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Figure 1.--. |
Many prep schools show videos on Saturday night. Usually the films are chosen for them, but they can usually lobby for a film. This is usually a recreation more than a activity. A few schools have film societies where they see classic movies and then discuss the artistc merits o other aspects of the film. This used to be a rare treat because of the cost of renting a film. The coming of VCRs by the late 1970s and CDs in the 1990s made the expense negligible and greated increased the variety of fi,s available.
This ws the thirdyear of the Film Society, and we were affected by te rapidly eising costs of hiring films. VAT more than doubled , carria increased, and the discount we enjoyed from our distributors was reduced. Thus it was decided to reduce the total number of films offered from eight to six. This enabled the membership fee to be kept to £3.50, a sum which is hoped will be the fee for the coming season, 1980-81.
The programme for 1979-80 consisted of a wide variety of films which were much enjoyed by the audiences. We began with an exciting and colorful western, "Catlow", starring Yul Brynner as a cattle rustler persued by the law in post CivilWar America. We then moved back into the spectacular historical adventure of "The Colossus of Rhodes" which sarred Rory Calhoun, who set about foiling the dastardly Phoenicians in their treacherous attempt to tale over the ialamd kingdom of Rhodes. The film, as the title emplies, has at its centre the amazing lighhouse, a statue which bestrode the entrance to the harbour and hs many deadly devices to defeat the unwary. The Christms Term ended with "All the Brothers were Valiant", a film of deceit and lust for treasure.
The Lent Term began with Roman Polanski's send up of the vampire film genre, "Dance of the Vampires", which was much appreciated byban audfience of horror film buffs -- at the tender ages of seven upwards!. Coomedy followed, with the highly amusing Marx Brother's "The Big Store", in which the brothers deny a gang of unscrupulous crooks the chance to cheat the young inheritor of a department store of his rights. Theseason closed with what proves a great attractin at all times, the block-buster war film, "When Eagles Dare". The film improves with each renewal, since the plot is far from clear! However, itbstarred Richard Burton and the ever popular Clint Eastwood. I lost count of how may luckless German soldiers wwre shot, blown-up or bombed by the dauntless duo.
Again thabks to my life for so loyally supporting me through the evening, and provding invaluable assistance with refreshments.
John Vaughan, The Wheasheaf (Pownall Hall), 1980.
The drama afternoom was best because I could see my mum and also be on stage. I like being on stage, you could relax because there were no words. .... The best film we've had at school was "The Incredible Journey". I like it when the dog fought with a bear, and the cat was chased by a leopard, and things like that.
James Haynes, 10.7, The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1978
