And their success has something to do with the way they are taken for granted,...
- 3/20/2011
- by Nick Fraser
- The Guardian - Film News
One thing I truly love about cinema is the way in which films can make an audience think, to ignite a spark in their minds, provoking thoughts that never would have occurred otherwise and send them off in new directions, contemplating new ideas and viewpoints. One of the most exciting ways that cinema often achieves this is through confrontation, dangerous and exciting cinema that pulls no punches and feels dangerous.
One such dangerous film is Ken Russell’s 1971 The Devils, screened last week as part of Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival with Ken Russell himself in attendance. The film takes place in 17th century France and focuses on Father Grandier, played by Oliver Reed giving probably the best performance of his career. Grandier is a sexually adventurous priest who, despite what appears to be genuine faith and devotion to god, pushes the boundaries of what is morally acceptable at the time,...
One such dangerous film is Ken Russell’s 1971 The Devils, screened last week as part of Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival with Ken Russell himself in attendance. The film takes place in 17th century France and focuses on Father Grandier, played by Oliver Reed giving probably the best performance of his career. Grandier is a sexually adventurous priest who, despite what appears to be genuine faith and devotion to god, pushes the boundaries of what is morally acceptable at the time,...
- 7/26/2010
- by Craig Skinner
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The agent of British Queen Elizabeth's official composer has been jailed after defrauding him of £500,000. Royal musician Sir Peter Maxwell Davies said he was "delighted" after Michael Arnold, 76, was sentenced to 18 months in prison yesterday (02.11.09) after taking money from his client from 1990 onwards and even said he might use the case as inspiration. Sir Peter said: "I am delighted at the sentence. I wish I had never met Michael Arnold and I am glad he has been jailed. "I went through some very difficult times because of him and I am glad it is now resolved and I can move on. I may even set it all to music. Who knows? That would be the...
- 11/3/2009
- Monsters and Critics
Britain's Queen Elizabeth's composer has been defrauded to the tune of £500,000. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' former manager Michael Arnold admitted stealing the vast sum at, allegedly to fund his online gambling habit, at London's Kingston Crown Court yesterday (08.09.09). Davies, 75, said: "I am relieved that this situation is now reaching a conclusion after so long." Arnold, 75, was in charge of Davies' affairs for 30 years and was a director of his classical music downloading company Max-Opus. Another charge of taking £447,000 - made against Arnold and his wife Judith, 73 - was dropped. Arnold will be sentenced on October 20. Davies lives in Orkney, north of Scotland, with his partner Colin Parkinson. He is understood to have...
- 9/9/2009
- Monsters and Critics
Britain's Queen Elizabeth's composer has been defrauded to the tune of £500,000 [5,000]. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' former manager Michael Arnold admitted stealing the vast sum, allegedly to fund his online gambling habit, at London's Kingston Crown Court Tuesday.
Davies, 75, said: "I am relieved that this situation is now reaching a conclusion after so long."
Arnold, 75, was in charge of Davies' affairs for 30 years and was a director of his classical music downloading company Max-Opus.
Another charge of taking £447,000 [7,000] - made against Arnold and his wife Judith, 73 - was dropped.
Davies, 75, said: "I am relieved that this situation is now reaching a conclusion after so long."
Arnold, 75, was in charge of Davies' affairs for 30 years and was a director of his classical music downloading company Max-Opus.
Another charge of taking £447,000 [7,000] - made against Arnold and his wife Judith, 73 - was dropped.
- 9/9/2009
- icelebz.com
Britain's Queen Elizabeth's composer is writing a "comic opera" poking fun at the MPs' expenses scandal. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is so annoyed by the fraudulent expense claims made by British MPs - which include claims for pornographic films and moat cleaning costs - he has decided to express his anger through song. He explained: "Like everybody else I'm outraged over the extent and depth of the MPs' expenses claims. I am registering and expressing my disgust the best way I can - through my music. "I may even invite a few MPs to the opening night - they will of course want free tickets, but be able to claim them on expenses for some fictitious fee!" Calling MPs a...
- 6/23/2009
- Monsters and Critics
Britain's Queen Elizabeth's composer is writing a "comic opera" poking fun at the MPs' expenses scandal. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is so annoyed by the fraudulent expense claims made by British MPs - which include claims for pornographic films and moat cleaning costs - he has decided to express his anger through song.
He explained: "Like everybody else I'm outraged over the extent and depth of the MPs' expenses claims. I am registering and expressing my disgust the best way I can - through my music."
"I may even invite a few MPs to the opening night - they will of course want free tickets, but be able to claim them on expenses for some fictitious fee!"
Calling MPs a "public disgrace", Davies added he also plans to take British bankers - who many blame for the UK's ongoing financial crisis - to task.
He explained: "Like everybody else I'm outraged over the extent and depth of the MPs' expenses claims. I am registering and expressing my disgust the best way I can - through my music."
"I may even invite a few MPs to the opening night - they will of course want free tickets, but be able to claim them on expenses for some fictitious fee!"
Calling MPs a "public disgrace", Davies added he also plans to take British bankers - who many blame for the UK's ongoing financial crisis - to task.
- 6/23/2009
- icelebz.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.