Art & Hue2023 Classic Film Anniversaries
This year is packed full of classic film anniversaries, from menacing Brit noirs to enduring comedies. Art & Hue rounds-up the milestones of beloved & cult films to celebrate in 2023.
Brighton Rock 75th Anniversary
First screened to the trade & cinema distributors on the 25th of November 1947, the film held the World Premiere in Brighton on the 8th of January 1948, followed by a Gala Premiere at the Leicester Square Warner Cinema London on the 9th of January 1948.
Involving an innocent waitress in his scheme to cover up the murder of a journalist in the Sussex town, the film’s dramatic ending plays out on Brighton’s Palace Pier.
The Titfield Thunderbolt 70th Anniversary
Pre-empting the savage cuts to the railways made by Beeching’s axe in the 1960s, “The Titfield Thunderbolt” sees a group of villagers attempting to keep their branch line running after it’s earmarked for closure.
A picturesque snapshot of rural England in the 1950s, the film stars Stanley Holloway, John Gregson, George Relph, Naunton Wayne, & Sid James.
“The Titfield Thunderbolt” had its Gala Premiere at London’s Leicester Square Theatre on the 5th of March 1953, as part of the British Film Academy’s award ceremony, before going on general release from the 6th.
2023 marks 65 Years of Carry On films
Carry On Sergeant laid the groundwork for the most prolific British film series (yes, longer than Bond). This successful first film was screened to the trade and cinema-bookers on the 1st of August 1958 after which some regional screenings were held from the 31st of August 1958 including Aberdeen & Birmingham.
Billy Liar 60th Anniversary
With Tom Courtenay, Leonard Rossiter, Helen Fraser, Rodney Bewes, Mona Washbourne, & Wilfred Pickles, “Billy Liar” introduced Julie Christie to cinema-goers as the free-spirited Liz and, even though she was only onscreen for a relatively short amount of time, she captivated audiences as the embodiment of 1960s carefree and adventurous youth.
Filmed in Bradford, the film contrasts its kitchen-sink setting with fantasy sequences of Billy’s Ambrosia daydreams. The film was revolutionary as well as influential, and still appears on many lists of top British films of all time.
Summer Holiday 60th Anniversary
Perhaps Cliff’s most popular film musical, the catchy title song of “Summer Holiday” instantly puts the listener into a summery mood and it’s impossible not to think of Cliff behind the wheel of the London bus when listening to it.
Filmed at Elstree Studios and on location in Greece, the iconic red London bus travelling through Europe accompanied by memorable songs still endures in the memory.
The Wicker Man 50th Anniversary
“The Wicker Man” was first screened to the trade & cinema distributors on the 3rd of December 1973.
Following test screenings to the public at the Metropole cinema in London, which ran for a week starting on the 6th of December 1973, the first “official” public screenings were the Scottish “premieres” on the 13th of January 1974 ahead of the nationwide rollout starting in Birmingham on the 19th before finally opening “officially” at the London Odeon on the 7th of February 1974.
Part-horror, part-thriller, part-musical, “The Wicker Man” stars Edward Woodward as Sergeant Howie, Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, and Britt Ekland as Willow.
Christopher Lee considered it to be his best work and the film’s longevity is testament to Anthony Shaffer’s great screenplay & Robin Hardy’s direction – the final shot alone is cinematic perfection.
In its 50th anniversary year, “The Wicker Man” is soon to get a new lease of life in a 2023 television series created by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s production company The Imaginarium and Studiocanal-backed Urban Myth Films.
More upcoming classic film anniversaries in 2023
Sparrows Can’t Sing 60th
Barbara Windsor‘s first starring film role in “Sparrows Can’t Sing” earned Babs a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress.
On the 26th of February 1963, the world premiere was held at the ABC cinema on the Mile End Road, attended by the Earl of Snowdon. The film then also opened at the Rialto cinema in London’s West End on the 27th of February 1963.
Valley Of Song 70th
Filmed on location in Carmarthenshire in 1952, as well as at Elstree Studios, “Valley of Song” marks the first debut of Rachel Roberts and the first film credit for Kenneth Williams. After the initial trade screening to cinema bookers on the 26th of February 1953, “Valley of Song” had four simultaneous World premieres in Wales, opening at cinemas in Cardiff, Newport, Merthyr Tydfil, and Swansea, all on the 13th of April 1953.
Nowhere To Go 65th
Making her inaugural film appearance in a main role at the age of 25, Maggie Smith received her first BAFTA nomination for the penultimate Ealing Studios film “Nowhere To Go”.
Starring American actor George Nader with Bernard Lee, Harry H. Corbett, Bessie Love, & Glyn Houston, the Brit noir premiered at the Rialto cinema in London on the 4th of December 1958.
Unearthly Stranger 60th
Starring John Neville, Philip Stone, Gabriella Licudi, and Jean Marsh, British sci-fi film “Unearthly Stranger” opened at the Rialto cinema in London on the 12th of September 1963. The film was produced by Julian Wintle and Albert Fennell who, along with Brian Clemens, also produced the classic TV shows “The Avengers“, “The New Avengers” with Joanna Lumley, and “The Professionals“.
West 11 60th
On the 10th of October 1963, Michael Winner directorial debut, the crime drama “West 11”, starring Alfred Lynch & Diana Dors, with an appearance by David Hemmings, opened at the Warner Cinema in London. Set in Notting Hill, which has the postcode W11 (West 11), the film is based on the novel “The Furnished Room” by Laura Del-Rivo, and was adapted for the screen by Willis Hall and Keith Waterhouse, the writer of the novel “Billy Liar”.
The Servant 60th
Starring Dirk Bogarde, the British film classic “The Servant” was first screened on the 3rd of September 1963 at the Venice Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion award.
“The Servant” received an American premiere at the New York Film Festival on the 16th of September before opening at London’s Warner cinema on the 14th of November.
The Punch & Judy Man 60th
Starring Tony Hancock, “The Punch & Judy Man” opened at the Manchester Theatre Royal Cinema on the 31st of March 1963 before going on general cinema release on the 8th of April 1963.
Also featuring Barbara Murray & Eddie Byrne, the dark comedy was based on Hancock’s childhood recollections of being at the seaside.
Carry On Cabby 60th
First screened to the trade (cinema distributors) on the 22nd of August, the film went on general release across the UK later the same year on the 7th of November 1963.
The first Carry On Film to be written by Talbot Rothwell, “Carry On Cabby” also marked the first appearance in the film series of Jim Dale.
The Anniversary 55th
Filmed at Elstree Studios, “The Anniversary” was a non-horror production by Hammer Films and premiered at the Rialto cinema in London on the 11th of February 1968.
Starring screen queen Bette Davis as the vicious matriarch from hell, the 1968 production of “The Anniversary” was based on the stage play by Bill MacIlwraith.
The Final Programme 50th
Cult British sci-fi film “The Final Programme” opened at the ABC Edgware cinema in London on the 7th of October 1973.
Based on the novel by British science-fiction writer Michael Moorcock, the film stars Jon Finch & Jenny Runacre with Hugh Griffith, Harry Andrews, Patrick Magee, Graham Crowden, and Julie Ege.
Charters & Caldicott 85th
On the 7th of October 1938, Hitchcock film “The Lady Vanishes” which introduced Basil Radford & Naunton Wayne as Charters & Caldicott, with Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave & Cecil Parker, opened at the Empire Leicester Square cinema. Successful actors individually, the pairing saw the birth of a cinematic double act like no other, before or since. They appeared together in many films including Ealing comedy “Passport to Pimlico“.
Joe Orton 90th
90 years ago, on the 1st of January 1933, the revolutionary playwright Joe Orton was born and, 55 years ago, on the 26th of September 1968, the Theatres Act received royal assent which ended censorship of the theatre – two events which eventually led to film adaptations of Orton’s groundbreaking plays, including “Entertaining Mr. Sloane” with Beryl Reid, and “Loot” with Hywel Bennett, Richard Attenborough, Dick Emery, & Milo O’Shea.
What a Crazy World 60th
Starring Joe Brown & Marty Wilde, the fun London pop musical “What a Crazy World” opened at London’s Rialto Cinema on the 5th of December 1963, also featuring Harry H. Corbett, Susan Maughan, & Michael Ripper.
The Mind Benders 60th
Starring Dirk Bogarde & Mary Ure, British thriller “The Mind Benders” opened at London’s Warner cinema on the 28th of February 1963.
Meet Mr. Lucifer 70th
Ealing comedy “Meet Mr. Lucifer” opened on the 26th of November 1953 at the Haymarket Gaumont cinema in London. Starring Stanley Holloway, with a cast that includes Barbara Murray, Gordon Jackson, Joan Sims, Jean Cadell, Joseph Tomelty, Gladys Henson, Roddy Hughes, Ian Carmichael, and Irene Handl, the film’s premise is that television is literally the work of the devil.
Another Shore 75th
Starring Moira Lister in one of her earliest films for Ealing Studios, the comedy film “Another Shore” (with Stanley Holloway & Wilfrid Brambell) premiered at the Leicester Square Theatre in London on the 25th of November 1948. The Ealing film also includes Irish actors John Kelly, Sheila Manahan & Maureen Delany.
The Cruel Sea 70th
Ealing‘s classic British war film “The Cruel Sea” opened at the Leicester Square Theatre in London on the 26th of March 1953 with an all-star cast including Jack Hawkins, Stanley Baker, Liam Redmond, Sam Kydd, Meredith Edwards, Moira Lister, & Glyn Houston.
Take Me High 50th
Filmed in Birmingham, it’s most appropriate that the Charity World premiere for Cliff Richard‘s final film “Take Me High” took place on the 20th of December 1973 at the ABC cinema in Birmingham. Also featuring Madeline Smith & Hugh Griffith, presumably Brumburgers were served on the opening night.
These are just some of the film anniversaries taking place in 2023 – there are more film milestones, as well as TV events, to celebrate this year.
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