Aug 27th
The Private Life of Henry VIII***    
(GB 1933)                                           
United Artists/London Films. 97m. bw

In the 16th century King Henry works his way through four further wives after divorcing Katherine of Aragon and executing Anne Boleyn.
A notable event in British cinema, for the best and worst of reasons: a fine semi-comedic vehicle for Laughton allowing him moments of deep pathos, even though its structure is uneven and important characters disappear from the narrative - but lavishly presented, becoming the first major British film to American audiences, in the same royal soap opera heritage style that we have endured since.

Written by: Lajos Biro, Arthur Wimperis.
Producer/Director: Alexander Korda.
Starring: Charles Laughton, Merle Oberon (Anne Boleyn), Wendy Barrie (Jane Seymour), Binnie Barnes (Catherine Howard), Robert Donat (Thomas Culpepper), Elsa Lanchester (Anne of Cleves), Franklin Dyall (Thomas Cromwell), Everley Gregg (Catherine Parr), Claud Allister, Lady Tree, Hay Petrie.
Photography: Georges Perinal.
Music: Kurt Schroeder.
Production Design: Vincent Korda.

+ HENRY (Laughton): "Am I a king or a breeding bull?"
"Six wives! And the best of 'em's the worst!"

Aug 21st
Logan's Run**       
(US 1976)                                               
MGM. 118m. Todd AO 35

In a 23rd century society where no-one ages beyond 30, an officer who hunts down escapees himself becomes hunted when he learns of a refuge colony.
Typically 70s stylized version of the future where the society rules don't really make any sense, but seasoned craftsmen behind the camera make the human drama aspects more enjoyable, even if the plot is radically different from its original.

Written by: David Zelag Goodman, based on the novel by George Clayton Johnson, William F. Nolan.
Producer: Saul David.
Director: Michael Anderson.
Starring: Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Peter Ustinov, Roscoe Lee Browne, Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Michael Anderson Jnr.
Photography: Ernest Laszlo.
Music: Jerry Goldsmith.
Production Design: Dale Henessy.

Aug 11th  
Knight of Cups*
(US 2014 - released 2015)                                                                   
Dogwood Films/FilmNation/Waypoint Entertainment. 118m.ws

A Los Angeles screenwriter reflects on life through relationships with a succession of women as well as remembering his dead father.
Another pretentiously profound drama by Malick, with moving moments and famous faces passing by like ripples in the river.

Written and Directed by: Terrence Malick.
Producers: Nicolas Gonda, Sarah Green, Ken Kao.
Starring: Christian Bale, Imogen Poots, Brian Dennehy, Isabel Lucas, Wes Bentley, Antonio Banderas, Cate Blanchett, Isabel Lucas, Natalie Portman, Teresa Palmer, Ryan O'Neal, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ben Kingsley (voice only).
Photography: Emmanuel Lubezki.
Music: Hanan Townshend.

+ in addition to Ben Kinsgley, other offscreen narrators include archives of John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson

Aug 7th  
The Sea Shall Not Have Them*     
(GB 1954)                                                 

In 1944 the Air Sea rescue tries to recover a crashed RAF bomber crew returning to England.
Rather routinely filmed WWII drama, with standard cliches as well as requisite stiff upper lips. An impressive cast just about manages to do it justice.

Written by: Lewis Gilbert, Vernon Harris, from the novel by John Harris.
Producer: Daniel M. Angel.
Director: Lewis Gilbert.
Starring: Michael Redgrave, Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Steel, Nigel Patrick, Bonar Colleano, Griffith Jones, Sydney Tafler, Jack Watling, Guy Middleton, Ian Whittaker, Antony Diffring, Joan Sims.
Photography: Stephen Dade.
Music: Malcolm Arnold.

THE SEA SHALL NOT HAVE THEM. Joan Sims considers the responsibilities of being a Air Sea Rescue man's wife with her husband's commanding officer (Griffith Jones) at Felixstowe station.