All my birthday presents were spot on this year, all well considered items I truly liked. I'm pleased to say, there wasn't even one dreadful tie, despicable pair of socks, or that most feared pressie of all, the 'thing' that has literally 'done the rounds' until its packaging is too bashed and no longer presentable enough to be offered as a 'first-hand gift'. Undoubtedly it is doomed to end up back in the Charity Shop where it probably began its life - who knows, perhaps they can refit it with a new box there and send it back out on the road again for another few thousand miles!. You know those films that never manage a cinema release and are labelled 'straight to DVD' - well I reckon there are probably gifts like that too, things like Foot Spas; Bread Makers; Odourless Deep-Fat Fryers; Golf Ball Shaped Digital Alarm Clocks; Crepe Making Machines; Fat Free Grills; Fizzy Drink Dispensers - it would be far easier for all concerned if they were stamped on their box at the time of manufacture 'Straight to Charity'.
Anyway, I didn't get any of these (he says gloatingly)! Apart from a few items of clothing I really liked, I received a bumper stack of books (that were already on my wish-list) and DVDs - either things people already knew I loved and would like to own, or things they knew I hadn't seen yet but definitely wanted to watch. I was particularly delighted to receive a copy of the 1953 film Valley of Song. It starred Clifford Evans, Mervyn Johns, John Fraser, Maureen Swanson and was directed by Gilbert Gunn. The film itself was based on a stage play called Choir Practice by Cliff Gordon. I kicked myself each time this film was dusted off and shown on British Television over the years - not because of the film itself, but because my grandfather George Martin Thomas, who ran a tiny General Stores just a little way up Alan Road from Llandeilo railway station (which became the station of the fictional village Cwmpant in the story), is an extra in one of the railway scenes. The film itself is whimsical and rather charming, a comedy drama that belongs to a far gentler age than our own. However, it is still very entertaining and engaging - marvellous to see some great British character actors like Rachel Thomas and a young Rachel Roberts in action. The story is simple and revolves around a feud that is unwittingly started by the recently returned to the village new choir master (Clifford Evans) when he gives a coveted role in the annual oratorio to someone
unexpectedly. The film is relatively short, just 70 minutes long, and is very amusing.
It was fun also to see a very young Kenneth Williams delivering just one line, and an equally youthful Ronald Lewis who plays the part of a non-speaking youthful miner, part of a singing foursome. As a young actor recently out of drama school, I had the great pleasure of working on a stage production of Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus with Ronnie at Plymouth Theatre Company nearly thirty years later.
And did I spot my 'Dadcu' you'll be asking? Not sure. My wife shouted out, "That's him!" - unfortunately she did this in every railway scene (approx 5 or 6) and I firmly believe he's only in the one! I think I'll have to run the thing again, slow it down and use the recently discovered zoom button on my remote.
Couldn't have done that on VHS! Aren't DVDs great?
unexpectedly. The film is relatively short, just 70 minutes long, and is very amusing.
It was fun also to see a very young Kenneth Williams delivering just one line, and an equally youthful Ronald Lewis who plays the part of a non-speaking youthful miner, part of a singing foursome. As a young actor recently out of drama school, I had the great pleasure of working on a stage production of Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus with Ronnie at Plymouth Theatre Company nearly thirty years later.
And did I spot my 'Dadcu' you'll be asking? Not sure. My wife shouted out, "That's him!" - unfortunately she did this in every railway scene (approx 5 or 6) and I firmly believe he's only in the one! I think I'll have to run the thing again, slow it down and use the recently discovered zoom button on my remote.
Couldn't have done that on VHS! Aren't DVDs great?
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