British Films that I Recommend

I like a lot of British films from the mid-1950s to early 1970s about ordinary working class people in post-war England.  The films below are ones I personally have watched and have impressed me, for one reason or another.

10 Rillington Place (1971, John Hurt, Judy Geeson) is the true story of Timothy Evans, hanged in London in March 1950, after making the mistake of renting a room at 10 Rillington Place in Notting Hill.  This is a creepy tale about a seemingly benign landlord hiding a terrible secret.  The film explores themes such as class divide, the British justice system and how personality traits impact one's destiny.

The Angry Silence (1960, Richard Attenborough, Pier Angelis) is the story of what happens to a young man working in a factory who, acting on the courage of his conviction, refuses to participate in a strike.  This film explores themes such as group pressure and the cost of maintaining one's dignity in a hostile and harmful environment.

Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (1964, Albert Finney, Rachel Roberts) is the story of a repellant young man who shirks all responsibility and rebels against his parents.  Watching this film is kind of like watching a train about to crash.  It's fascinating but not pretty.

The White Bus (967, Shelagh Delaney) is a short poetic, visuals-driven film in which a young woman takes a bus ride through an unidentified British city (Manchester).

Innocent Sinners (1958, Flora Robson) is a film with richly portrayed British characters and tells a simple tale about a young girl in postwar London who decides to create a garden.  It's a feel-good movie with an excellent cast that includes the great Flora Robson.

The Entertainer (1960, Joan Plowright, Laurence Olivier) is a film that is brash and bold and assaults the viewer from the opening scene with richly developed characters in a story that seems to want to put England under a magnifying glass.  I think if I were to watch this again, I would do so with a strong cocktail in hand.

Billy Liar (1963, Tom Courtenay, Julie Christie) is a film about a young man who would rather daydream than deal with reality; the story is rich with British 1960s culture.  The first time I saw this film I turned it off; however, upon second viewing I found this film to be very special.

The L-Shaped Room (1962, Leslie Carron) is a film with a rich tapestry of characters that all reside in a run-down London rooming house where a young, single pregnant girl from France arrives to decide her fate.  I think a cocktail might go well with this drink as well.

A Hard Day's Night (1964, The Beatles) - I like the free and happy spirit this film kindles.  It is the perfect film to disperse angst. This is a British film intended, it seems, for a British audience, and now depicts a Britain that no longer exists. The man who play's Paul's grandfather does a smashing job.  The Beatles music is wonderful, as are the four lads themselves.

So Evil, So Young (1961, Jill Ireland) is a film about a young woman sent to a reformatory school for something she did not do.  This is a fun, cult-like film, that maintains its intrigue from beginning to end.  I don't think there are allegories to be found in this film, but if there, let me know.

A Taste of Honey (1960, Rita Tushingham) is the story of a young woman in Manchester and her relationship with her dysfunctional family and eclectic mix of friends.  This is a highly-original story and a somewhat mesmerizing one.

City of the Dead (1960, Christopher Lee) is the story of witches in a Massachusetts village.  The film has a great jazz musical score, an interesting script, lots of face close-ups and, at times, is genuinely creepy.  In the US the film is titled Horror Hotel.  The movie was filmed in England.  It's a low budget film that relies on intriguing characters and plot twists rather than special effects.