Stuff

If you like something a bit off the beaten track, as they say, then we can suggest tracking down the films of Polish director Walerian Borowczyk.

Borowczyk began his film making doing animation, but moved into live action in 1968. He sprung to notoriety with a number of basically pornographic films.

Perhaps best known is “Immoral Tales” from 1973. It was shown in London in a complete form, but only in film clubs. I joined one for the princely sum of 20p.

This film is a four part anthology including one about Elizabeth Báthory (played by Paloma Picasso) as a countess who murders young girls in order to gain eternal youth by bathing in their blood.

One of the original tales from this was removed and expanded to form another, “The Beast”. In some ways it’s a silly film, but worth a watch. 1975.

Perhaps his most notorious film is “Behind Convent Walls”. I guess the title tells all. This is from 1977 and has at least one controversial scene.

There’s plenty of nudity and some graphic sex.

Very many of Borowczyk’s films are available on bluray or dvd, some are hard to track down though but they are worth the effort. Watch it with your chums and you can debate afterwards, is it high art, political satire or porn? Or all three.

If you asked people to name great animators you’d get Disney, Hanna-Barbera maybe and then…

Not the Fleischer brothers (Betty Boop, Popeye), not Walter Lanz (Woody Woodpecker) or Chuck Jones (Warners) or the “Great” Bob Godfrey. Maybe Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) and possibly Richard Williams (“Who Framed Roger Rabbit”) or John Lasseter (“Toy Story”).

And Ralph Bakshi.

Who? Well, Mr B is an answer to a great trivia quiz question: “Who made the first feature film about Lord Of The Rings”. I have seen it, and it’s interesting. I think you need to have read the books first to appreciate it though.

“Fritz The Cat” comes from 1972. We saw it in a double bill with “Heavy Traffic” in the mid-70s at a genuine flea pit in South Woodford, London, now long gone.

It’s based on the cartoon strip by R Crumb, who was not happy with it.

It’s certainly not a film for children, and was given an X certificate when it was released in the UK, for its scenes of sex, nudity, racism, drug abuse… you name it. But it was a huge success.

In a world full of computer created animation, this has a style all of it’s own.

It is possible to find it on home media, and it’s not too expensive.

Kubrick followed “A Clockwork Orange” with his second great cinematic masterpiece, “Barry Lyndon” from 1975.

The film is based on the book by Thackeray, a lengthy tome, with some episodes removed for the film.

The story is of the adventures and exploits of Redmond Barry as he seeks success and fortune in life. The two part, three hour plus film records Barry’s rise and fall.

The story of the production of the film is recorded elsewhere and involves bomb threats while filming in Ireland.

This is a film that has to be seen as a film, not a digital transfer, on the large screen with a clean quality print. It’s slow to develop and a visual treat for the eyes. John Alcott’s photography is some of the best ever seen on the big screen.

The musical choices are superb, especially the Handel Sarabande which acts as the theme music. The styles and complexities of the music reflect the story line.

There’s a strong cast, including Leonard Rossiter, Steven Berkoff, André Morell and the wonderful Murray Melvin as the chaplain. Tales of multiple takes seemed excessive at the time, but not compared to later productions such as “The Shining”.

It’s a film to just get comfortable and let it wash over you, as it progresses. If you know paintings by Gainsborough and the like you will recognise the style.

So, what’s not to love? Well, one thing. Ryan O’Neal. Yes, he is, or was a big name, and I believe Warners wanted a headline name. But he’s not very good. He doesn’t have to be a dynamic action hero, of course, but his performance lacks the subtle touch we think it needed. Maybe it was deliberate, maybe Redmond Barry’s problem is that he is slow and rather dim.

While people admired the film when it came out, they didn’t like it. Too slow, Too soulless and distant. It has been re-evaluated in recent years and is still regarded as a true masterpiece. Just not a popcorn film.