The sad thing is that it's better to watch this without the introduction. The ideas of what is being told from you come at you so much more subtly. It uplifts you but you know in your mind that it's just propaganda, but done in such an intelligent and poetic way! You don't mind at all!
This was one of Susan Sontag's all-time favorite movies. Have to say, she had fine taste!
Hit: 2:02 to skip the intro to Humphrey Jennings's masterpiece proper.
I can see the influence this had on directors like Lindsay Anderson, Terence Davies, maybe even Alain Resnais. Magical, impressionistic use of sound. Perfectly edited.
@FungusMossGnosis Around 1981, I met Lindsay Anderson in Los Angeles after a lecture he had given, and my first words to him were "Tell me about Humphrey Jennings." (Mr Anderson had written an article about titled "Only Connect" in "Sight and Sound" magazine around 1957.) He immediately invited me to lunch and we spent two delightful hours talking about the master documentarist. LTB is my favorite documentary ever. LA said the prologue was imposed on him, and HJ wasn't happy about it.
Thank you for sharing that. I wish I were at that lecture. Unfortunately, I wasn't born yet. My favorite documentary filmmaker is probably Jean Rouch or Flaherty, but Jennings is right up there with them, despite his small output.
Apart from the over the top introduction from the very tense Canadian, lyrical statement of what Britain wanted to represent as a public face to the world (especially the north American one). Very moving to watch because, like all the best myth making, it contains some truth. Very daring too - no commentary, long fluid shots, often making war beautiful. I doubt if anyone could have watched this at the time and not been swept up in the idea of a noble, beautiful, brave, united country.
You see the Queen in the audience at the Myra Hess concert.
mikeos1 5 months ago in playlist Old films
love it ... the period music with the segments with only the live noise of the specific setttings ... awesome!!!
arfacat 6 months ago
The sad thing is that it's better to watch this without the introduction. The ideas of what is being told from you come at you so much more subtly. It uplifts you but you know in your mind that it's just propaganda, but done in such an intelligent and poetic way! You don't mind at all!
PhlChmbrs 7 months ago
This was one of Susan Sontag's all-time favorite movies. Have to say, she had fine taste!
Hit: 2:02 to skip the intro to Humphrey Jennings's masterpiece proper.
I can see the influence this had on directors like Lindsay Anderson, Terence Davies, maybe even Alain Resnais. Magical, impressionistic use of sound. Perfectly edited.
FungusMossGnosis 1 year ago 2
@FungusMossGnosis Around 1981, I met Lindsay Anderson in Los Angeles after a lecture he had given, and my first words to him were "Tell me about Humphrey Jennings." (Mr Anderson had written an article about titled "Only Connect" in "Sight and Sound" magazine around 1957.) He immediately invited me to lunch and we spent two delightful hours talking about the master documentarist. LTB is my favorite documentary ever. LA said the prologue was imposed on him, and HJ wasn't happy about it.
mtgeorge53 9 months ago
@mtgeorge53
Thank you for sharing that. I wish I were at that lecture. Unfortunately, I wasn't born yet. My favorite documentary filmmaker is probably Jean Rouch or Flaherty, but Jennings is right up there with them, despite his small output.
FungusMossGnosis 9 months ago
Apart from the over the top introduction from the very tense Canadian, lyrical statement of what Britain wanted to represent as a public face to the world (especially the north American one). Very moving to watch because, like all the best myth making, it contains some truth. Very daring too - no commentary, long fluid shots, often making war beautiful. I doubt if anyone could have watched this at the time and not been swept up in the idea of a noble, beautiful, brave, united country.
dlushd 1 year ago 3
@dlushd Here, here...
gezbo66 1 year ago