Despite frustrating train delays, an unruffled Benedict Morrison eventually breezed into King’s Academy and led members and guests of the Arts Society Wokingham on a thoroughly enjoyable romp through British post-war cinema.
His lively illustrated talk, entitled Cinema from the Rubble: the post-war politics of Ealing Studios, was not just a cosy look at the actors and stories of these nostalgic films. Benedict put forward the challenging but well-researched theory that these comedies encapsulated the energy of the post-war period whilst also being subversive and mildly anarchistic.
While Italian filmmakers, like Rossellini, were producing dark neorealist films focusing on the tragedy of war such as Germania Anno Zero, Ealing Studios tapped into the British people’s optimism and sense of fun and improvisation in the face of post-war austerity.
Benedict treated his audience to a short clip from the start of Passport to Pimlico when a meeting of the local Planning committee, who are rejecting the residents’ plan for the redevelopment of a nearby bomb site, is interrupted by an undiscovered bomb exploding in the middle of the site.
The resulting discovery of evidence that Pimlico was actually a part of Burgundy and therefore exempt from rationing is a fine example of the residents’ collaboration and improvisation heavily laced with a degree of transgressive joy.
Benedict ended with a clip from the Lavender Hill Mob: which he described as the ultimate Ealing comedy.
This featured the famous scene towards the end of the film when the two protagonists, Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway, race down the Eiffel Tower to try and retrieve the real gold miniatures bought by the party of school girls.
This was an exhilarating end to a most entertaining and thought-provoking evening.
All the Arts Society Wokingham lecturers are accredited and entertaining speakers and Benedict was certainly no exception.
As one member said, “What an extremely entertaining man. So knowledgeable, confident and amusing. This was a lecture with a difference.”
The Society’s next illustrated talk, entitled The Rise of Modern British Sculpture will be held on Monday, May 20, at 7.30pm at King’s Academy, Binfield.
Guests are always most welcome so why not come along and find out how and why 20th century British sculptors played a pioneering role which affected sculpture throughout the world.
Email [email protected] to register your interest.
The talk will also be live-streamed and available to watch from home on the Society’s own YouTube channel.
For further details please visit the Society’s website www.TheArtsSocietyWokingham.org.uk
Sue Bryant
