2 – 8 SEPTEMBER 2023

It was in the summer of 2008 that I went to work at the Regent and we had two films that ran for weeks and weeks: Mamma Mia! and Wall.E. The plot of the latter – a robot picks up rubbish on a desolate planet Earth, with occasional input from an indolent and obese human supervisor – struck me as being remarkably prescient. Until, that is, I caught last week’s documentary iHuman. Advanced AI in the hands of the military and a handful of super tech companies or governments doesn’t bear thinking about. Just 24 hours later, X (formerly known as Twitter) was removing the ban on political advertising. Here we go then . . . 
ELMER GANTRY (1960) Sunday 3 September 10.00pm-1.00am TP (Channel 82)         
A first showing on TP for this excellent drama in which a ‘snake oil’ salesman in the 1920s Midwest finds his true calling as an evangelist. It is almost certainly more relevant in 2023, of course. Burt Lancaster is superb and won an Oscar, as did Shirley Jones for her portrayal of his ex-girlfriend turned prostitute. Director Richard Brooks also won for his coruscating script although it was The Apartment that won most of the major awards, that year. 
DEATH RACE 2000 (1975) Monday 4 September 10.05-11.40pm TP (Channel 82)        
Younger members (do we have any?) might be more familiar with Jason Statham’s 2008 update. However, the original is the bee’s knees, for lovers of cult films, and the story (car racers earn extra points for running over pedestrians), actors (David Carradine and a yet-to-make-it Sylvester Stallone) and producer Roger Corman all belong to the 1970s. And this was when I saw it for the first time – at the old Coliseum in Aberystwyth (now a museum and coffee house) with Pam Grier’s Sheba, Baby as the support feature. Such double bills are long gone and we’ll not see their like again. Shame!
BLUE BOX (2021) Tuesday 5 September 10.00-11.25pm BBC 4    P            
Documentary film-maker Michal Weits investigates the work of her great-grandfather, Yosef, who became known as the Father of the Forests for his pioneering work in Israel and Palestine. She discovers that her family are reluctant to discuss this part of their history, and the truths she uncovers are not always palatable. 
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS (2018) Wednesday 6 September 9.00-11.15pm Film Four    P
I am not ever so keen myself, but if you enjoyed The Phantom of the Open and The Duke (and clearly you did) then settle down in a favourite chair and watch this true story of the Cornish fishermen who signed a record deal. It is light, diverting fare and there is the sequel to look forward to at some future time, no doubt.