Tag Archives: british comedies
Finding Your Feet (2018)
Two films about old people attracted my attention this week: Finding Your Feet (2018) and Eternity And A Day (1998). I had seen the latter 19-20 years ago but I only remembered the two characters : an old man and a … Continue reading
Make Mine Mink (1960) at the Ealing Oldies Network meeting.
I was asked by the Ealing Oldies Network to show them a film and lead the following discussion. EON is a friendship group of old people who meet locally every Monday. It is self organised, people share their knowledge and … Continue reading
MISS ROBIN HOOD (1952)
Report by Rita of the film group meeting on June 3rd. There were 8 of us at the session. General discussion Overall, the women in the group felt the film was not very enjoyable and engaging. We could see that … Continue reading
The Ladykillers (1955) revisited
We were only 6 members aged between 58 and 81 to see The Ladykillers. A good discussion followed the viewing. Subjects : stereotyping, the ambiguity of Mrs.Wilberforce’s character, her clothes, the word irritating was often voiced, the difficulty of agreeing on slapstick humour. Generally I … Continue reading
KEEPING MUM (2005) or “it is the least a mother can do”
Like Tatie Danielle, Keeping Mum is difficult to categorise. The reviewers call it a black comedy and their assessments range from Ebert and Rope “It’s probably one of the funniest films to come out of England in years” to Philip French “laboured … Continue reading
The Second Marigold Hotel
“Just because I’m looking at you when you talk, don’t think I’m listening — or even interested.” Maggie Smith to Judy Dench I had a free couple of hours and decided reluctantly to see The Second Exotic Marigold Hotel as a … Continue reading
ANTONIA’S LINE – Antidote to sexism.
For our film group this month I chose Antonia’s Line (1995). Why did I pick this film from my collection? Three reasons spring to mind. In a new book about ageing: Lynn Segal’s ‘Out of Time, the Pleasures and Perils of … Continue reading
LE FILM PERMET DE LIBERER LA PAROLE DR. J.J. DEPASSIO
Films permit free conversations says Dr. Depassio. Dr. Jean-Jacques Depassio, geriatrician, works at the Hopital de Fourvière – Centre de Gérontology in Lyon. He is the organiser of the Lumière Blanche Intergenerational film Festival. I realised the first time I … Continue reading
REFLECTIONS ON POINTS OF VIEW
In the last few months I have been asked – as an expert on old women in films – to be a panelist at two festivals, and to present a film at a literature festival. I declined the first two … Continue reading
What is old age conference: Margaret Rutherford, Haptic Turn
I feel privileged to have attended the interdisciplinary conference ” What is old age? New perspectives from the Humanities” organised by the University of Warwick on February 23rd. 2013 ; Two keynotes addresses and 8 panels. The only frustration was … Continue reading
Old women, comedies and social issues
I have neglected the British comedies of the 30s-60s in my research, yet some representations of the older woman seem to be very interesting in these films. Our Older Women in Film Group had noted that in British produced films … Continue reading
Alive and Kicking at the Marigold Hotel
It is good to be able to have a dialogue with another researcher about films and older women. Claire Mortimer in her blog (http://matrons.wordpress.com) looks at old women in British comedies. I commented about Alive and Kicking (1959) and it … Continue reading
Old Age and Feature Films 
The Old Woman and some British Comedies.
Whisky Galore (1949) was shown on the TV at the approach to Xmas. A very male comedy where Georges’ mother, a controlling bigot with no redeeming features, treats her adult son like a naughty child. The part is played by Jean … Continue reading →