The Adventurer (1917)

A typical Charlie Chaplin comedy slapstick short. The tramp has hit hard times by now and is a convict! After much mayhem in some sand dunes, he manages to escape prison. Charlie then saves a girl (Edna Purviance) from drowning and is invited to her home. His new status as a hero makes it easy for the authorities to track him down of course!

Well this is classic Chaplin, a number of ingenious comedy set pieces. This is one of the best of his early films. It maybe lacks a but of depth but doesn't lack for humour.

Strange Holiday (1945)

John (Claude Rains) returns home from a fishing holiday to find that fascists have taken over America in this rather strange film. John is arrested by the fascists and thrown in prison. John's America has gone and he reflects on this in jail as he awaits his execution. We slowly (rather too slowly) discover how the fascists managed to conquer America, abolishing the Constitution cheered on by an angry populace.

The message, that freedom and democracy has to be protected and not taken for granted, is laid thick in this atmospheric and moody film. 

The film was originally made as a propaganda film for General Motors and it shows, it was padded out for general release and this does not do much for the film. It isn't a subtle film at all yet is also somewhat tedious and directionless. The film is an interesting rather than an enjoyable watch. Some might say the film has relevance for today and modern politics but I'll leave that for others to discuss!

The Plank (1967)

Eric Sykes and Tommy Cooper are just putting the finishing touches to a new house but unfortunately are one plank short. They head off to the timber yard to get one, nothing could go wrong with that right? Of course everything does in a series of comedy antics. Its all very silly of course in the classic bumbling British tradition which hit it's heights in the 1960s and 1970s.

A short feature which is packed full of stars such as Roy Castle, Jimmy Edwards, Jimmy Tarbuck, Hattie Jacques, Kenny Lynch... basically nearly anyone who was anyone in British comedy at the time. 

However, these cameos work perfectly and not self-indulgently in a series of comedy antics which can be obvious but hilarious.

Severely Rape (1998)

A rather sordid tale of gold digging and softcore pornography. Jacky (Elvis Tsui) and Wu Wing-keung fool around with various sexy bar girls (including Nam Sugawara and Yuko Wada) in Shenzhen. The girl's take advantage of the two virginal dope's longing for love by helping to emptying the guys' bank accounts amid much soaping up of private parts and grunting.

Not a great film by any means though titillating enough if you like a bit of flesh (and there is certainly no shortage of that in this film). 

Quite what the title has to do with the film content is a mystery though (and quite a common mystery with HK movies), everything is consensual although after awhile a bit repetitive. 

The Telephone at Work (1972)

A short instructional film on how to get the best use out of the telephone in a work situation and not, as happens in the opening minute, the phone drive you so mad you end up shooting it (which lets face it, isn't very British!) The film covers basic phone etiquette (which is mostly about just being polite). The film includes a whole host of GPO 746 dial phones though also look out for a cheeky pair of trimphones too. It is a wonderful little slice of the early 1970s British office life. Look out for Leslie Schofield in the workshop.