“A truly fascinating look into attitudes and the mindset of a particular time, not that long ago. ”
Nigel’s introduction to the film screened at The Star, 11 April 2017
The film came out in 1959 and the Bafta for Best British Film. It was fairly groundbreaking in its time. Films about race relations in Britain were not that common in the late 1950s (they’re not that common now).
One similarity to Do The Right Thing is that it was partially inspired by a real event. The Notting Hill Riots had occurred the year before and were sparked after six West Indian men were attacked by Teddy Boys.
The film was directed by Basil Dearden who was almost a stereotypical journeyman director. He made his first films in the late 30s and continued to work well into the 1970s and directed everything from Ealing comedies and war films; his 1966 film Khartoum was an epic starring Laurence Olivier and Charlton Heston. He actually directed a film we had up for the vote last year - All Night Long from 1961 about the Soho jazz scene.
And he also made dramas like Sapphire that addressed contemporary social issues. This film was written by Janet Green also wrote Victim, that Dearden also directed in 1961 about a gay man played by Dirk Bogarde’s who’s being blackmailed.
It’s clearly a very liberal-minded project but I suspect you’ll find some of its outlook simplistic and even inadvertently racist in some of its stereotypes.
Predictably the review in the Daily Worker thought it should have been more political:
"You can't fight the colour bar merely by telling people it exists. You have to attack it, with passion and conviction. Commit yourself up to the hilt. Otherwise you're in danger of fanning the flames".
But, for most of us in the room tonight, without doubt the most fascinating aspect of the film are its locations.
I first heard about this film four years ago when I wrote something for The Kentishtowner about films shot in the area. Someone asked in the comments on the website why I hadn't included Sapphire. (The answer - I’d never heard about). But I immediately bought a copy and loved seeing the 1950s versions of very familiar streets.
It’s more NW5 than N19 but prepare yourself for Tufnell Park Station, Dartmouth Park Hill, York Rise, Malden Road, Oakford Road, Lady Somerset Road and The Forum in Kentish Town.
The one that got me when I first watched it was the estate sign for Drivers & Norris outside one of the houses. I checked yesterday - they’ve been in business in North London since 1852!
Do please try to restrain yourselves from talking every time you see somewhere you recognise!
