Reel Britannia

Episode 195 - Home At Seven (1952) He came home on time... a day too late. Home at Seven is a neatly unsettling British mystery that begins with one of the simplest ideas imaginable and turns it into something deeply unnerving. David Preston, a mild-mannered bank clerk, arrives home after work expecting an ordinary evening with his wife. Instead, he is met with shock, confusion and growing alarm, because as far as everyone else is concerned, he has not been gone for the day. He has been missing for over twenty-four hours. David is utterly baffled. To him, nothing is wrong. He left work, came home, and the clock seems to agree with him. But the people around him know otherwise, and the more questions they ask, the less certain everything becomes. His wife Janet is frightened and hurt, his friends are concerned, and before long the police are taking an interest as well. What begins as a strange domestic puzzle quickly deepens into something much darker when it becomes clear that David's missing hours may be

Episode 194 - Go To Blazes (1962) "So many firms nowadays prefer conflagration to liquidation." If you are looking for a cracking way to spend eighty minutes, Go to Blazes is a proper hidden gem of British cinema. It has that pitch-perfect 1962 atmosphere—stylish, colourful, and just a touch rebellious. The plot is an absolute hoot: three ambitious but slightly dim-witted crooks decide the ultimate way to beat the London traffic after a smash-and-grab is to nick a literal fire engine. It is one of those "so barmy it just might work" ideas that keeps you smiling as you watch them navigate the sheer absurdity of their own scheme. What really makes the film stand out is its visual flair. The vibrant red of the fire engine against the backdrop of vintage London looks smashing in Technicolor, and the whole thing has a snappy, rhythmic energy. Dave King is top-notch as the group's leader, Bernard; he plays the part with a smooth, confident charm that makes you genuinely root for the lads to pull it off, even wh

Taste Of Fear / Scream Of Fear (1961) "You say my mind is affecting my legs. You're wrong. It's my legs that are affecting my mind." Taste of Fear, released in 1961 and also known in some territories as Scream of Fear, is one of those wonderfully chilly British thrillers that shows just how much tension can be created without a drop of gore. Directed by Seth Holt for Hammer Films, it stands slightly apart from the studio's more famous horror output of the period. Instead of Gothic castles, vampires and lurid supernatural shocks, this is a sleek, sinister psychological suspense picture, elegant and unsettling in equal measure. The story centres on Penny Appleby, a young woman confined to a wheelchair, who arrives at her estranged father's Riviera home only to discover that he is mysteriously absent. Waiting there are her father's new wife Jane, the family doctor, and a coolly attentive chauffeur, all of whom seem polite on the surface but quietly difficult to trust. Almost at once, Penny begins to experience

Episode 192 - To Sir WIth Love (1967) "If you must play these filthy games, do them in your homes, and not in my classroom!" Set against the vibrant, swinging backdrop of 1960s London, To Sir, With Love is a timeless feel-good classic that radiates warmth and optimism. The film stars the legendary Sidney Poitier as Mark Thackeray, an unemployed engineer who takes a temporary teaching position at a rough-and-tumble East End school.   At first, the situation seems impossible. The students are rowdy, rebellious, and determined to drive their new teacher away just as they did the others. But Thackeray refuses to quit. In a pivotal, triumphant moment, he literally throws the textbooks into the bin and changes the rules. He decides to treat these "delinquents" not as children, but as adults, demanding nothing but mutual respect and dignity.   What follows is a delightful transformation. Through honest conversations about life, survival, and personal pride—and a charming class trip to a museum—the friction melts in

Episode 191 - The L Shaped Room (1962) "You've had eight over the eight, you lovely bit of crumpet, you!" Directed by Bryan Forbes and based on the novel by Lynne Reid Banks, The L-Shaped Room is a quintessential example of British "kitchen sink" realism. The film tells the poignant story of Jane Fosset (played by Leslie Caron in a BAFTA-winning performance), a young French woman who arrives in London unmarried and pregnant—a precarious social position in the early 1960s. Seeking anonymity, Jane moves into a bug-ridden boarding house in Notting Hill. Her room, grim and L-shaped, becomes the center of her new life among a community of social outcasts. Her neighbors include Mavis, an aging vaudeville performer; Johnny, a black jazz musician facing prevalent racism; and distinctively, Toby (Tom Bell), a struggling, cynical writer. The core of the narrative focuses on the tentative, blossoming romance between Jane and Toby. As they find solace in one another amidst the squalor, Jane grapples with whether to u

Episode 190 - Carry On Cabby (1963) "I wonder if I've got the right soap? I can't remember if it was green for oily skin or oily for green skin." "Carry On Cabby" is widely celebrated as one of the most heartwarming and narrative-driven treasures in the famous franchise. Stepping away from the purely episodic sketches of its predecessors, this 1963 classic delivers a genuinely sweet romantic comedy that stands the test of time. It is a delightful battle of the sexes that combines wit, charm, and a surprising amount of emotional depth. The story centers on workaholic Charlie Hawkins, played by the legendary Sid James, who runs the gritty "Speedee Taxis." When Charlie begins to neglect his home life, his wife Peggy—portrayed by the wonderful Hattie Jacques—decides to teach him a lesson he will never forget. She secretly uses his money to launch a rival company, "Glam Cabs." Suddenly, Charlie faces stiff competition from a fleet of shiny new Fords driven by stunning women, turning the streets of London into a

Episode 189 - You Only Live Twice (1967) "I must say, you have a lot of energy for a dead man, Mister Bond." Get ready for the ultimate 1960s spy spectacle! You Only Live Twice (1967) isn't just a movie; it is a massive, colourful adventure that takes Sean Connery's James Bond to the vibrant landscapes of Japan for one of his most ambitious missions ever. From the opening moments, the film radiates a distinct, larger-than-life energy that defined the "blockbuster" era of the franchise. The film is a masterclass in escapism. Bond trades his usual Aston Martin for "Little Nellie," a heavily armed, pocket-sized autogyro that leads to one of the most thrilling and inventive aerial dogfights in cinema history. The action is fast, fun, and filled with the classic 007 swagger that fans adore. However, the true showstopper is the scale of the villainy. We finally see the face of Bond's arch-nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (complete with the iconic white cat), hiding out in what is arguably the greatest movie set ev

Episode 188 - Just My Luck (1957) "Choose Your Entertainment With "WISDOM"!!" Just My Luck (1957) is a sparkling slice of postwar British comedy that captures both the optimism and the charm of its era. Starring the ever-appealing Norman Wisdom as Norman Hackett, a humble jeweller's apprentice with big dreams, the film follows his hapless but heartfelt attempts to turn his fortunes around. Norman, eternally late and forever in trouble at work, is secretly besotted with glamorous shop assistant Anne (delightfully played by Jill Dixon). When he overhears that she's a fan of racing, he decides to risk everything by placing a series of bets—turning a simple flutter into a full-blown adventure. What follows is a joyful run of misunderstandings, slapstick chaos and bursts of romantic idealism, all propelled by Wisdom's trademark physical comedy and irrepressible energy. He tumbles, stumbles, and careens through life with that winning mix of innocence and determination that made him Britain's favourite underdog. T

Episode 187 - Hammer Britannia 022 - The Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb (1964) "He's living in the past! This is 1900, you have to think modern." Dust off your fez and grab your torch! If you're in the mood for a splendidly spooky adventure that oozes 1960s charm, look no further than Hammer's 1964 classic, The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb. This film is a pure, unadulterated slice of gothic fun, a wonderful reminder of a time when movie monsters were tragic, heroes were dashing, and curses were, well, very literal. The story kicks off in the grand tradition: a team of intrepid (and slightly reckless) archaeologists unearths the tomb of the Egyptian prince Ra-Antef. Despite the usual ominous warnings etched on the walls, they crate up their findings and ship them off to London, guided by the bombastic American showman, Adam Beauchamp (played with wonderful gusto by Fred Clark). Beauchamp's plan? A sensational, profit-making roadshow! Of course, the mummy has other ideas. It's not long before the ancient guardian is

Episode 186 - Campbell's Kingdom (1957) "Rugged Wildcatters...Fighting The Treacherous Might Of The Canadian Rockies" Grab your parka and get ready for a trip to the Canadian Rockies, because 1957's Campbell's Kingdom is a gloriously old-school adventure that absolutely bursts with high-stakes drama and breathtaking scenery. If you're in the mood for a classic "ripping yarn," this is the film for you. It's a story of grit, oil, and one man's incredible race against time, all set against one of the most stunning backdrops ever captured on film. At the heart of the story is the wonderfully charismatic Dirk Bogarde as Bruce Campbell. Given a grim health diagnosis, Bruce inherits a patch of land in Alberta known as "Campbell's Kingdom." He's told it's worthless, but his grandfather died believing there was oil under that rocky soil. With nothing left to lose, Bruce sinks his last penny and every ounce of his failing strength into proving him right. This is where the fun really starts. The film is a fantastic s

Episode 185 - Miranda (1948) "You've hated me ever since I set tail in this house." In the canon of post-war British comedy, there are grand spectacles and quiet character studies. And then, every so often, there's a film so completely, cheerfully absurd that it defies category. Miranda (1948) is one such treasure, a fantasy-comedy that is as polished and witty as it is delightfully naughty. It's a film that asks what would happen if a classic British "comedy of manners" was suddenly interrupted by a mermaid—and the answer, it turns in, is pure, bubbly entertainment. The story itself is a wonderfully silly concoction. Dr. Paul Martin (Griffith Jones), escaping his wife for a solo fishing holiday in Cornwall, gets more than he bargained for. He doesn't just catch a fish; he is caught by Miranda, a flirtatious, man-crazy mermaid who promptly holds him captive in her aquatic cave. His ransom? A trip to see London. What follows is a brilliant farce. Paul passes off the beautiful Miranda as an "invalid patient,

Episode 184- In The Name Of The Father (1993) "You got 15 years of blood and sweat and pain from my client - whose only crime was that he was bloody well Irish. And he was foolish, and he was in the wrong place at the wrong time!" Based on the powerful true story of the Guildford Four, In the Name of the Father (1993) is a gripping legal and personal drama chronicling a devastating miscarriage of justice during "The Troubles" in 1970s England. The film centers on Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis), a petty thief from Belfast. To escape the escalating violence, his father sends him to London. While Gerry and his friend Paul Hill are squatting in a flat, an IRA bomb explodes at a pub in Guildford, killing five people. Under intense pressure to secure convictions, the British police, led by Inspector Robert Dixon, arrest Gerry and Paul as prime suspects. What follows is a harrowing interrogation. Gerry is subjected to days of psychological torture, threats, and violence, eventually breaking down and signing a fa

Episode 183 - Boiling Point (2021) "I do not get paid enough to deal with this shit." The 2021 British film "Boiling Point" offers a raw and immersive look into the high-pressure environment of a professional kitchen, captured in a single, continuous take. Directed by Philip Barantini, who co-wrote the screenplay with James Cummings, the film is a technical marvel that amplifies the relentless stress of the culinary world. The production notably filmed the entire movie four times, with the third take being the one used in the final cut, a testament to the cast and crew's incredible coordination and performance. The narrative unfolds in real-time on the last Friday before Christmas, one of the busiest nights of the year for the upscale London restaurant, Jones & Sons. At the heart of the storm is Head Chef Andy Jones, portrayed with a visceral intensity by Stephen Graham. Already burdened by personal issues, Andy's night spirals into chaos from the moment he arrives. A surprise visit from a health and s

Episode 182 - All Night Long (1962) "Me? Oh, I belong to that new minority group: white American jazz musicians. They're going to hold a mass meeting in a phone booth." Get ready to step into the coolest party of 1962. Basil Dearden's All Night Long is a cinematic powder keg, a film that brilliantly transplants Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello into the vibrant, smoke-filled world of the London jazz scene, and it does so with an electrifying pulse that never lets up. This isn't just a drama; it's a front-row seat to a once-in-a-lifetime jam session, featuring knockout performances from real-life jazz giants like Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, and Johnny Dankworth. The result is a stunningly stylish and suspenseful ride that swings to its own dynamic rhythm. The story unfolds over the course of a single, spectacular evening. Wealthy music enthusiast Rod Hamilton (a wonderfully suave Richard Attenborough) is hosting an anniversary party for the golden couple of the jazz world: the supremely talented bandl

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. Episode 181 - The Gorgon (1964)   " Don't use long words, Inspector; they don't suit you." Get ready to have a monstrously good time with one of Hammer Film Productions’ most creative and atmospheric chillers, 1964’s The Gorgon! This isn't just any old creature feature; it’s a vibrant, gothic mystery that brings together the titans of terror, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, for a truly legendary showdown. Forget what you know about Medusa, because this film introduces a new snake-haired sister to the mix, and she’s ready for her close-up! The fun kicks off in the spooky little German village of Vandorf around the turn of the 20th century. This town has a serious problem: its residents have a nasty habit of turning to stone. When a young artist is found petrified, his family refuses to accept the flimsy official story. His determined father and brother arrive to uncover the truth, but the locals, terri

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism Episode 180 - A Kind Of Loving (1962) "You know, it's a funny feeling. Sometimes I really fancy her, and the next day I can hardly stand the sight of her." More kitchen sink drama this week as Scott and Steven step into the vibrant, bustling world of early 1960s Lancashire with "A Kind of Loving," a wonderfully spirited and heartfelt romance. The story centres on Vic Brown, a wisecracking and ambitious young draughtsman with dreams bigger than his industrial town. His world is instantly brightened when he sets his sights on the lovely and charming Ingrid Rothwell, a typist at the same company. What follows is a delightful and utterly believable courtship, crackling with the electric energy of new love. Through trips to the pictures, countryside walks, and witty banter, a powerful attraction blossoms between the two. The film perfectly captures that exhilarating, head-over-heels feeling of a first romance,

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. Episode 179 - North Sea Hijack (1980) Forget your suave, tuxedo-clad spies. The hero of North Sea Hijack is Rufus Excalibur ffolkes, a man whose only true loves are his cats, a strong Scotch, and a perfectly executed bit of underwater sabotage. When a group of rather impolite terrorists, led by the chillingly polite Kramer, decide to hijack a massive oil rig and its supply vessel in the middle of the tempestuous North Sea, the British government is in a pickle. The villains' demand is simple: a staggering £25 million, or they’ll send the pride of Britain's oil industry to the bottom of the ocean, creating an environmental and economic catastrophe. With the clock ticking and the North Sea winds howling, the Prime Minister and her advisors are running out of options. Who can possibly handle such a delicate, high-stakes situation? Enter ffolkes. He’s a freelance counter-terrorism consultant with a magnific

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism. Episode 178 - Carry On Cruising (1962) "During the War I did Arctic runs that would've made HMS Ulysses look like a trip to Brighton. Without getting a scratch! Two days on a simple cruise with you lot and look at me!" The sixth installment in the beloved Carry On franchise, 1962's Carry On Cruising holds a special place in the series' history. Not only did it take the familiar brand of British seaside humour to the high seas, but it was also the very first Carry On film to be shot and presented in glorious Eastmancolor. This transition to a vibrant palette marked a significant step forward for the series, elevating its visual appeal and setting a new standard for the films that would follow. However, the production was not without its own undercurrents of drama, and the final product received a mixed reception from critics and audiences alike, cementing its status as a unique and much-debated entry in th

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism Episode 177 - This Is England (2006) Set in a coastal English town during the summer of 1983, This Is England centres on Shaun, a lonely 12-year-old boy grieving the death of his father in the Falklands War. After a fight at school, Shaun is befriended by a group of older, good-natured skinheads led by the welcoming Woody. He quickly finds a sense of belonging and a surrogate family within their subculture of ska music, fashion, and camaraderie. The group's joyful dynamic is shattered by the return of Combo, a charismatic but deeply troubled ex-convict with a volatile temper. Imbued with a nationalist, racist ideology from his time in prison, Combo attempts to steer the group towards far-right extremism. His intimidating presence causes a painful schism, forcing everyone to choose sides. While Woody and several others reject Combo’s hateful politics, the impressionable Shaun, swayed by Combo’s rhetoric ab

Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism Episode 176 - Hammer Britannia 020 - The Evil Of Frankenstein (1964) In Hammer's "The Evil of Frankenstein" (1964), a destitute Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), with his assistant Hans, is forced to flee and returns to his ancestral chateau in Karlstaad. He finds his home looted by vengeful villagers and his original creation missing. Guided by a deaf-mute girl, he discovers the Creature (Kiwi Kingston) perfectly preserved in a glacier. After thawing and reanimating its body, Frankenstein finds its mind is dormant. Desperate, he seeks help from Professor Zoltan, a traveling carnival hypnotist, hoping to reactivate the Creature's brain. Zoltan succeeds but seizes control of the powerful being for his own greedy purposes. He commands the Creature to steal and murder, enacting revenge on the town officials who wronged him. The Creature's rampage spirals out of control, leading to Zoltan's death. I