We start with a silent classic by Buster Keaton (circa.1921) called The Boat . Buster's handmade boat, The Damfino (get it?), is finished and is, of course, too large to get through the basement door. When he drives off with it in tow, the side of his house, then the whole thing, collapses. At the harbour he sails the boat out only to have it sink beneath him. The rest of the film is a series of adventures that he and his family have with the restored boat.

It is, of course, a silent film and we hope to have a local celebrity playing LIVE accompanying music on the piano!

After a short break for refreshment at the bar, we then present our main feature which is the classic, Knife in the Water (Cert. PG)

The international breakthrough feature film by Roman Polanski (circa.1962) called Knife in the Water is a cagy and sophisticated art film, masterfully judged to take the West by surprise. It provided the springboard for one of the most impressive directorial careers ever. A grey, moody character study of two males' subtle competition for a female, it has an almost uncanny ability to draw one into its hyper-naturalistic surface. The acting and the direction of actors for camera are so good that Polanski is able to enclose us entirely within his tiny world on a small sailboat.

Friday, 26 th March at 7:00pm
Chidham & Hambrook Village Hall
Tickets £5 members, £6 non-members 1 st drink free!
All proceeds to the Hall restoration
This is an evening NOT to be missed!

On Friday night, 26th February, 33 members of the FilmSoc enjoyed chatting to railway model enthusiasts over a glass of wine, whilst discussing the handmade models on exhibition at Chidham & Hambrook Village Hall.

This time it's “The Titfield Thunderbolt” .

Prior to the film there will be the chance to view Railway Models over a glass of wine and a member of the Watercress Line will be giving a presentation.

Venue: Chidham & Hambrook Village Hall

Tickets: £5 members, £6 non-members, £3 children
Order from 574074 or 572902 or take a chance at the door

All proceeds to the Village Hall Restoration Fund

Synopsis and Trivia

Synopsis

Released in 1953 by the famous Ealing Studios, the film tells the story of how the Titfield villagers fight the closure of their local branch line by British Railways. It's fun and games when a group of villagers band together to run it themselves, in the face of opposition from a bus company. The film was made on location on the Camerton branch line, an ex GWR railway which ran through the beautiful Cam Valley just south of Bath .

Film Trivia:

• Writer T.E.B. Clarke ("Tibby") was inspired to write the Titfield Thunderbolt saga after a 1951 visit to the volunteer-operated Talyllyn Railway, which carries passengers and slate along the Cambrian coast between Towyn and Abergynolwyn, in Wales . "The Titfield Thunderbolt" reflects Clarke's fascination with the volunteers' preservationist spirit there.
• 'Gregson, John' had never driven a car before making this film.
• The credited driver, fireman and guard were not actors, they were British Railways employees from Westbury depot and were originally to be uncredited extras. After director Charles Crichton spoke to them on location and realized they "looked and sounded the part", they were given speaking parts.
• The 'Thunderbolt' is a genuine veteran locomotive, its real name is 'Lion'. It was built for the Liverpool and Manchester railway in 1838, making it 115 years old when it was used in the film.
• The locomotive, "Lion" was damaged during filming when the carriage train is reunited with the locomotive. The rear frame was bent by the force of the impact. The damage was still visible in 2001.
• A wooden replica of "Lion" was made for the scene where "Thunderbolt" is removed from the museum.
• A replica locomotive was built on the chassis of a Bedford truck for the scene where the locomotive is seen driving down the road.
• Writer T.E.B. Clarke was a neighbor of Richard Beeching, then Director of ICI, at the time of filming. Beeching's 1963 report "The Re-shaping of British Railways" resulted in the wholesale closure of many branch lines like the one portrayed in the movie.
• The final scenes of Mallingford station were filmed at the Bath Road Bridge end of the main platform at Bristol Temple Meads station, Bristol , UK .
• The name Titfield created by T.E.B. Clarke the from the adjacent villages of Titsey and Limpsfield in Surrey .

Friday 27 November 2009

7pm for 7.30pm

Film Night at the Village Hall

This is the true story of two young British climbers Simon Yates and Joe Simpson, who in 1985 set off to scale the hitherto unclimbed West Face of the Siula Grande, a 21,000ft peak in the Peruvian Andes. Simpson and Yates reach the summit but shortly after starting the descent, an accident turns their daring expedition into a desperate fight for survival.

  One climber is badly injured. Using alpine climbing techniques, the two climbers are roped together and try to descend to safety. Later the injured climber falls into a crevasse - still attached to his mate by a rope. The able bodied climber is in danger of being pulled in too.

What would you do? Fall to your deaths together or cut the rope?

Poster

This film tells of the decision and the repercussions which could haunt their lives. An action docu-drama with a psychological twist.

Chidham & Hambrook Village Hall Friday, 5 th June, 7 p.m.
Reception with Free drink, then upstairs to watch the film.
Tickets: £5 members, £6 non-members.
Order in advance or take a chance at the door. Phone 572902 or 574074
All proceeds to the hall restoration fund.