Classic Movies

Today I joined a Facebook group, and a blog as it goes, entitled Bring Classic Horror Back to Television. This blog lists the classic horror double bills of the 1970's and 1980's and reminds us, in stark black and white (well, blue), of the great films that are no longer shown on the box. And it got me thinking: what about all the other classic movies that now no longer receive an airing?

It seems that, with the advent of multi-channel satellite and freeview television services, many of these films have all but disappeared off the radar. There are channels devoted to film, such as Turner Classic Movies and Sky's Classics channel, but these once-proud stations are now reduced to showing the same films over and over again and the ones that they do show are not what I call 'classic.'

So as of today I would like to make it my life's work to restore regular showings of movies from 'Hollywood's Golden Age' on our screens. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of current film too. But I remember the glory days when BBC2 would have an early Cagney season, or a Bogart season, an afternoon of Bette Davis movies or similar. Or, as my friend Cyberschizoid points out, a good old-fashioned horror double bill of a Saturday night.

Before I continue my rant I would like to give credit where it's due, specifically to Channel 4, who have recently begun at least to show some of the old Warner Bros. movies from the 1940's [most recently the 1943 Errol Flynn film Edge of Darkness, with a wonderful score by Franz Waxman].

The biggest criminal, as far as I am concerned, is Turner Classic Movies [UK]. When I first discovered satellite television, in 1999, one of the main reasons I decided to take the plunge was TCM. It was great. Much of their library at the time was taken from the back catalogues of Warner Bros., MGM and, I think, RKO. A morning of Warner B-movies might be followed by an afternoon and evening showing of, I don't know, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Casablanca, Now, Voyager and The Great Ziegfeld. That's telly heaven right there.

Then, in October, 2000, something very bizarre happened. Glancing through the monthly schedule, I noted 63 films that I fancied watching that month. As the month wore on, with each bright shining new day, each and every single one of the films got cancelled, and replaced with mega-epics like Love Among the Ruins, Stand By Me, Can't Buy Me Love, etc. etc.

TCM has never been the same since. Yet, in the US, the station continued to delve deep into its extensive library, a policy it continues to this day. The other key change that destroyed TCM in dear old blighty was the introduction of adverts - TCM in the US continues to show its films 'uncut and commercial-free.'

Over the last 5 years or so I made a number of visits to the US, and always made sure that my wife and I stayed in hotels and/or other accomodation that had TCM on its list of stations. Over there they continue to demonstrate a deep love of film that in the UK just became lip-service.

I have been told by the powers that be that many of the films no longer can be shown in Europe because it violates the conditions of their copyright. They can't be released on DVD over here either. Warner Bros.' fantastic Archive Collection series of DVDs remain US-only releases, and you can buy them from TCM's online store - except you can't if you live abroad because they ship to US addresses only. I have friends who have offered to get the DVDs shipped to their address and then they will ship to me. Another contact has offered to record direct from TCM and then ship the DVDs to me. But, as grateful as I am for their help, why should I? Are my eyes any different from those of our American cousins? Is there a reason why films that can be anything up to 80 years old can't be shown over here? We're talking about films like Sunny Side Up and Gold Diggers of Broadway not Iron Man 2 or Kick-Ass.

BBC2 this week are showing a brief Norman Wisdom season. Great, if you like that sort of thing, but what about a Gable season showing films that are not regularly screened, like Idiot's Delight, or Forsaking All Others? Unfortunately we live in an age when our television schedulers must appeal to the lowest common denominator. So Channel 5 must show its made-for-TV dramas every afternoon, because they're cheap.

I'm not saying newer films shouldn't be shown, of course not - I like to sit down and wallow in Steven Seagal kick-fest like anybody else. But let's have some balance here. And TCM, pull your finger out and get hold of your library.

Time For a Change?

Well, the country has spoken...but what did it say? That we want change? Well, yes. That we want Gordon Brown, that lying, cheating weasel, slung summarily out of office? Um, kind of. That we want the Liberal Democrats, those paragons of change and a fresh start, to rule instead of the two 'old parties'? Er, no.

Here's what happened, in a nutshell: just below 30 million votes were cast yesterday; of those, 10 million (or one third) voted Tory, 2 million less than that voted 'Labour', and 2 million less than that voted Liberal Democrat. This means that in a Parliament comprised of 650 seats, the split should be: Conservative 220 seats give or take; 'Labour' 210 seats and the Liberal Democrats 200 seats. The remainder can go to the 'others'. That's right, n'est pas? No. Of course not. The Tories ended up with 306 seats, 'Labour' got 258; the Liberal Democrats a distant third with 57 seats, less than they polled in the 2005 election.

How the bloody hell is this possible, you may ask. God knows I have. Well, a quick glance at the election nap, sorry map, provided by the BBC News website will give you the answer. Most of England is now blue, most of northern England and Southern Scotland now red, and the Highlands, pockets of the South West and Midlands of England now yellow, or orange, or whatever it's supposed to be. It's basically down to constituency sizes and populations, all made up and changed at will by previous Conservative and Labour governments, both of whom have one common interest: squeeze out the Liberal Democrats. That's why the LibDems have been banging on for years about Proportional Representation - without it they haven't had a hope of sharing government.

Until now.

What gets me most of all, I think, is that political parties of all colours and persuasions using varying interpretations of fairness to suit their own ambitions. Politics is a game; it's theatre, and don't let them tell you any different. In fact, not only is it theatre, it's pantomime, with voters shouting 'behind you!' to Gordon Brown as he boos and hisses his way towards a General Election defeat.

It is impossible to get a straight answer out of any politician. None of them will tell you exactly what they would do if they get into government, and if they say they are telling you the facts, they are lying. How do I know this?

Take the three leaders' debates. At the first, Nick Clegg came out the clear winner and put the Liberal Democrats forward as genuine government contenders, or at the very least opposition. It was a crazy few days after that. Everyone was walking around going 'I agree with Nick!' at any opportunity. Brown was criticised for cosying up to the LibDems in a less-than-subtle attempt to gain a coalition should there be a hung parliament. It was sad to watch in a way. It was a political tactic and it misfired. Brown had been advised badly. Also, Clegg addressed many remarks to the camera and, when other leaders were speaking, he turned to them and listened.

Cue the second debate. What happens? Brown no longer 'agrees with Nick,' and Cameron looks straight down the camera and turns to the other leaders and listens when they speak. Ha! Pathetic! Not only that but now that Clegg is doing so well in the media that the other leaders decide that the Liberal Democrats' policies are weak and deserve exposing through scrutiny. And Gordon Brown smiles that smile. That smile that says 'Say that again and you're DEAD!' smile. Brown must think the British public have just crawled out from under a stone if he imagines that we're going to believe that smile.

So now we're supposed to believe that the country has spoken and sent back a hung parliament, but how did we do this? Almost thirty million people huddled around discussing tactics? We are where we are because a large number of people voted for the party they've always voted for, myself included. I voted Liberal Democrat despite the fact that I don't agree with them on Europe, I don't agree with them on immigration and I don't agree with them on the Euro. I'm anti-Europe, but I can't vote Tory. I'm anti-corporate greed and pro-union but I can't vote Labour. I'm anti-war and pro-fairness for everyone. We should all have the right to access free healthcare that is of the highest standard. Abandon private 'NHS' trusts whose only ambition is profit. Give ulitities, transport, health & education back to the state. But allow those who wish to make money in business to do so, and fairly.

So, guys, cut out this media posturing and find a party system that actually gives voters what they want, instead of continually having to pick the best of a rotten bunch. As I write this Cameron and Clegg are busy picking out curtains, so it remains to be seen what kind of a government we shall get. Interesting times ahead.