Friday 30 April 2010

Grace Jones Private View



Now there's not many things I could wish for for my birthday, however when someone comes along and says "I'm taking you to an exhibition of work inspired by Grace Jones in a converted underground car park in the middle of Soho" then what's a guy to do. At this point you may well be thinking, well that sounds a little like my kind of thing, but wait," Oh and by the way Grace is coming along for a special performance."

  
Here's the thing. Grace has been a hero of mine since way back when and I know they say you should never meet your heroes but Hey, she stood on my foot once in Heaven so I sort of think we're already close.

  
The exhibition, a series of 3D holographic images by groundbreaking light artist Chris Levine was a beautiful realisation of one of the most inspiring icons of our times, and what's more Miss Jones did actually turn up and wowed the assembled mass with an amazing reading of poetry.


I know, I know. It seems almost rude to mention that, thanks to the glorious Christina Lindsay from Fashions Most Wanted, we were then whisked off to Grace's private after party. It seems Grace may have remembered me because she definitely kept her distance from me for fear of stamping on my other foot, but I'm sure at one point I saw her silently mouth the word 'SORRY' in my direction. Living the dream flickers, living the dream......

Stephen for the flicker club

Friday 2 April 2010

Night of the Hunter


March 2010

Yesterday we were in the company of Mr. Mark Rylance! What a treat, winner of this year’s Olivier Award for best actor for his fantastic portrayal of Rooster Byron in Jerusalem.

Mark arrived, at the sell out gathering in our beloved Lexi Cinema, and made his entrance dancing down the aisle to a Calypso track with vocals provided by Robert Mitchum and enticed the entire cinema to stand up and join him.
Mark then lead us in a recital of the hymn 'Leaning, Leaning, Leaning in the Arms of the Lord' prior to using the candle lit ambience of the cinema as a backdrop with an essence of a spiritual revivalist meeting in honour of the great Robert Mitchum.
Mark then settled to read an extract from Davis Grubb’s novel 'The Night of the Hunter', as is the flicker club's tradition, but not without warning us that the good Lord saw all sin and sinners, should anyone dare harbour any criticism of his recital, suitably chastened, we sat in deep, respectful, silence as he began.

However, even the simple matter of sitting down is a routine that Mr. Rylance refuses to adhere to without a fight. First he discovered a foot switch that controlled the cinema’s lighting system and tried his best to create a strobe effect by rapid peddling. Then he ended up perched precariously on the back of the chair, feet on the seat, as if to heighten the sense of danger in the text.
The reading itself was excellent, as you might expect, quiet at first, drawing you in, taking his time, allowing the brooding menace of the evil preacher, Harry Powell, to build.
The candlelight flickered across his face as the malevolence of character and plot seeped through us. Then came the famous speech, the LOVE and HATE sermon, which encapsulates the entire story. It was rivetingly told and gave a tantalising taste of what a stage production might be like with Mark as the preacher...
You know you have a fine guest when the audience includes, up and coming Hamlet, Mr. John Simm, and legendary film director, Mr. Nic Roeg and his lovely wife Harriet Harper. 



This event had a fantastic punchy ‘flickbook’ designed by James Brown. The image was a fist coming at you first with ‘LOVE’ tattooed on the knuckles then ‘HATE’, very powerful. Thank you James.
 The poster was just wonderful. There was Robert Mitchum, flick knife in tattooed fist, bearing down on the innocent children cut out of the very dollar bills that entrap them and for this we thank Graham Humphrey's.




Then, of course, the film itself:
The Night of the Hunter
It is a cinematic gem and for that, thank you Charles Laughton.
As to the next one?
Well, us flickers meet tomorrow and pick through our wish list and begin planning.
 ... watch this space... 



It's A Wonderful Life

December 2009


Our last Flicker of 2009 was 'It's A Wonderful Life' and our surprise guest was the equally wonderful Mr. Bill Nighy.



The movie is based on a short story by Philip Van Doren Stern, an American Historian who wrote it in 1943 as a Christmas card for his nearest and dearest. The story is entitled 'The Greatest Gift' and is 4000 words long and, for the first time at a flicker club evening, we were able to read the entire tale verbatim.


We'd pinned our hopes on getting Bill along for some time and he was kind enough to say that if he were available he would be happy to read. So we crossed our fingers and toes and, sure enough, as is only right and proper at Christmas, our wish came true. For which we must say a big thank you, not to Santa, but to Liza Campbell for making the whole thing possible.


We offered Mr. Nighy an abridged version of the piece but were delighted on the night when he said he wanted to read it in its entirety as to cut any part of it spoilt the power of the story. So, we all sat in wrapped attention as Bill spun the tale.


To have the opportunity of being read a terrific story by a impeccable storyteller for a precious twenty minutes is a rare pleasure, Jackanory for adults.




A special mention must be made of Rob Ryan for providing us with an outstanding poster for the evening. It encapsulated the story perfectly as well as being a striking and beautiful image. Tidal Media provided our lovely flickbook.




The evening was again a sell out and it was lovely to have so many friends join us for the evening. There was a real festive spirit. We even had carol singing. All this, and the movie aside, made for a long evening but we don't think anybody minded. When we opened the doors at the end of the evening, the snow had fallen and it was all a bit magical really and a lovely end to the first flicker year.


Be seeing you.


Lots of the love,
the flicker club x



Thursday 1 April 2010

Guys & Dolls


Guys & Dolls’ was a lovely change of pace for the flicker club, our first musical.

We try to give each evening its own unique flavour and, on this occasion, we have Pete and Cat to thank for crooning highlights from this delightful musical during the cocktail reception.



A movie, a reading, live music and complimentary G & T’s all in one evenings entertainment. If we weren't organising it we'd be trying to book tickets ourselves.

As always, the highlight of the evening is the reading of the source material by our special and surprise guest.

Guys & Dolls’ is adapted from a great short story written by Damon Runyon 'The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown'. The entire theme and plot of the movie can be found here in a few brief pages and the story was brought beautifully to life by Mark Strong.


We were so pleased Mark took up our invitation. We have been big fans of Mark since 'Our Friends from the North' and are breathless with anticipation for his turn as the villain endangering Robert Downey Junior's Sherlock Holmes.

Mark was so terrific we couldn't let him escape our clutches and he is now ensconced as a patron.. Hoorah!

What a true gentleman and what a marvelous host he made. The reading really was impeccable with all the humour of the piece being subtly and dexterously explored. If it hadn't been for the songs it would hardly have been worth showing the flick, but then we would have missed the joy of hearing Broadway Legend, Stubby Kaye, immortalise 'The Devil will drag you under'...fantastic!  A toe tapping, smile inducing night out.


Our poster and flickbook for the event were created by the divine Kate Gibb.



Now then...

‘It's A Wonderful Life’ and my, we have another wonderful reader..

Lots of love,
the flicker club




Goldfinger

October 2009


This month we squeezed in an extra screening because of two fortuitous circumstances. The first being the Lexi Cinema's birthday, one year old, the second being the availability of a special guest, Miss Honor Blackman. How lovely to have a slice of Fleming read by iconic Bond Girl of them all, Pussy Galore herself.





So we did just that. Licence to thrill, right?
There was much fun and frivolity to be had as Honor read from the original text of 'Goldfinger' and we learnt of Pussy Galore's rampant lesbianism and Bond's determination to rise to the challenge and seduce her. Which he does of course.
As Honor remarked, we were all suitably appalled and amused by Mr Fleming's disgraceful misogeny. But the chief delight was to hear Honor bring, not only Pussy, but Goldfinger himself to life in a terrifically colourful and wickedly saucy narration. A special mention must go to Tom Barrie from tbc for his help with this event.
Thank you to our guest of Honor.

We were also thrilled to have Michael Gillette on board as this month’s artist. 

Lots of love,

the flicker club 







Don't Look Now


October 2009

When we started the flicker club we made a wish list of the guests and movies that we would like to screen. Top of that list was 'Don't Look Now' and the guest...Nic Roeg, legendary director of this film and the likes of 'Walkabout', 'Performance' and 'The Man Who Fell To Earth'.

Well, as luck would have it, our first illustrious guest Ms. Miranda Richardson, so enjoyed the event that she offered to lean over her garden fence and invite her neighbour, Nic Roeg, to be a guest.

NIC ROEG! 

I mean, what are the chances?


Well, he and his lovely wife, Harriet Harper, came along and were just terrific. Nic introduced the evening and gave an insight into the task of adapting a book into a movie and Harriet bought Daphne Du Maurier's text alive with a wonderfully insightful reading.


They say 'Be careful what you wish for'', we beg to differ..

We're drawing up a new wish list with Orson Welles at the top.

You never know your luck.



Our poster and flickbook were designed by ShivDon't Look Now is her favourite film and we think this clearly shows in her beautiful interpretation of the movie. 


Lots of love,

the flicker club

All About Eve


September 2009

So, we must confess to feeling a bit chuffed with ourselves this month as we managed to keep our special guest secret until the moment she walked in the room...Joan Collins..!



Joan and her lovely husband Percy Gibson proved to be the most delightful guests and Joan's reading of Mary Orr's 'The Wisdom of Eve' was a real treat. Hearing Ms. Collins telling a tale of Hollywood glamour and ghastlyness gave the story real power and also great humour. It was the perfect introduction to a great movie.


As usual we festooned our audience with lovely things provided by our generous and very supportive sponsors. Penguin books gave a terrific new biog. of Bette Davis, Eve Taylor gave a goody bag full of lovely body products, Millers poured out some delicious and much appreciated cocktails, a gin martini of course and an apple flavoured bespoke cocktail for the drivers.




Our poster artist this month was Deidre O'Callaghan


and our flickbook was kindly provided by Bob Gautrau, which you will be able to view on our website shortly.

Lots of love,

the flicker club



Breakfast at Tiffany's




August 2009

Breakfast at Tiffany’s was such a lovely evening it could have been dinner at the Ritz.

For our second flicker evening we were again joined by Miller’s who set up a lovely marquee and provided our appreciative audience with gin& tonics. Not a bad start to any evening.

The poster for Breakfast at Tiffany’s was designed by Dan Canyon and looked terrific outside the Lexi with magnificently large Audrey Hepburn eyes blazing into the night. Dan also supplied the ingenious flickbook homage to ‘Moon River’, the Henry Mancini ditty that won the 1961 Oscar for best original song.



Next up, our special guest. Last month Miranda Richardson and this month who better than, Sean Mathias.

Sean is a lauded and applauded film and theatre director most recently channeling the combined talents of Sir Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow in a magnificent production of ‘Waiting for Godot’ at the West End’s Haymarket Theatre where he is presently Artistic Director. As Sean is in the midst of bringing Breakfast at Tiffany’s into the Haymarket for its theatrical debut, he was the obvious man for the job of host and we were thrilled when he accepted.



He began with an insight into the chaotic and bumby ride the book took in Hollywood on its road to the screen and then, by reading fragments from the novelette, he gave a wonderful insight into its transition from book to stage and then told us, along with the Penguin edition of the original Truman Capote novelette, tiaras and mini bottles of moet, one lucky audience member would find two tickets to the new play starring Anna Friel in their goodie bag...

Sean was entertaining informative and hugely supportive for which, much thanks.

Lots of love, the flicker club