Apr 28th   
Carry on Regardless*  
(GB 1961)
Anglo Amalgamated. 90m. bw

The Helping Hands agency and it clients deal with a variety of odd jobs.
A series of sketches rather than a cohesive plot, some of which are funny, with some of the Carry On regulars starting to establish the characteristics with which they would become renowned.

Written by: Norman Hudis.
Producer: Peter Rogers.
Director: Gerald Thomas.
Starring: Sidney James, Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Stanley Unwin, Joan Sims, Liz Fraser, Charles Hawtrey, Terence Longdon, Bill Owen, Esma Cannon, Fenella Fielding, Hattie Jacques, Joan Hickson, Jerry Desmonde, Nicholas Parsons, Terence Alexander, and others.
Photography: Alan Hume.
Music: Bruce Montgomery.

 Apr 23rd 
Operation Mincemeat* (12A)  
(Curzon Colchester)                          

(GB/Spa 2021)
Warner Bros/C Media Group/See Saw. 128m. Panaflex

A branch of British Intelligence devises a means of distracting German attention from the invasion of Sicily by planting false papers on a dead man.
A more faithful to the record version of The Man Who Never Was(qv), although slightly overstylised and taking its liberties dramatically, trying to also reference future James Bond influences.

Written by: Michelle Ashford, from the book by Ben Macintyre.
Producers: Charles S. Cohen, Iain Canning.
Director: John Madden.
Starring: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, Johnny Flynn (as Ian Fleming), Jason Isaacs, Simon Russell Beale (as Churchill), Mark Gariss, Hattie Morahan, Alex Jennings, James Fleet.
Photography: Sebastian Blenkov.
Music: Thomas Newman.

 Apr 17th
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima*
(US 1952)
Warner Bros. 102m.

In 1917 Portugal three children witness a vision of the Virgin Mary, for whom they make repeated visits and the area becomes a place of pilgrimage.
A "semi-factual" account of the miracle done in Warners' rather unsubtle style, with slightly distracting semi-comedic or cynical asides, whilst the main apparition scenes are movingly done and the central children try to keep the sincerity of the piece. It nonetheless seemed to chime the right mood with religious audiences at the time, although less effectively than The Song of Bernadette(qv).

Written by: Crane Wilbur, James O'Hanlon.
Producer: Bryan Foy.
Director: John Brahm.
Starring: Gilbert Roland, Susan Whitney, Sherry Jackson, Sammy Ogg, Frank Silvera, Richard Hale.
Narrator: J. Carroll Naish.
Photography: Edwin B. Du Par.
Music: Max Steiner.

Apr 14th  
Cleopatra  
Sub-Title: The Romance of a Woman and a Queen
(US 1912)
Helen Gardner Picture Players. 87m. bw. silent

A devoted slave to Queen Cleopatra agrees to die for her, but in the end helps her reach that fate herself after her meeting with Marc Antony.
First feature length film version of this subsequently much told historical romance; static and stilted, but no more than all the other later versions.

w, d: Charles L. Gaskill, from the play by Victorien Sardov.
p: Helen Gardner
s: Helen Gardner, Charles Sindelar, Mr Howard, Harry Knowles, Miss Robson
ph: Lucien Tainguy

Apr 1st
Planes, Trains and Automobiles**   
(US 1987)
Paramount. 92m.

An uptight New York advertising executive tries to get back to his family in Chicago for Thanksgiving, but his journey is fraught with delay and a fellow passenger whom he can't shake off.
Lively comedy which most frustrated travellers will identify with; as usual the director overdoes things (including the sentiment), but the two main actors make an excellent odd couple, in a deserved star-making role for John Candy.

Written, Produced and Directed by: John Hughes.
Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, William Windom, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Martin Ferrero.
Photography: Don Peterman.
Music: Ira Newborn.
Editing: Paul Hirsch.