Jan 30th
(Regent Street Cinema, London)

Seance on a Wet Afternoon** (PG) 

(GB 1964)

A would-be psychic who has lost her stillborn son persuades her downtrodden husband to kidnap a wealthy couple's daughter in order to reveal her whereabouts in a seance.
Suffocating psychological thriller only occasionally veering outside into grimy London, sensitively handled by Forbes (given the disturbing subject matter), and grippingly if sometimes obsessively played.

Written and Directed by: Bryan Forbes, based on the novel by Marc McShane.
Producers: Richard Attenborough, Bryan Forbes.
Starring: Kim Stanley, Richard Attenborough, Nanette Newman, Mark Eden, Gerald Sim, Patrick Magee, Judith Donner.
Photography: Gerry Turpin.
Music: John Barry

Jan 29th   
The Challenger*  
(GB TVM 2013)                                         

On 28th January 1986 the Space Shuttle Challenger unexpectedly explodes after lift-off, and noted 'outsider' Dr. Richard Feynman diagnoses the cause in spite of secrecy and paranoia from NASA.
Low-key semi-reconstruction of the 1980s, in fashionable semi-documentary tone, relying on a great deal of the integrity from its leading performance.

Written by: Kate Garside, based on the book "What Do You care What Other People Think?" by Richard P. Feynman.
Producer: Laurie Borg.
Director: James Howes.
Starring: William Hurt, Bruce Greenwood, Brian Dennehy, Kevin McNally, Eve Best, Joanne Whalley, Henry Goodman.
Photography: Lukas Strebel.
Music: Chris Letcher.
Editing: Peter Christelis.

Preceded by:
Tom and Jerry in 
Kitty Foiled**
(US 1948. 7m.; w, d: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera; p: Fred Quimby.)

Jan 16th  
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies     
(GB/US 2015)

In an alternative 19th century Britain the martial arts trained Bennett sisters seek suitable husbands in the midst of an ongoing plague ward against zombies.
Straight faced comic book, translating the subtexts of Jane Austen's story into literal action and gory violence. Quite sustained for such nonsense, and the perfect fantasy for fans of Jane Austen and zombie films - wherever exactly that demographic lies.

Written and Directed by: Burr Steers, based on the novel by Seth Graham-Smith.
Producers (seven of them): Sean McKittrick, Allison Shearmur, Natalie Portman, Annette Savitch, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson, Marc Butan.
Starring: Lily James, Sam Riley, Matt Smith, Charles Dance, Bella Heathcote, Jack Huston, Douglas Booth, Lena Headey, Sally Phillips.
Photography: Remi Adefarasin.
Music: Fernando Velazquez.

Jan 12th  
Stan and Ollie***  (PG)     
(Century Clacton)

(GB 2018)                 

Laurel and Hardy struggle in their advancing years on stage in Britain through ill health and production squabbling, but soldier on for one last bow.
While it takes its minor detours historically (with Hal Roach in particular the fall guy), this skilfully -and sometimes wordily - scripted but loving account of the Boys on tour hits just the right note mixing simultaneous drama with comedy (including even some bonus routines), with strong production and two actors as good as we're going to get at emulating the real Laurel and Hardy (who appear at the end in their soft shoe shuffle dance from Way Out West.)

Written by: Jeff Pope, based on the book "Laurel and Hardy: The British Tours" by A.J. Marriott.
Producer: Faye Ward.
Director: Jon S. Baird.
Starring: Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly, Shirley Henderson, Nina Arianda, Danny Huston (as Hal Roach), Rufus Jones (as Bernard Delfont).
Photography: Laurie Rose.
Music: Rolfe Kent.
Make-up: Mark Coulier.

Leonard Maltin review