laurencebeck

The distinguishing feature of this film (1966), historically unseen, is that it opened The Windill Theatre as a cinema after its famous and legendary history as a live entertainment house. A modest film was required but 'wit da quality' as best as it could be decided upon to be made. To this end a classy little piece of ass was found in the cast of "Passion Flower Hotel" a musical at the Prince of Wales Theatre and the entire enterprise was set upon. While 'ísnt this terrible....!' may very well be the subtext partout it is not to deride director Arnold Miller's charming barrow boy's patriotic effort. The atmosphere created by Arnold in the theatrical sense is precisely that found by Jacques Rivette in the pocket theatre scenes in "Celine et Julie Vont en Bateau" (1974) and , indeed, can he have scrupulously avoided making recognition of a debt to Jean-Luc in the opening sequence of two young people, 'morts', in the front seat of their crashed sports car? ("Le Mépris" 1963). Mystery and marbles!