May 22nd  
The Black Swan**       
(US 1942)
Twentieth Century Fox. 85m.

In the 17th century Spanish Main of the Caribbean, a rascal pirate friend of the reformed Sir Henry Morgan is torn between him and other pirate acquaintances who keep their cutthroat ways.
Production-wise most of the stops are pulled out for this colourful swashbuckler. The central romance doesn't really convince, but the strong supporting characters and sword fighting scenes (similar in tone to Alexander Nevsky) grab the attention.

Written by: Ben Hecht, Seton I. Miller, from the novel by Rafael Sabatini.
Producer: Robert Basler.
Director: Henry King.
Starring: Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, Laird Cregar (as Morgan), George Sanders, Thomas Mitchell, Anthony Quinn, George Zucco, Edward Ashley, Clarence Muse.
Photography: Leon Shamroy.
Music: Alfred Newman.
Art Direction: James Basevi, Richard Day.
Costume: Earl Luick.

Preceded by:
A Trip to the Moon**
(US 1910. 5m. bw. silent; Interesting and sometimes innovative emulation by Edison of the trick films of Georges Melies.; p: Thomas Edison; d: Ashley Miller.)

May 15th
Yesterday's Hero   
(GB/Australia 1979)
Columbia/Cinema Seven. 95m.

A boozy womanising ex-football staris given the chance of a comebackat the Cup Final by a pop star and  his singing partner who is an old flame.
Sleazy looking 70s sport sex melodrama betraying its writer's lack of insight into the game, with largely unattractive characters, despite (or perhaps because of) the obvious similarities to George Best and Elton John.

Written by: Jackie Collins.
Producers: Elliott Kastner, Oscar Lerman, Ken Regan.
Director: Neil Leifer.
Starring: Ian McShane, Paul Nicholas, Suzanne Somers, Adam Faith, Glynis Barber, Sam Kydd, Paul Medford, John Motson.
Photography: Brian West.
Musical Direction: Stanley Myers.

Preceded by:
Look at Life: Saturday Fever
(GB 1960. Rank. 9m.; Invaluable documentary colour footage of matches from the 1959/60 season.; narr: Cliff Michelmore.)

May 11th  
Raising the Wind*     
(GB 1961)     
Anglo Amalgamated. 91m.

A student at a London music academy almost ruins his studies by creating a hit record that would expel him.                        
Sweet-natured but tepid rehash of Doctor in the House for the music world (with added Carry On elements), with the same character types, the same actors playing them, and even the same college (University College London) used.

Written by: Bruce Montgomery.
Producer: Peter Rogers.
Director: Gerald Thomas.
Starring: Leslie Phillips, James Robertson Justice, Paul Massie, Jennifer Jayne, Liz Fraser, Kenneth Williams, Jimmy Thompson, Eric Barker, Sidney James, Lance Percival, Esma Cannon, Geoffrey Keen, David Lodge, Jim Dale.
Photography: Alan Hume.
Music: Edmund Crispin.

May 4th   
Elstree 1976**      
(GB 2015)         
The Works/Verax/British Film Company/Canal Catfilms. 101m.

Moving, slightly melancholy reflections from some of the bit-part or supporting artists in  Star Wars - then an obscure sci-fi item which unexpectedly became one of the most successful films ever - whilst most of the participants in this account returned to relatively obscure lives, with poignant results.

w,d: Jon Spira
p: Hank Starrs, Steve Milne
s: David Prowse, Garrick Hagon, Jeremy Bulloch, Angus Macinnes, Anthony Forrest, Pam Rose, John Chapman, Laurie Goode (the actual stormtrooper whose head bumped against a door - see below), Paul Blake, Derek Lyons;
ph: Sonny Malhotra
m: Jamie Hyatt