Friday 3 August 2018

The Knack... And How To Get It (1965 Richard Lester)

There isn't a lot to add to this. The whole 'rape' scene is very interesting because it's in this that the power balance shifts, Rita Tushingham becomes the one in charge and the horrible womaniser Tolen (chillingly well played by Ray Brooks) is crushed and rendered powerless. Trivia extra: he was in Carry On Abroad.

It's an assault on the senses really - in those amazing scenes of supposedly 'overheard' bits of dialogue you have to catch both the tremendous humour of the writing (Charles Wood - 'Glad I'm on me last left leg') and the very great skill in which Tony Gibbs puts the material together, the dazzling photography and the amazing music, the performances, Swinging London - this film is a bit like an acid trip, and seems permeated by sixties fuelled sensibilities.

It won the Palme D'Or at Cannes. It's exhausting.


Acid, I'm telling you


It was David Watkin's feature debut!

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