Thursday 5 January 2012

All Saints Film Club
£10 Annual Membership for 2020 

Donations of £1 per week minimum towards refreshments

11.15am to 1.30pm (approx.) Thursdays All Saints Church Hall, Church Street, Whitstable, CT5 1PG
You are encouraged to bring a cushion as these are not cinema seats!
If you have questions best thing is come along at about 11am one Thursday or email the vicar at tillotsons@gmail.com











16th January THE TIME MACHINE (1960) 103min COL BLU-RAY  Starring Rod Taylor ("The Birds") and co-starring Yvette Mimieux. It’s the story of a turn-of-the-last century inventor whose time machine inadvertently transports him thousands of years into the future. When he falls in love with a beautiful woman, he fights to free her and her people from a tribe of underground mutants. Based on the novel written by H.G. Wells and featuring Oscar-winning special effects.

23rd January  FUNNY GIRL (1968) U 149min COL BLU-RAY  Awarded Best Film in 1986; Barbra Streisand made her extraordinary debut in one of the most popular musicals ever filmed, heralding the arrival of a major new star. The story follows the hilarious ups and downs in the life of Fanny Brice, one of the greatest comedienne's of her time, who falls in love with a handsome gambler Omar Sharif .

30th January CROMWELL (1970) PG 134 min   COL BLU-RAY  Richard Harris and Sir Alec Guinness star in this sweeping, handsomely-mounted epic drama recounting the battle which raged between the monarchy and a commoner over the very soul of Great Britain. In17th-century England, ambitious country gentleman Oliver Cromwell (Harris) dared to challenge the political oppression and corruption which besieged his nation by King Charles I, who sees his power being usurped by a commoner. One man will become absolute ruler; the other will be executed. Rousing battle sequences, excellent lead and supporting performances from Robert Morley, Dorothy Tutin and Timothy Dalton, Academy(r) Award-winning costume design and spectacular photography by renowned cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth (Cabaret, Tess), make CROMWELL an outstanding historical drama in the tradition of Braveheart.

6th February  THE JUNGLE BOOK (2016) PG 106min COL BLU-RAY  A memorable CGI remake is an epic adventure Mowgli, a man-cub raised in the jungle by a family of wolves, embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when he's forced to abandon the only home he's ever known. Featuring an all-star voice cast including Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley and Scarlett Johansson, THE JUNGLE BOOK is "stunning" (Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter)





13th February I COULD GO ON SINGING (1963) PG COL-DVD Judy Garland could be playing herself in this, her last movie, the story of a declining singing star whose life is rather a mess but who can still wow her audiences with her sheer talent and drive, and ability to rise to the stage occasion.
Dirk Bogarde is suave, bitter, and cynical, qualities which he plays superbly, and Judy, well, she's just Judy Garland, wonderful. She tears your heart strings and you feel her pain all the way through. And we also get at least four of her marvelous numbers sung at the Palladium (where she in fact played one of her last British concerts to a sell-out audience). In the recently released Film ‘Judy’ Renee Zellweger totally morphs into Judy Garland for this extremely sad and poignant biopic depicting the last few years of her life when she tried to make a comeback for her adoring public



20th February  SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS (1960) U 94min Wonderful comedy about The Art of One-Upmanship! British Screen Comedy Classic! Digitally Restored! Enroll at the wacky “College of Lifemanship” where a senior host of great British comedians teach a completely uproarious course on how to come out tops in any social situation. Study with ALASTAIR SIM and learn his valuable hints on the art of comic one-upmanship. Follow his expert advice to victimised IAN CARMICHAEL about romance and you’ll be a top class pupil fully equipped to cope with life’s hilarious humiliations without really cheating.


27th February   SUMMER HOLIDAY (1960) U 103min  COL BLU-RAY    "Summer Holiday" promoted Cliff Richard and the Shadows and was the first of a new idea in British films. It was a tourism film, showing Brits what life was like abroad and a couple of the sights to see and the sort of fun the Brits could have abroad, it the days before Package hols! It is a wonderful "good time" film; the story is a little bit weak and predictable, the songs may be a little dated, but the music makes the film memorable. There are some young faces who had long careers in entertainment to come, like Melvin Hayes and Una Stubbs... and of course, Sir Cliff Richards!


5th March   A STAR IS BORN PG (1937) 110min COL BLU-RAY Many consider the original version the best…..Esther Blodgett (Janet Gaynor) is just another starry-eyed farm kid trying to break into the movies. Waitressing at a Hollywood party, she catches the eye of alcoholic star Norman Maine (Frederic March), is given a shot at stardom, and is caught up in the Hollywood glamour machine. She and her idol Norman marry; but as her star status When a young actress (Janet Gaynor) arrives in Hollywood with hopes of stardom, a chance encounter places her under the wing of older actor Norman Maine (Fredric March). Adopting the stage name Vicki Lester, she co-stars with Norman in a major motion picture, but his success is clearly fading even as her career begins. After the couple wed, Vicki's fame continues to grow, but Norman descends into alcoholism, and she must decide between pursuing her dream and caring for him. Won Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and an Honorary Award for groundbreaking colour photography.


12th March   A NIGHT TO REMEMBER (1958) PG 118min B&W BLU-RAY The story of the Titanic has been visited, to differing degrees, on the small and big screen many times. But there’s a strong and compelling argument that 1958’s A Night To Remember, based on Walter Lord’s novel, is the best ‘Titanic’ Film. What most sets this version apart is the sheer humanity of it. Approached in a documentary style the story told mainly from the perspective of Kenneth More. It’s less epic in physical scale than 1997’s Oscar winning Titanic. Yet there’s a core of authenticity here that’s never been beaten, on big screen or small. 


19th March   TOM JONES (1963) 12 121min COL- BLU-RAY  This sixties Box Office hit was Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Director (Tony Richardson), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture, this raucous and innovative adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic novel is directed with a real sense of adventure. John Osbourne captures the spirit of the novel in his sophisticated screenplay and Albert Finney gives a dashing Oscar® nominated performance as the much sought-after Tom Jones, enjoying marvelous support from Joan Greenwood as Lady Bellaston and Susannah York as the wellborn Sophie Western.


26th March  MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (1971) 12 128min COL DVD  This is a very superior film to the recent new version; it’s a sumptuous biopic of Mary, Queen of Scots with the wonderfully ethereal Vanessa Redgrave in the title role. Her rival, Elizabeth I, is played by Glenda Jackson who is on top form and makes for a deliciously wicked and scheming Virgin Queen. Timothy Dalton's somewhat OTT take on Henry Lord Darnley, suitor and husband of Mary, is equally enjoyable. And while this is, of course, British history and based on true events, the viewer could be forgiven for thinking he or she had stumbled into some fairy tale with Jackson in the part of the evil stepmother and Regrave that of the beautiful, wronged Princess. Only the dashing prince turns out not to be charming at all...For a historical biopic, this film is hugely enjoyable, the acting is excellent throughout, first and foremost that of the two leading ladies. Also worth mentioning is the John Barry score which is quite wonderful.


2nd April   EASTER PARADE (1948) U 100min COL BLU-RAY  Fred Astaire came out of retirement to star in this musical, playing one half of a dance team who is ditched by his partner. Deciding he can make a star out of anyone he wants, he chooses a lowly chorus girl (Judy Garland) as his new partner. Songs include `A Couple of Swells', `Stepping out with My Baby' and `Shaking the Blues Away'. Also starring Ann Miller and Peter Lawford, there is also a brief appearance by a two-year-old Liza Minelli. 


9th and 16th April – EASTER BREAK


23rd April    THE FIRST OF THE FEW (1942) U 119min B&W BLU-RAY  Filmed during the dark days of 1942, this is the immortal story of the Spitfire which had helped to win the Battle of Britain. Leslie Howard stars as R.J. Mitchell, the inventor of the Spitfire A chance meeting with Messerschmitt in the early 1930's gives Mitchell the inspiration to build Britain's fastest and deadliest fighter plane. But first he must find a devil-may-care pilot to risk his life on the test flights. Salvation comes in the form of Geoffrey Crisp (David Niven), an out of work veteran fighter pilot from the First World War. Together they build the aircraft that so many will owe their lives to. However, as Mitchell strives to perfect his fighter plane, he is rocked by the news that he has only one-year to live unless he stops working. His stark choice is to save himself or save his country.


30th April THE MIRROR CRACKED  (1980) PG 101min COL BLU-RAY  Angela Lansbury plays Agatha Christie's dogged sleuth Miss Marple in The Mirror Cracked. The story takes place on a film set in a various locations in Kent (St Clere Estate, Heaverham was the grand home and the village of Smarden nr Ashford was the other main location). Elizabeth Taylor plays a washed-up actress trying to make a comeback but is plagued by a mysterious incident from her past. Unfortunately for her mental state, a collection of murders jar the quiet village where the movie is being made. Miss Marple arrives on the scene with her nephew, Inspector Craddock (Edward Fox), to investigate. In addition to Taylor; an assortment of other movie stars are suspects, including Rock Hudson, Kim Novak, and Tony Curtis.



Any enquires or questions about the Film Club should be made in person on Thursdays at 11am at the All Saints Church Hall. This is because we are unable to provide administrative support during the week for the club. However, if you cannot come to the hall to make your enquiry please ring the church office on 01227 275947 during office hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings after 10am) or email the vicar Rev Simon Tillotson at tillotsons@gmail.com

WHY IS THE CHURCH RUNNING A FILM CLUB?
The vicar, Rev Simon Tillotson replies
Because the church is not just about the promotion of Christianity in our society, even though that is vitally important. The church is also there to create community spirit and to foster the gift of friendship, and to celebrate the world in its entirety. Films do just that. They bring people together. They make us think deeply about the world we live in. They provide relaxation and entertainment which is good for the mind and spirit. Because the Film Club is a church film club we wish to show films suitable for those of a sensitive nature so we will be sticking to PG and certificate 12 films for the most part and will avoid films which use bad language etc. We do hope you enjoy the film club and we hope you will wish the enterprise well.