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Post by Charles Bronson on May 2, 2017 18:47:08 GMT
'Violent Playground' from 1958 is a superb film I'd forgotten about, again starring Baker & Cushing. Shot on location in Liverpool, I'd say it was as good a British film as I've seen. I like Violent Playground too Arthur, it's a pity it hasn't been shown on TV for many years now. Stanley gives another good performance in this one I bought a copy on ebay about ten years ago. As it says on the link you gave, some of the filming actually took place in or near London. I wondered for years were the school in the film was located in the city, till I found out it was actually shot in the London area. The Liverpool locations were it was filmed have changed beyond recognition since 1957. Gerrard Gardens was demolished many years ago. I took a few photos about fifteen years ago where the Police Station shown in the film once stood. The only building still standing at the time I was there, was a three story block of flats which can be seen in the background as Stanley is walking towards the Police Station about ten minutes into the film. Unfortunately I couldn't lay my hands on the photos, they will be in a box somewhere. The area where the film is set, was a large thriving community at that time. very close to the Scotland Road area of the city. Now it's like another planet. I haven't seen this one for a long time. I will give it another viewing soon. Charles.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on May 2, 2017 21:46:32 GMT
I thought it was a really good film, fast moving & quite shocking towards the end. We'll never get those times back unfortunately, when truly great films were being made & despite the post war hardship people seemed far more content than they are today.
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Post by Charles Bronson on May 13, 2017 19:40:36 GMT
I watched about ten minutes of "Robbery" earlier on YouTube. The cameraman or Cinematographer did a great job on that film. Some great shots of London.
Charles.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on May 14, 2017 23:07:22 GMT
Douglas Slocombe was the director of photography on Robbery, he worked on several Ealing films & later on The Italian Job, though the one I think has the most striking colour photography of the films I've seen his name on is Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers/Dance Of The Vampires, a really beautiful looking film. Lovely colour photography on Robbery as well. Steven Spielberg chose him to photograph Raiders Of The Lost Ark & sequels because he admired his work, same with Polanski, Britain had some of the best cinematographers around. He died last February aged 103.
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Post by Charles Bronson on May 15, 2017 8:20:09 GMT
Thanks a lot Arthur, for the information on Douglas Slocombe. I've seen his name on the credits of quite a few films over the years. His work on Robbery certainly made a great film even better. 103? He certainly lived to a grand old age then. Charles.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Jun 1, 2017 13:57:25 GMT
Watched 'A Hill In Korea' (1956) last night, Baker ( about 28 at the time ) has a small role as a not very friendly Corporal. It's notable for being Michael Caine's first film though his part is very small with only a few lines, Robert Shaw also has a small role. By British war film standards it's a disappointing effort with a miscast George Baker in the lead, a lacklustre & dated script & average performances. Not a film I'd watch again, Baker appeared in a much better film on a similar subject a few years later 'Yesterday's Enemy'.
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Post by Charles Bronson on Jun 1, 2017 17:26:46 GMT
I've not seen "A Hill In Korea." Arthur, and after your comments I won't be in a hurry to watch it myself.
Michael Caine actually served in the Korean war of the early 50s as I remember from his autobiography.
Charles.
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Post by Steve Austin on Jun 26, 2017 14:37:29 GMT
I love Perfect Friday. Stanley plays slightly against type in this clever heist film, and it's always been one of my fave SB films. It's been enjoyable reading members comments and it makes you want to dig out Stanley's old films. I believe Harold Wilson was due to nominate him for a knighthood circa 1975/76. EDIT: He was in fact Sir Stanley Baker. I'm pretty sure Perfect Friday is one S.B. Film I've not yet seen. I will look out for it. Charles. I have just received this from Amazon, came as a DVD & Blu Ray package, it's £6.60 in the Network sale. Looking forward to watching this, bought it on the strength of this thread
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Post by Charles Bronson on Sept 6, 2017 20:14:41 GMT
I'm not sure if anyone has already mentioned it earlier in this thread, but I was surprised to read tonight that Stanley was knighted in 1976. I must have read it in the past and forgotten this fact.
I'm watching Stanley tonight in a film he starred in with Dirk Bogarde in 1957, 'Campbell's Kingdom'. I've seen it before of course many years ago, but I'm still enjoying watching it again. There's a high quality copy of the film on YouTube at the moment if anyone is interested.
Charles.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Sept 7, 2017 16:51:21 GMT
He died shortly before the knighthood could be bestowed on him. From what I understand there's no such thing as a 'posthumous' knighthood so he can't be refered to as 'Sir Stanley Baker' but his wife was able to use the title 'Lady Baker'. Baker was pally with Harold Wilson, John Mills was another actor knighted in the same list of honours. Other showbiz people to receive honours that year were Bernard Delfont & Lew Grade ( knighthoods ) & maybe to prove that Wilson had a sense of humour, Mike Yarwood got an OBE.
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