A film to watch

Posted on December 10, 2023 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Angel, Black and white film, Caring, classic?, humanity, it's a wonderful life, James Stewart8 Comments

“When you hear a bell ring an angel gets its wings”.

I was feeling very down this morning. I couldn’t see the point of things. I sat down and put the TV on. “It’s a Wonderful Life” with James Stewart was just starting.

Have you ever seen it? It’s an old film with a man who takes over a savings and loan company and supports all of his community, even when things are bad he sorts them out. But one day some money goes missing and he is about to lose everything. Meanwhile because everybody is praying for him, an angel (second class) is tasked to save him. It’s not a religious film and it’s very heartwarming and yet emotional to watch. It’s very humanitarian and caring.

If you like old films, and James Stewart, give it a go. Truly 5 stars.

Watching a Wonderful Life

Posted on December 25, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged a wonderful life, Black and white film, classic?, Comedy, Film, James Stewart, Old film2 Comments

Christmas is the time I like to watch old films, cheerful and poignant. Today I had the pleasure of watching James Stewart in a Wonderful life. Its a lot more complex than I remember it. Stewart plays George Bailey who runs a small savings and loan company. He is up against a villain called Potter who wants to own Stewarts company as well as everything else in the town. The story turns on a mishap with the companies money. Stewart in desperation want to kill himself, but is shown a world without himself, and doesnt like what he finds. I’m not posting any spoilers. Watch it if you can!

Black and white films

Posted on August 7, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Black and white film, celebrity, Film, film noir, Hollywood, Old fashioned, Stars, ThinkingLeave a comment

Oh I love a good black and white film noir film. Lots of riddles to solve. Not too much actual violence. Tension rising, suspenseful music (we sometimes have the subtitles on for hubby and it will say ‘suspenseful music’, ‘door creaking’ and other remarks). The films often have a moral point that makes it impossible for the victim to make a bad decision, like killing the suspected murderer before they themselves are killed. Usually they seem to have to go through great distress and danger before surviving/escaping their fate.

What I like is, despite being farfetched, they are less violent, less verbally abusive, and more thought provoking. In other words its not like watching a film that is more like a video game. I think I prefer a time of old fashioned films, real Hollywood a listers and less ‘celebrity’.

Favourite A Christmas Carol film

Posted on December 25, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged 1951, A Christmas Carol, Alistair Sim, Black and white film, Film, Life, Scrooge, TimeLeave a comment

There are lots of film versions of A Christmas Carol by Charles Darwin. Of them there are several that I really enjoyed. One with Sir Patrick Stewart starring in it, and also Micheal Caine in Muppet Christmas Carol. But my favourite is Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, starring Alistair Sim.

Made in Black and White in 1951, it tells the story of the transformation of the miser, Scrooge, following his haunting by first, his deceased partner Jacob Martley, and then the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

Over the course of the film Scrooge learns that his ideas of how people should live are cruel, uncharitable and miserly. He suddenly realises that he can change.

Alistair Sim’s portrayal of Scrooge is a revaluation. He goes from mean and grim to happy (and giggling). His face shows his emotions, you can see what he is thinking. It’s a wonderful piece of acting.

Watching ‘It’s a wonderful life’

Posted on December 12, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Black and white film, Christmas story, Classic film, Family, James Stewart, Life, WonderfulLeave a comment

A sstrange and eventually wonderful story of a man who loses everything including his family and identity. He is transported to a world where he no longer exists. Everything he ever influenced has been changed.

Like a Christmas Carol it tugs at the heart strings. If you have never seen it, find it. X

Stars James Stewart as George Bailey, black and white film.

Window, band of sketchers prompt.

Posted on September 20, 2020 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Art, Band of sketchers, Black and white film, Curtains, Felt pens, Hill, Industrial art, Ink pen, Life, Permanent markers, Roses, Sketching, View, WindowLeave a comment

View through the window, from our living room. Our TV is at the bottom of the page. We have a pottery (Portmeirion) opposite where we live. They do have some ground that they garden, but they used to have roses scrambling all up the building. Sadly some of these have recently been cut back so the view is a bit less colourful now. Higher up the hill they are still there, still in flower. This is in a small sketchbook and is drawn with felt pens, some permanent markers a few coloured pencils and a thin black ink pen. The image on the TV is grey because we were watching a black and white film.

Watching an old black and white film.

Posted on June 7, 2020June 7, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged 1960's, Black and white film, Blogging, Complicated, Drama, London, Random, Sadness, Tragedy2 Comments

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Watching an old film from 1964. I can’t remember the title, it’s what they used to call a ‘kitchen sink’ drama. They were much more slow paced than modern films, but with a lot more content and thought. They make you question the reality of how people used to live.

As I watch I can see that it will probably end in tragedy. Callous men and downtrodden women. Emotions and complications. Sadness and worry….

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Black and white film