Feb 28th
The Man Who Knew Too Much**
GB 1934. Gaumont British. 75m. bw

A couple on holiday in the Alps have their daughter kidnapped by political assassins, and so they take action for themselves.
One of Hitchcock's defining early 30s thrillers, a little primitive in some respects and dated in some of its acting, but with several notable set pieces including the Albert Hall and a climax based on the Sydney Street Siege.

Written by: Charles Bennett, D.B. Wyndham Lewis, Emlyn Williams, from a story by Edwin Greenwood, A.R. Rawlinson.
Producer: Ivor Montagu.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock.
Starring: Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre, Nova Pilbeam, Frank Vosper, Hugh Wakefield, Pierre Fresnay.
Photography: Curt Courant.
Music: Arthur Benjamin.

Feb 22nd
The Wolfman**
US 2010. Universal/Relativity Media/Stuber Pictures. 114m(DVD version). ws

Glossy, ambitious remake of Curt Siodmak's 1941 film of an aristocrat's son who is bitten by a wolf and becomes one himself, which looks rushed in its early stages, in a manner reminiscent of Bram Stoker's Dracula with added elements of Edgar Allen Poe-style Greek tragedy and even a hint of Jack the Ripper and a few other fantasy-horror films. Despite its pedigree it struggled to find an audience, which is a shame.

Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker, David Self.
Producers: Scott Stuber, Benicio Del Toro, Rick Yorn, Sean Daniel.
Director: Joe Johnston.
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Max Von Sydow (uncredited), Art Malik, Anthony Sher, Geraldine Chaplin.
Photography: Shelly Johnson.
Music: Danny Elfman.
Make-up: Rick Baker.

Feb 19th
Black Swan* (15)
Electric Palace, Harwich

A young ballerina is cast in the role of Swan Queen in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, which threatens to destroy her.
Intense and at times ludicrous ballet melodrama with perhaps unnecessary supernatural elements, almost totally seen from the perspective of its main character, so that it lacks focus.

d: Darren Aronofsky
s: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Benjamin Millepied


Philip French review

Feb 10th
Under Milk Wood**
GB 1971. Timon Films. 88m.

Series of vignettes describing life in a Welsh fishing village.
Acceptable, sometimes all-too literal translation of Thomas's imagery, which is only occasionally striking and with the momentary nice acting cameo, given international lustre thanks to the influence of local boy Richard Burton and the distraction of his famous wife in an over-glamorised appearance.

Written and Directed by: Andrew Sinclair, from the play by Dylan Thomas.
Producer: Hugo French, Jules Buck.
Starring: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole (as Captain Cat), Elizabeth Taylor, Glynis Johns, Victor Spinetti, Ryan Davies, Angharad Rees, Ann Beach, Sian Phillips, Vivien Merchant, Talfryn Thomas, Glyn Edwards, David Jason, Ruth Madoc, Susan Penhaligon, and others.
Photography: Bob Huke.
Music: Brian Gascoigne.

+ filmed on location in Fishguard, with Elizabeth Taylor's brief scenes shot at Lee International Studios in London


UNDER MILK WOOD. Richard Burton brought kudos and his glamorous wife Elizabeth Taylor to his native Dylan Thomas, but left any acting with Liz to his old drinking chum Peter O'Toole.

Feb 1st
The King's Speech*** (12A)
Odeon Colchester

The future King George VI tries to cure his stammer with the aid of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue, and is thrust into the limelight when his brother Edward VIII abdicates.
Deeply moving study, not of one man's triumph over adversity but his ongoing and ultimately winning struggle; languid in pace, like the King's stammer, and historically taking one or two short cuts, but at its best when focusing on the love-hate relationship between the king and his speech therapist. The truth of the story is perhaps what makes it most moving.

d: Tom Hooper
s: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi, Guy Pearce, Jennifer Ehle, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, Claire Bloom.