Movie, 1959 A curious film, which is neither thriller, satire nor comedy but has a potshot at each of them along the way. The result feels a little downbeat, though reasonably enjoyable, with an odd, jarring ‘Third Man’ dramatic photo composition here and there and the odd moment of real discomfort along the way. More, you feel, could have been made if the film went more … Continue reading ‘Our Man in Havana,’ directed by Carol Reed
Novel, 1959 Slim fiction featuring the titular, deeply unreliable narrator trying to find her way in the world with a dominated mother, abusive father, deaf and dumb best friend and a hint and a suggestion of a life partner. This is a gothic tale which deals with vivisectionists and levitation with a sing-song, almost matter of fact tone, given a rich immediacy through the use … Continue reading “The Vet’s Daughter”, by Barbara Comyns
Movie, 1959 Lightweight caper, hugely foreshadowing the plot Hanna-Barbera rehashed so many times for Scooby Doo. Three kids hide out in a haunted castle, trying to help the titular ghost reconnect with its head, but having to deal with obstacles along the way. If this was a sharp cracking, effects-driven family frenzy, it’d struggle. Given the film’s vintage, the love interest and castle’s apparent hard … Continue reading “The Headless Ghost,” directed by Peter Graham Scott
Movie, 1959 Horror in glorious, gaudy colour, in which the plot and any suspense is demystified almost from the off, leaving space for some pretty sadistic, well directed gore, in which there’s a pleasing mix of cruelty, inevitability, melodrama and ghastly deeds which are every bit as unseen as they are visible. In a film of this vintage and manners, there are still a couple … Continue reading “Horrors of the Black Museum”, directed by Arthur Crabtree
Novel, 1959 Poetic, mythical account of boyhood, with what appears to be an exercise in the free association ultimately sabotaging the flow of any kind of narrative. There is, undeniably, some fine writing here, and some rich ideas, atmosphere and imagery. The problem is that it doesn’t hang together or deliver in any kind of a coherent way. Something of a shame perhaps, although it’s … Continue reading “Doctor Sax”, by Jack Kerouac
Movie, 1959 Curious and not entirely convincing caper about a group of shady ex-servicemen who are gathered together to rob a bank. At times, this film exerts a certain charm with some great actors playing lovable characters; at others the viewer might be confused, wondering what kind of picture they’re watching, exactly. As a comedy, there are very few laughs; as a heist thriller, the … Continue reading “The League of Gentlemen” directed by Basil Dearden
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