Jun 28th   
The Princess Diaries          
(US 2001)                                   
Walt Disney/Brown House. 115m.

A San Francisco 15-year old has to cope not only with fitting in at school but also that she is heir to the European kingdom of Genovia.
Slender coming-of-age Cinderella story turned into an even more slender comedy variation on Pretty Woman, with the comedy often laboured and obvious with all the cliches in place, occasionally bringing out the more human side thanks to Julie Andrews and others. It launched a new star onto the scene, for whom the film roles improved.

Written by: Gina Wendkos, based on the novels by Meg Cabot.
Producers: Whitney Houston, Debra Martin Chase, Mario Iscovich.
Director: Garry Marshall.
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Heather Matarazes, Caroline Goodall, Hector Elizondo, Mandy Moore, Robert Schwartzmann.
Photography: Karl Walter Lindenlaub.
Music: John Debney.

Preceded by:
Tom and Jerry in
Tennis Chumps*
(US 1949. 7m.; Appropriate for the first day of Wimbledon!; d: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera; p: Fred Quimby.)

Jun 23rd   
The Father** (12A)   
(Curzon Colchester)                       

(GB/Fra 2020)
Lionsgate/Film Four/Embankment/Trademark Films/FDC/Canal+. 96m. ws

Returning to the cinema this year with a compelling portrait of dementia as visualised brilliantly through the performance of Anthony Hopkins (who deservedly won Best Actor again at the Oscars this year), although some of the loose ends of the plot could be tied up without leaving it totally to the central character's corrupted mind.

Written by: Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller, from his play.
Producers: David Parfit, Jean-Louis Livi, Philippe Carcassonne, Christophe Spadone, Simon Friend.
Director: Florian Zeller.
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell, Olivia Williams, Imogen Poots, Mark Gatiss.
Photography: Ben Smithard.
Music: Ludovico Einaudi, and others.
Production Design: Peter Francis.
 

Jun 21st  
The Horse's Mouth*           
(GB 1958)
United Artists/Knightsbridge. 93m.

An elderly artist connives his way into various wealthy admirers of his work on his self-destructive path.
An offbeat choice for both director and star, who for once scores better as a writer than actor, with his characterisation a mixture of overplayed caricature and thoughtful introspection which doesn't quite ring true. Some good supporting cameos but they are often too brief.

Written by: Alec Guinness, from the novel by Joyce Cary.
Producer: John Bryan.
Director: Ronald Neame.
Starring: Alec Guinness, Kay Walsh, Mike Morgan, Ernest Thesiger, Renee Houston, Robert Coote, Michael Gough, Reginald Beckwith.
Photography: Arthur Ibbetson.
Musical Direction: Kenneth V. Jones.
Paintings: John Bratby.

+ Mike Morgan's last film, dying at the age of 29 of meningitis before the film's release (with his voice dubbed)

Preceded by:
The Great Pram Race*
(GB 1977. 23m.; The annual Hertford Heath charity event, spliced together as a spoof sports semi-documentary with sometimes relevant comedic commentary by Peter Sellers.; w, p, d: James Hill.)

Jun 12th      
Tea with Mussolini**                
(GB/Ita 1999)
Universal/G2/Cattleya Cinecento/Medusa Film. 112m.

In 1930s Florence, a boy looked after by his English nanny later helps her and her expatriate friends when the war  clouds darken.
Zeffirelli's childhood memoir: as expected fairly rose-tinted in some of its history and characters, but warmly nostalgic, although a little uneven, not always allowing his excellent all-star cast the chance to shine.

Written by: John Mortimer, Franco Zeffirelli.
Producers: Clive Parsons, Riccardo Tozzi, Giovanella Zannani, Frederick Muller, Marco Chimenz, Pippo Pisciotto.
Director: Franco Zeffirelli.
Starring (in no particular order): Cher, Baird Wallace, Charlie Lucas, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin, Michael Williams, Massimo Ghini, Claudio Spadaro (as Mussolini), Paul Chequer, Paolo Seganti.
Photography: David Watkin.
Music: Stefano Arnaldi, Alessio Vlad.

Jun 7th
The Most Dangerous Game***
(US 1932)
RKO. 62m. bw

A mad Cossack hunter lures shipwreck survivors to his remote island to hunt them down for sport.
Telling little adventure drama with a startling opening which sets the tone for the rest, despite slightly theatrical moments. An interesting precursor also for the makers of King Kong.

Written by: James Creelman, from a story by Richard Connell.
Producer: Merian C. Cooper.
Director: Ernst Schoedsak, Irving Pichel.
Starring: Leslie Banks, Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Noble Johnson, Steve Clemente, William B. Davidson, James Flavin.
Photography: Henry Gerrard.
Music: Max Steiner.
Art Direction: Carroll Clark.

Preceded by:
The Pink Panther in
Pink, Plunk, Plink*
(US 1966. 6m.; PP interrupts an orchestra's performance of Beethoven with the Pink Panther theme, to the delight of Henry Mancini!; w: Michel O'Connor; d: Hawley Pratt, Friz Freleng.)

A Welcome to Britain**
aka. How to Behave in Britain
(GB/US 1943. Ministry of Information/Office of War Information. 37m. bw; Quirky US Army training film, now an interesting period record as well as useful pointer for visiting G.I.s - Bob Hope suddenly pops in to swindle Burgess Meredith out of his money, and suddenly the earnest documentary becomes semi-farce.; d Burgess Meredith, Anthony Asquith; s: Burgess Meredith, Felix Aylmer, Bob Hope, Carla Lehmann.