DVD/150: THE NAZIS: A WARNING FROM HISTORY (Laurence Rees, 1997, tv)

This 1997 BBC series is still compulsive viewing:, a sober explanation of the rise and fall of the Nazi Party using contemporary footage and interviews with those who witnessed it. 

Starting at the end of WWI, Laurence Rees traces the rise of the National Socialist German Workers Party, alongside it's charismatic firebrand Adolf Hitler.

Rees shows how the Nazis took advantage of the Wiemar Government's crash when Germany was hit by the 1931 Depression; the public was ready to believe that communists and Jews were to blame.  President Hindenburg made Hitler Chancellor, believing he could be tamed by Government.  He was wrong.

Rees shows that, rather than being a well-run administration, the Nazi offices were rife with power battles, fighting to get access to Hitler by flattery or suggesting policies he would be in favour of.

A major contribution to it's success is the marvelous narration by Samuel West.

Shelf or charity shop?  An absolute keeper... a warning that is all too needed now

Dvd/150: AN AGE OF KINGS (Michael Hayes, 1960, tv)

With current Shakespeare productions full of gender-fluid casting, set in abattoirs or Carnaby Street, it's a pleasure to see the BBC's landmark 1960 fifteen-part series of The History Plays, from RICHARD II to RICHARD III, all the more remarkable for being broadcast live.

Yes, the performances are declamatory but at least the verse is spoken correctly.  In those pre-NT / RSC days, the cast were drawn from companies like Birmingham Rep, OUDS and The Old Vic; remarkably they are used as a proper rep company, playing different roles throughout the series - that would never happen now.

Particularly memorable are Sean Connery (Hotspur), Angela Baddeley (Mistress Quickly), Hermione Baddeley (Doll Tearsheet), Robert Hardy (Henry V), Judi Dench (Princess Katherine), Eileen Atkins (Joan d'Arc), Mary Morris (Queen Margaret), Julian Glover (Edward IV) and Paul Daneman (Richard III)... and a shock seeing Violet Carson (pre-CORONATION STREET) as Richard III's mum!

Shelf or charity shop?  I can see myself stepping back in time to experience the nervy, live-action performances again - i'faith.

 

 

 

Dvd/150: GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Brian Kirk, 2011, tv)

An excellent BBC adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, Charles Dickens' tale of advancement and misjudgement.

Orphaned Pip lives a deprived life on the Kent marshes but two encounters change his life: with escaped convict Magwich who Pip shows kindness to, and then being invited into the neglected home of Miss Havisham to play with her adopted daughter Estella, who has been raised to be haughty and unloving.  Despite this, Pip is besotted with her.

Seven years later Pip is informed by the lawyer Jaggers that he has a benefactor who will pay for Pip to live in London as a gentleman.  Pip relishes his new life but discovers the past has ways of reclaiming him.

Sarah Phelps' adaptation highlights the unhappy lives of the women in the story and the strong performances include Douglas Booth, Vanessa Kirby, David Suchet, Paul Ritter, Harry Lloyd, Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson's ethereal Miss Haversham.

Shelf or charity shop?  I have great expectations that this will stay on the shelf!

Last week we had a double dollop of none other than Owen's favorite singer Buffy Sainte-Marie. For the first time he didn't get a hand-shake afterwards but more of that later...

The first helping was at a BBC4 recording for their series SONGWRITER CIRCLE which gathers together singer/songwriters of note (no pun intended) to play some of their best songs and chat about their process of creation. Joining Buffy was her contemporary folkie Donovan and Blue Mink creator Roger Cook.

You soon learn that these recordings - like signing sessions - only include punters to provide a backdrop, one is stickered, moved around and marshalled like so much condemned veal.

However once the actual show started a good time was had by all. The running order was Donovan then Buffy then Roger taking turns to sing a song, chat a bit and help their amies out with the odd harmony. Owen rightly surmised that it was a good idea to put Roger Cook at the end as he usually lightened the mood after Donovan and Buffy's occasional serious songs.

Buffy gave us 'Until It's Time For You To Go', 'Piney Wood Hills', 'Cod'ine', 'Little Wheel Spin And Spin', 'I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl Again', 'Up Where We Belong', 'Universal Soldier' and 'Still This Love Goes On' and all were delightfully performed and "Universal Soldier" in particular, was given the biggest ovation of the evening. It was also very noticeable that of the three, Buffy is the one who is still current and making music.
The next night we took our pew places at the Union Chapel in Islington for her concert backed by her fine, rocky band of three big lads all from Winnipeg.

First however we had to suffer a 30 minute set by some winsome, dreary, Dido-esque singer dressed in her best Ophelia-ish long white floaty frock. Dear lord, she sucked donkeys... at one point she informed us that she was going to do a song "that's a bit more up-tempo". Thanks for the heads up love, but it still meandered itself up a musical cul-de-sac. What ultimately annoyed me the most was that Buffy played a curtailed set - just over an hour - so why did this dreary bleating mare get a full 30 minutes?

As I said, Buffy played a curtailed set - about halfway through I was aware she was checking her watch more than somewhat and after an enjoyable but raggedy ending with a taped pow-wow song playing while they did their best reservation dance to it, they left the stage to a massive standing ovation. We clapped and clapped but the little backstage door remained shut and after an announcement that the show was over, we were hustled out of the chapel with undue haste. It turns out that Buffy had a photo session booked on the stage, it's a shame she couldn't have done a quick acoustic number and ended the show properly.

It was great to see her again though in these two different shows.