Jun 30th
Chimes at Midnight**
aka: Falstaff
Spa/Switzerland 1965. Internacional Films Espanola/Alpine/Harry Saltzman. 119m. bw

In the reign of King Henry IV, his son and heir Prince Hal prefers a life of merriment and mischief with his friend Sir John Falstaff, whom he is nonetheless preparing to shun.
Stylish compendium of the various Shakespeare plays in which Falstaff appears, revered by Welles buffs as a commentary on his rejection by Hollywood (as he sees it), with some good moments and performances, but the style (filmed in chilly Spain) often overwhelms the verse.

Written and Directed by: Orson Welles.
Producers: Emiliano Piedra, Angel Escolano.
Starring: Orson Welles, Keith Baxter, John Gielgud (as Henry IV), Jeanne Moreau, Margaret Rutherford (as Mistress Quickly), Norman Rodway, Fernando Rey, Ralph Richardson (narrator).
Photography: Edmond Richard.
Music: Angelo Francesco Lavagnino.

June 23rd
Hattie
GB TVM 2010. BBC/Angel Eye Media. 85m.

The troubled personal life of comedienne Hattie Jacques, who entered in a promiscuous affair with her chauffeur but kept her husband in the same house to preserve their reputation.
Powerful but grim behind-the-scenes showbiz drama, probably best left behind closed doors, with hard-working performances, but like other biopics of this kind, it fails to recapture how the central figure was funny.

Written by: Stephen Russell, based on the book by Andy Merriman.
Producers: Richard Osborne, Seb Barwell.
Director: Dan Zeff.
Starring: Ruth Jones, Robert Bathurst (as John Le Mesurier), Aidan Turner, Jeany Spark, Jay Simpson.
Photography: Ian Moss.
Music: Stephen McKeon.

June 22nd
The Man with the Golden Arm**
US 1955. United Artists. 119m. bw

A reformed drug addict just out of prison battles to kick his old habit.
Superficial in its treatment of the risky subject (painting drugs as evil with little of the element of intoxication), but quite daring in its later scenes, this landmark treatment of a cinema taboo is still effective, supported by a sterling jazz soundtrack, and tells its tale with efficiency and clarity, unlike some of the director's later work.

Written by: Walter Newman, Lewis Metzner, from the novel by Nelson Algren.
Producer/Director: Otto Preminger.
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, Eleanor Parker, Darren McGavin, Arnold Stang, Robert Strauss, Emile Meyer, George E. Stone, Leonid Kinskey.
Photography: Sam Leavitt.
Music: Elmer Bernstein.
Titles: Saul Bass.

Jun 21st
Senna** (12A)
Odeon Colchester

Archive documentary about the young Brazilian Ayrton Senna's short rise from international go-karting to three times World Formula 1 Champion, who comes across as colossally arrogant and gifted to begin with, then gradually laced with inner humility and some emotional moments as triumph and tragedy follow in his bitter rivalry with team-mate Alain Prost. A long haul of grainy video and film footage, although some of the scenes of backstage niggling are memorably melodramatic (as much as if it were a drama), and a priceless record for those fans who remember the time when sport was competing with commerce and occasionally won.

d: Asif Kapadia
contributions by: Viviane Senna, Ron Dennis, Frank Williams, Sid Watkins, and others
ed: Chris King, Gregers Sall

June 18th
The Beaver* (12A)
Cineworld Ipswich

US 2010. Summit Entertainment/Participant Media/Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ/Anonymous Content. 91m. ws

A chronically depressive father finds a way out by talking through a glove puppet.
Darkly comic drama with timing that unfortunately matched that of its star's own personal disintegration; as a film a little uncertain of its identity (like the main character), unwisely "opening out" the subject when the Beaver becomes a nationwide success, but performances are generally good and the choice of such a project is daring.

Written by: Kyle Killen.
Producers: Steve Colin, Keith Redman, Ann Ruark.
Director: Jodie Foster.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence, Riley Thomas Stewart, Cherry Jones.
Photography: Hagen Bogdanski.
Music: Marcelo Zarvos.

June 16th
Frequency**
US 2000. New Line. 118m. ws

In 1969 a fireman uses his amateur radio to tune in to his future son, who helps him to avoid a tragic death, and then solves a series of unsolved murders.
Enjoyable if increasingly formulaic thriller variation on Back to the Future which jumps back and forth between the time zones a little too much for its own good, but sustains its course and also keeps some of its sentiment in check.

Written by: Toby Emmerich.
Producers: Hawk Koch, Gregory Hoblit, Bill Carrard, Toby Emmerich.
Director: Gregory Hoblit.
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Jim Caviezel, Elizabeth Mitchell, Andre Braugher, Shawn Doyle, Noah Emmerich, Daniel Henson.
Photography: Alar Kivilo.
Music: Michael Kamen.

Preceded by:
Les Bicyclettes de Belsize**
(GB 1969. Delmore. 27m.; Well intentioned, lightweight British pastiche of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.; w: Mchael Newling; p: Jacques De Lane Lea; d: Douglas Hickox; s: Anthony May, Juxy Huxtable, Leslie Goddard; ph: Wolfgang Suschitzky; m, ly: Les Reed, Barry Mason.)

Jun 15th
Berlin Express*
US 1948. RKO. 87m. bw

An important German peacekeeper is kidnapped, and various members of the Four Powers search through devastated post-war Germany to rescue him.
Efficient and strikingly filmed on the authentic locations, but as a thriller weighed down its message, although there are some good set pieces.

Written by: Harold Medford, from a story by Curt Siodmak.
Producer: Bert Granet.
Director: Jacques Tourneur.
Starring: Robert Ryan, Merle Oberon, Paul Lukas, Charles Korvin, Robert Coote, Roman Toporov, Fritz Kortner, Charles McGraw, Tom Keene.
Photography: Lucien Ballard.
Music: Frederick Hollander.