Nov 29th
The Dig*
(GB/US 2021)
Netflix/Magnolia Mae Films/Clerkenwell Films/BBC. 112m.

In 1939 local archaeologist Basil Brown helps landowner Edith Pretty to excavate her land and unearth the ancient Anglo Saxon burial site at Sutton Hoo.
Interestingly beautiful to look at (patterned in style a little after Terrence Malik) with Surrey standing in mostly for Suffolk, then settling into more conventional period drama, with the cliches of needing antagonists (the outside museum curators) and an unnecessary romantic sub-plot, which thankfully don't distract too much from what is otherwise an absorbing delve into history, from the 20th century and much earlier.

Written by: Moira Buffini, based on the book by John Preston.
Producers: Gabrielle Tana, Ellie Wood, Carolyn Mars Blackwood, Murray Ferguson/
Director: Simon Stone.
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan, Lily James, Ben Chaplin, Johnny Flynn, Ken Stott, Archie Barnes, Monica Dolan.
Photography: Mike Eley.
Music: Simon Gregory.
Editing: Jon Harris.

Nov 21st
Silver Streak**    
(US 1976)                                          
Twentieth Century Fox. 113m.

A publisher becomes embroiled with crooks on the Los Angeles-Chicago express.
Proficient comedy thriller blend of North by Northwest crossed with The French Connection, giving away most of its twists before they occur, and resolving formulaically towards its inexorable train crash finale. The first of a notable comedy teaming of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.

Written by: Colin Higgins.
Producers: Thomas L. Miller, Edward K. Milkis.
Director: Arthur Hiller.
Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, Jill Clayburgh, Patrick McGoohan, Ned Beatty, Clifton James, Scatman Crothers, Richard Kiel, Ray Walston.
Photography: David M. Walsh.
Music: Henry Mancini.

Nov 17th  
Don't Bother to Knock**
(US 1952)      
Twentieth Century Fox. 76m. bw

An unhinged young woman is unwisely given the task of babysitting for wealthy parents one night in a New York hotel.
Underrated Marilyn semi-noir melodrama from her early starring days, the script carefully trying to tone down the uneasy elements by telling the story from the male protagonist's perspective, but her performance still leaves a strong sense of disquiet.

Written by: Daniel Taradash, based on the novel "Mischief" by Charlotte Atmstrong.
Producer: Julian Blaustein.
Director: Roy Baker.
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Richard Widmark, Anne Bancroft (first film), Elisha Cook Jnr, Donna Corcoran, Jim Backus, Jeanne Cagney.
Photography: Lucien Ballard.
Music: Lionel Newman.

Nov 6th
Hitchcock/Truffaut*
(US/Fra 2015)
Cohen Media Group. 80m.

Cineastes documentary about Francois Truffaut's landmark interviews for Cahiers du Cinema which helped to elevate Alfred Hitchcock's status from mere entertainer to the cinematic artist that he already was (but never got due credit for it.) Interspersed with selected filmmakers citing the influence of the writings, although the British period of Hitch's films is sadly neglected, and the overrated 1950s American period eulogised upon. Some interesting insights at beginning and end about Truffaut's subsequent close friendship with Hitch - otherwise best to read the book.

w,d: Kent Jones
p: Charles S. Cohen
featuring Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Peter Bogdanovich, Richard Linklater, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Olivier Assayas, Wes Anderson, and others
m: Jeremiah Bornfield