Ealing Classic of the Week

The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)


Two clips from the delightful 1953 Ealing comedy "The Titfield Thunderbolt" in which English villagers, chagrined that the government railway is about to close their branch line, decide to take it on themselves. But first they must find someone to finance it and who better than a rich fellow who likes to drink and is "very adaptable" to bars that might be a half inch lower but do happen to open at 13 minutes to 9 in the morning!?


That's Stanley Holloway who would go on to win an Oscar playing Eliza Doolittle's father in "My Fair Lady."

The Head of the Studio has something to say

Barnaby Thompson - Head of Ealing Studios has this comment about the abolition of the UK Film Council.  It was published in Tuesday's Evening Standard.

It is no coincidence that British Film Industry has enjoyed its greatest period of sustained growth since the inception of the UK Film Council. It is an organisation filled with passionate, hard working individuals who have achieved amazing things on a very limited budget. They have campaigned for all that is good in British Film, and have always been innovative in their support of an ever changing industry.

Do such organisations grow fat over the years? Of course, but the UKFC had recently addressed that by cutting its overheads by some 25% (a saving that, I am sure, the current minister will claim as his own).

And, most importantly, who will replace them? It seems a tragic waste of resources to close down an organisation that has built up over the years an acute understanding of what is a very singular and complex business which combines both art and commerce, and has such a huge impact on our cultural life.

Ealing Studios supports the UK Film Council 100% and encourages you to sign the petition below.

Government to SHUT UK FILM COUNCIL!

Yesterday it was announced that the UK Coalition Government have decided to close the UK Film Council in the next 18 months.  This is devastating news for the UK film industry as the UKFC provide funding and assistance across the industry from Ealing's St Trinian's to a micro-wave first time feature.

In 10 years the UK Film Council funded 900 films which have entertained over 200 million people and helped generate over £700 million.

The UKFC has been criticised in the past for assisting films that have not performed at the box-office but what they have helped happen is to provide jobs to hundreds of people across the industry- regardless if the final film made money or not.

It is a sad day for the British film industry but with enough support we may be able to make a difference.  Social networking groups were set up immediately on Facebook/Twitter/MySpace and countless others.  Please find below links to these groups if you would like to show your support.

UK Filmmakers need to stand up now to make sure that these changes have the possibility of being reversed.

FACEBOOK     GO PETITION     TWITTER

Scott Pilgrim vs. Lucas Lee

It's nearly upon us- the new Edgar Wright film Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World! Can't wait! It had rave reviews at Comicon and looks like it's going to be the smash hit of the summer!

Here's a new clip that just hit the net showing Scott go up against evil ex number 2 (and his stunt team!). August can't come quickly enough!

Rupert Everett looks into his past

Tonight  Rupert Everett takes part in the new series of the acclaimed Who Do You Think You Are?  The St Trinian's actor explores his family history with facinating results.  He describes his rollercoaster journey to Africa and back like an Ealing Comedy.  You can see the programme at 9pm BBC1.

Rupert is also currently appearing as Professor Higgins in Pygmalion at the Chichester Theatre.

The most violent, hilarious, over-the-top and downright entertaining as hell horror film

Could there have every been a better pre-review for this movie?  It just makes us want to see it even more!  Bring on the carnage!  Read the full report from Comicon here thanks to IGN, but beware of spoilers (and killer CGI fish!).

Out in the UK on August 20th released by Entertainment Film Distributors.

Who is Paul?

A new image from Comic-Con has surfaced from Simon Pegg's new movie- Paul!  We still don't really know what it's about or what Paul himself will look like but the Nick Frost and Simon combo is always a winner!

Thanks to Empire for the link to the pic!

Ghosts Come to Ealing

Bend It Like Beckham's Gurinder Chadha steps into horror comedy territory with this caper detailing the murderous lengths a mother goes to while trying to find her daughter a husband. It's A Wonderful Afterlife hits DVD next month check out this Ealing shot comedy and see if you can spot any of the local landmarks.

Pre-Order your copy here.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

Woody Allen's latest movie finally has its first trailer.  This one looks really good- finishing up Woody's London trilogy.  Shot at Ealing Studios and around the Capital the Antonio Bandaras, Lucy Punch, Anthony Hopkins and Naomi Watts starring comedy/drama is released later this year.

Calling all Tallulah Riley and R-Pattz Fans

The Summer House- a new short film starring St Trinian's own Head Girl - Talulah Riley and Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson is now available to download from iTunes.  The film only last's 13 minutes but tells the tale of a young girl who retreats to her aunt's house after having her heart broken.  Here's the trailer and you can download the movie here.

Ealing Classic of the Week

The Man in the White Suit is possibly one of the most famous yet less seen of the Ealing Classics.  We've all seen the poster but I bet a lot o you haven't seen the movie.  So here's the trailer to whet your appetite it's the story of a young scientist invents a material that is indestructible and repels dirt. He soon finds himself caught between the moguls of the textile industry and the trade unions, all equally determined that his invention never sees the light of day.


Check it out it's great!

Simon Pegg has a Mission Impossible

First of all- sorry bloggers for the lack of updates the last week lots of stuff was hushed up and we weren't allowed to tell you but now we're free!  Whoo!

So news item 1!  Simon Pegg is in talks to return to his role of Benji the scientist in Mission: Impossible IV.  Rumours have been circulating for a while that the new movie will go ahead- the earlier incarnation of the film was stopped in its tracks when Tom Cruise broke away from Paramount and caused an almighty Hollywood rift- but that seems to be all over now and M:I 4 is definitely going to happen.

Simon stands a pretty good chance of having a meatier role in the sequel with J.J Abrams on board to executive produce (and maybe direct) J.J is notoriously loyal to his actor mates and cast Pegg in his rebooted Star Trek after his turn in M:I3.

Watch this space for more info on the spy franchise and also updates on Simon's next film - Ealing's Burke & Hare!

We've got our own Olympic Pin

Check this out!  Ealing Studios has been honoured as 1 of the 33 boroughs to receive a pin for the Olympic Games in 2012.  The public of each area of London decides on a local landmark to award the pin to and we got it!  Very exciting and cool! Here's the design and we'll let you know when they become available to buy!

Congrats to the Emmy Nominees!

Two Ealing Studios friends Dame Judi Dench (The Importance of Being Earnest) and Dame Maggie Smith (From Time to Time) have both been nominated for the Best Lead Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie category at the Prime Time Emmy Awards in America.

Judi has been nominated for her powerful turn as Miss Matty in BBC's Return to Cranford (which incidentally was shot at Ealing during 2009) and  Maggie's nomination comes from her performance in Stephen Poliakoff's Capturing Mary which aired in the UK in 2008.

It's going to be the battle of the Dames!

VS.

Ealing Classic of the Week

The weather is on the wane the football's nearly over- cheer yourself up with this week's Ealing Classic.


It's THE LADYKILLERS (1955).  Not be be confused with the terrible remake from 2004 this brilliant black comedy follows five diverse oddball criminal types planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.  It's clever, funny, dark and brilliant.  Check it out if you haven't already seen it or revisit it if you have!

Fancy a bite?

This French poster for the 3D B-Movie extravaganza has just arrived on-line and it just about sums up everything that I'm excited about for this movie.  It's going to be over the top and just plain fun.  Just what a summer blockbuster should be.  Really can't wait.  Bring it!

Piranha 3D is released by Entertainment Film Distributors on 20th August in the UK.

Why can't a woman be more like a man?

The Daily Telegraph reports that Rupert Everett has fallen for his lovely co-star, Honeysuckle Weeks in his new play Pygmalion which is opening at the Chichester Theatre Festival on Friday  "If I were the marrying kind, I'd marry her," jokes Everett.  He is taking the part of the cantankerous Professor Higgins and Weeks is his Eliza.


Rupert got rave reviews last year when he appeared in the Broadway revival of Noel Coward's Blythe Spirit just prior to coming back to Ealing to reprise his role as the formidable and fabulous Camilla Fritton in St Trinian's 2!


To book tickets to see Rupert in Pygmalion head over here..it runs from July 9th until August 27th.

Ok look away now if you don't know how Harry Potter ends..

A brilliant poster for the final two parts of Harry Potter has just gone on-line and poor Hogwarts is not looking good at all.  Assuming this is from the climatic Battle for Hogwarts it looks like the design team have gone all out to reduce the wizarding school to a smoking pile of rubble.  Oh well they've built a new one in Florida- Harry and pals can just go there instead.

Also if you haven't worn out the spacebar on your keyboard re-watching the new HP trailer frame by frame check out this great breakdown done by Empire on each exciting moment from the trailer.

Happy 4th of July!

To all our US readers and friends!  Happy 4th of July!

New poster appears for new Woody Allen movie!

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger the latest feature from veteran director Woody Allen which was shot at Ealing Studios,  ALSO stars two of our friends Lucy Punch (St Trinian's) and Antonio Bandaras (The Other Man).  The poster doesn't give much away apart from the stella cast but we're dying to see the movie- it's meant to be a cracker!

John Landis hosts night for Ray Harryhausen at BFI

It was Clash of the Filmmaker Titans at the BFI on Saturday when world renowned directors, visual effects artists and animators turned out to celebrate the 90th birthday of stop-motion genius Ray Harryhausen (Clash of the Titans, Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts).

Lifelong fan John Landis (Director of Burke & Hare) hosted the event to massive acclaim.  Among the audience were Burke & Hare themselves Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, directors Peter Jackson, Edgar Wright and Terry Gilliam and though not there in person ("because they were too cheap to take the flight" joked Landis) there were video tributes from Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and John Lassester, Tim Burton and James Cameron.

Also in attendance were Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park, King Kong star Rick Baker and Caroline Monroe one of the stars of Sinbad.

Photo © Mark Mawston and the BFI
From left to right: Rick Baker, Ken Ralston,  Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, John Landis, Tony Dalton, Peter Jackson ,  Randall Cook, Vanessa Harryhausen, Caroline Monroe and Nick Park.

Alll byyyy myself.......Bridget Jones the MUSICAL!

A West End stage adaptation of Working Title's Bridget Jones' Diary is heading our way.  Based on the movies starring Reneé Zelwegger, Colin Firth (Dorian Gray) and Hugh Grant a cast of west end favourites are currently workshopping the new show.

Sheridan Smith star of Legally Blonde: The Musical has been working with the writers to bring Bridget to the stage.  Here's hoping there's a ballad about some big pants!  Watch this space!

Ealing Classic of the Week

So it's come to our attention that some people haven't seen or even heard of some of the brilliant movies that Ealing Studios produced in the 1940s and 1950s and that's just wrong.  So we're going to post a trailer each week for a classic in the hope that maybe it'll inspire you to check out a bit of British cinema history.  


These movies really are brilliant!  Have a look at this trailer for the 1951 movie- The Lavender Hill Mob where a  mild-mannered bank worker decides to steal a delivery of gold bullion. Enlisting the help of a small businessman, they hatch a plot to disguise the gold as Eiffel Tower memorabilia. You'll love it!

Who's this strange creature?

The first trailer has landed for the Johnny Depp helmed animated feature 'Rango'. Featuring the voice talents of Isla Fisher (Burke and Hare), Bill Nighy (Lucky Break) and Ray Winstone.  Is this going to do for geckos what Valiant did for pigeons?