Two Criterion Films

Babylon (British, 1980) did not get a release in Britain until the late 80s.  In the USA it was just released in 2019!  It was showing at DFT, and we were hoping to attend there to see it.  Then it popped up on Criterion, so we watched it at home.

 A British film from 1980, only now being released abroad. 

A London reggae band tries to win a music contest against a rival band.  All along the way, including the night of the actual performance, they are met with nearly insurmountable obstacles, not the least of which is racist cops and neighbours.  We watched the subtitled version (I don't know how you could watch it otherwise).  I'm certain that the problems dealt with 40 years ago by blacks are exactly the same as today--virtually nothing has changed.  Highly recommended, and worth a second viewing.  "Go back to your own country!"  "This is my fucking country!!" is still a mantra chanted daily in Britain and the USA.

Deb's pick was an early pre-code quickie called Night Nurse, starring Barbara Stanwyck.  She tries to defend two little girls who are slowly being starved to death for their inheritance.  In between saving them, there is a lot of drunken revelry, nurses in skimpy nightgowns, and some hard boiled violence, even against women.  Barbara is socked on the chin by an evil chauffeur played by Clark Gable.  She is befriended by a bootlegger.  There is a very bad doctor in on the plot with the chauffeur.  There are some good stare downs, and some crazy ambulance driving through the city.  A good film to remind one of what cinema was like before codes of decency were slapped on them.  Of course naughty nurses have continued on into our own time, a favourite theme of porno films.  But these nurses from 1931 are not naughty.  They are wholesome and likable, and they help sick people.

  From the novel by Dora Macy.  Starring Joan Blondell and Barbara Stanwyck, 1931. 

I seem to be caught up on my sleep, and practicing and reading have resumed.  Tomorrow we return to Detroit for our weekly visit.  I have completed my blog (see the one on the Midwest) on all of Detroit's breweries, and tomorrow I start blogging about the best taprooms for craft beer.  However, at least 5 new breweries should be open before Christmas, so the blog will continue to expand.  I do not count the suburbs; just the city.  I still haven't published the photos from Steve, Lynne, and Emma-Lee's visit.  Next time.  And I have not forgotten about landscape art in the DIA, either.  These take time.  We visited last Tuesday, to see an Impressionist show of art from Detroit and Buffalo combined.  Buffalo has some very important and iconic art, especially by Paul Gauguin.  Nice to have these works visit Detroit for the summer.

Mapman Mike