Jolly Jolly good Stephans

Lindsay Anderson.  A man who time forgot. I remember vividly my first experience of a Lindsay Anderson film in the form of IF...(1968).  An illicit look at the public school systems in the 1960's. A tale of Depravity, rebellion and ......Motor acrobatics?

If.. to me is British film at its best. The combination of eccentricity, whit and daring story lines makes this film a true classic and an essential part of anybodies collection.  The intense, almost comedic look into the life of Mick Travis, our protagonist and archetypal hell raiser.  Not content with dormetary inspections, communal showering and 'Molusc Kings', Travis and friends ruffle the freathers of there peers, Teachers and Whips by waging all out war on the entire school.  Malcolm McDowell plus Bren gun makes a fearsome enemy in any situation.

O'Lucky man

Another great example of Anderson's genious.  Written originally by Malcolm McDowell about his experiences in the Coffee industry and 'Adapted' by Lindsay Anderson and David Sherwin, The film carries on the adventures of Mick Travis as he navigates the North East of England, Getting stuck in 'Treacle tarts' along the way.   One performance that really did bring laughter was the many talents of Arthur Lowe.  One minute he's the foreman of Imperial Coffee, next he's Dr Munda, Man of many talents or what?

Whilst on his travels, Travis becomes tangled in a web of sadistic experimentation and a bizarre relationship with Helen Mirren. Mixing with the cream of industry, Travis becomes trapped in estranged dealings with a contigency of crazed diplomats, ultimatley senidng him to prison where he reforms and beigns his life of solitude.  The ending is a true reflection of McDowells real life story ending with the casting for his first feature role witha cameo from Lindsay Anderson himself.

I really could go on and on about this, my favoutite topic but I feel that there is no blog big enough to accomadate these ramblings.

'You'll be a failure in catering unless you know what to do with your leftovers'.....so true, So true!