Day of the Triffids

(Steve Sekeley/1962/UK)

A rather dated adaptation of John Wyndham’s excellent book, this film focuses too much on character relationships and not enough on the drama and tension of an oncoming, sentient plant induced apocalypse. The Triffids themselves are impressive but the plot is a bit plodding and strays too far from the original so we get less of the societal collapse portrayed in the book and more of a survivalist story. The scene with the convicts, which lamely mirrors the party for the new, armed and despotic leaders in the book, resembles a stereotyped beatnik debacle than evidence of the world falling apart. The very best adaptation of Day of the Triffids is the BBC’s 1981 three part TV series but I would say just read the book as it’s a classic.

(2/5)

A Private Function

(Malcolm Mowbray/1984/UK)

Set shortly after World War II when rations are still in effect and butchers are living in fear of food inspectors, A Private Function is a comedy about some small town snobs trying to illegally fatten a pig for a celebration of the oncoming Royal wedding. A newly arrived chiropodist and his social climbing wife and mother in law attempt to break into this circle of village elitism by involving themselves in the prohibited pig plans and the film goes on to play with British notions of class and getting ahead to great effect. Written by Alan Bennett it’s got an incredibly light but sharp humour. At times quips go by so effortlessly you almost miss them. With a powerhouse cast including Denholm Elliot, Maggie Smith, Michael Palin, Richard Griffith, Liz Smith, Pete Postlewaith and Alison Steadman it’s not short on great performances either. But for all that A Private Function never really hits a proper stride, there’s no absolutely laugh out loud moments I found, but it is funny. It is a gentler type of comedy and therein lays a lot of its charm. Watch out for an early incarnation of Liz Smith’s Nana from The Royle Family in the form of Joyce’s mother.

(3/5)

That Sinking Feeling

(Bill Forsyth/1979/UK)

Forsyth’s first feature length which he also scripted, albeit a lot of it improvised on set I suspect, is a humorous look at young, unemployed lads in Glasgow trying to make a quick buck to get by. This involves a mad cap plan involving sinks that leads to all sorts of high jinks. The cast was recruited from the Glasgow Youth Theatre and it’s fairly obvious everyone involved is on their first film production, both the young actors and Forsyth himself. It still retains a naive charm but the story drags out and a lot of the timing of the humour is staccato. However if you can live with this it is the earliest example of Forsyth’s particular brand of gentle, existential comedy and the seeds of what would flourish in Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero are there. There are some great shots of various parts of Glasgow, and as drab and dreary as it is there’s a warmth cutting through the entire film that only someone familiar with and fond of the place could impart. A handful of the main actors here went on to star in Gregory’s Girl too.

(2.5/5)