Jul 31st  
The Social Network*     
(US 2010)                                         
Columbia/Relativity Media. 120m. ws

In 2003 Mark Zuckerberg devises the Facebook computer social network with the help of assorted acquaintances, who later sue him when his success becomes global.
Two hours in the company of one of the most unappealing and nerdish of central characters, held along by semi-coherent dialogue focusing less on the questionable aspects of social networks themselves, and more on the manipulative human aspects of its young protagonists.

Written by: Aaron Sorkin, based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich.
Producer: Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, Cean Chaffin.
Director: David Fincher.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer (as twins, with the participation of Josh Pence), Max Minghella, Rooney Mara, Brenda Song, Rashida Jones, Joseph Mazzello, Dakota Johnson, Jason Flemyng.
Photography: Jeff Cronenweth.
Music: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross.
Editing: Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter.

Jul 12th
The Blackpool Tower Eye*   

(GB 2019) 
To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the opening of Blackpool Tower, this immersive "4D" short film was made, complete with audiences splashed with seawater./bubbles, vibration effects, etc., a curious gimmick when serving as a prelude to visiting the real thing. As a piece of cinema, it harkens back to the days when movies were popular as fairground sideshows, as well as the trick movies of William Castle.

Blackpool Tower's 4D cinema (within the girders of the tower itself), standing room only.

Jul 10th  
The Elusive Pimpernel**
(GB 1950)
British Lion/London Films. 109m.

Underrated remake of Alexander Korda's own 1936 original Pimpernel adventure, with Niven complimenting Leslie Howard, and though lacking a little passion, the colour and the settings are still typically colourful by these filmmakers.

Written, Produced and Directed by: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger.
Starring: David Niven, Margaret Leighton, Cyril Cusack, Robert Coote, Jack Hawkins, Charles Victor, Eugene Deckers, John Longden, Patrick Macnee.
Photography: Christopher Challis.
Music: Brian Easdale.

Preceded by:
River Ride*
(GB 1963. Colne Valley Society. 17m.; Invaluable local movie record of the Wivenhoe-Brightlingsea railway line, shortly before its closure.)

Jul 4th  
From Here To Eternity***   
(US 1953)       
Columbia. 118m. bw

Personal tensions among soldiers and civilian at a Hawii US Army barracks in December 1941.
A daring Hollywood enterprise to adapt a no-holds-barred novel set in the (then) untouchable realm of the US Army, strongly cast - in some cases against type - with the expected dramatic finale of the attack on Pearl Harbour (although even there, the US Army has to be seen to be 'winning'). The famous beach scene is pretty strong viewing, even by today's standards.

Written by: Daniel Taradash, from the novel by James Jones.
Producer: Buddy Adler.
Director: Fred Zinnemann.
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra (his first major dramatic role), Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Philip Ober, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Warden, Claude Akins, George Reeves, Robert Wilke.
Photography: Burnett Guffey.
Music: George Duning, Maurice Stoloff.

+ "Sinatra was in Africa, where Ava Gardner was filming Mogambo, when [Harry] Cohn, always careful with money, called him that a test could be made if he would pay his own way back to Hollywood. In a flash, Sinatra has returned and the test turned out well - it was Sinatra in uniform. Cohn paid him a bare $8,000 for the part - but this was a turning point for Sinatra; he received an Oscar, and from then on his career took off like a rocket. At no time were horses' heads involved in the casting decision. The author of The Godfather was using poetic license." - Fred Zinnemann