The First Renown Pictures Festival Of Film 2015

I’ve long been a fan of the output of Renown Films, a UK DVD label releasing some long-forgotten and under-appreciated British films.

Forget the likes of Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling; actors such as William Hartnell and Jack Warner are Renown’s leading men in titles such as 1950’s Double Confession or 1962’s Jigsaw.

The company recently announced that they’re branching out from the DVD business into the world of the film festival, with the announcement of the The First Renown Pictures Festival Of Film 2015, which takes place on Sunday 8th February in Rickmansworth’s Watersmeet Theatre.

The day will be introduced by actor Brian Murphy (George & Mildred) and devoted to screenings of previously thought-lost British B-movies including 1951’s London Entertains, 1956’s Tons of Trouble (featuring William Hartnell) and 1969’s Hole Lot of Trouble (none of which appear to be available on DVD) alongside guest appearances from the likes of Jess Conrad and experts from the world of film.

There’s also due to be a talk from a friend of mine, writer and broadcaster Robert Ross, who’ll be discussing his forthcoming book, Forgotten Heroes of Comedy.

Elsewhere there’ll be a dealers table, film memorabilia, book signings and a 16mm Bring and Buy table.

It should be a great day and I’m planning on heading along to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake while soaking up the atmosphere with some fellow classic film fans – tickets are on sale now from just £5.

January 2015 at Edinburgh Filmhouse

It’s probably a sign of old age that one of the most enjoyable ways for me to spend an hour or so each month is to pick the new Filmhouse programme off the mat, rip open the envelope and to browse the forthcoming films I want to head along to in the coming weeks – the more classics and reissues I can see, the better.

Wake in Fright

In 2014, 1971’s Wake in Fright proved to be my discovery of the year. This hard-going Australian classic stars Gary Bond as John Grant, a straight-laced Sydney teacher working in the outback who takes a detour to the town of Bundanyabba on his way back to the city for Christmas.

Grant enjoys the hospitality of The Yabba a bit too much, ending up hitting rock bottom in the company of Doc Tydon (Donald Pleasence) and other assorted characters. It’s gritty, gripping and repulsive, a film that draws the viewer in and forces them to be a part of Grant’s downfall.

Filmhouse are giving us another chance to see Wake in Fright on Tuesday 13 January at 18.05, and I’d recommend everyone get themselves along (it really needs to be seen on the big screen) or buys the Blu-ray if they can’t make it.

Wake in Fright is screening as part of the cinema’s annual January spotlight on films from the previous year that deserve to be seen before they find a home on DVD. Other titles I hope to see include Interstellar (showing from 70mm), Ida, Leviathan and Willow and Wind.

The Marx Brothers

Elsewhere, I’m looking forward to Duck Soup and Animal Crackers: The Best of the Marx Brothers season, seven films designed to brighten up the winter months. Fans of 35mm will be able to see A Day at the Races, A Night in Casablanca and A Night at the Opera in the format, while other titles include Duck Soup, Horse Feathers, Monkey Business, Animal Crackers and The Cocoanuts.

I’ll admit that my Marx Brothers knowledge is limited to what I’ve seen on TV so I’ll try to get along to as many of these as possible (feel free to leave suggestions below as to which ones I can’t miss).

Ed Wood

A film that’s definitely in the diary is Tim Burton’s 1995 biopic, Ed Wood, which I have vague memories of seeing at the cinema on its original release. I certainly owned the VHS back in the day, and was discussing it recently with a friend after seeing clips from Plan 9 from Outer Space on TV. Filmhouse will be showing Ed Wood on Thursday 22 January at 20.25, along with a Pink Panther short from 1966.

Also showing

Abel Gance’s 1919 epic, J’accuse, comes to Filmhouse on Thursday 5 February at 8pm as part of The First World War in Cinema series hosted by Pasquale Iannone. The film chronicles the decimation of a Provençal village as the sons of France go off to fight, either dying on the front or returning as shell-shocked, hollow men, and it’s another film that I’ve wanted to see for a long time. This one will be shown on Screen One.

There’s a special screening of Luis Bunuel’s 1930 surrealist drama, L’Age d’Or, on Friday 23 January at 9pm, with live musical accompaniment from Sink and Noize Choir; The Introduction to European Cinema programme continues with Rome, Open City, Germany Year Zero and Bande à part; Schindler’s List will be shown on Tuesday 27 January at 7pm as part of Holocaust Memorial Day; and 1976’s A Sunday in Hell is a must-see for cyclists as it follows participants in the Paris-Roubaix bike race (I saw it on BBC Four a few months back and loved it).