CriterionCast

The Eclipse Viewer – Episode 17 – Basil Dearden’s London Underground

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This podcast focuses on Criterion’s Eclipse Series of DVDs. Hosts David Blakeslee and Trevor Berrett give an overview of each box and offer their perspectives on the unique treasures they find inside. In this episode, David and Trevor discuss Eclipse Series 25: Basil Dearden’s London Underground, four films that portray various aspects of English life in a period of cultural transition.

About the films:

After mastering the mix of comedy, suspense, and horror that helped define the golden age of British cinema, Basil Dearden (along with his producing partner Michael Relph) left the legendary Ealing Studios and struck out on his own. In the late fifties and early sixties, he created a series of gripping, groundbreaking, even controversial films that dealt with racism, homophobia, and the lingering effects of World War II, noir-tinged dramas that burrowed into corners of London rarely seen on-screen. This set of elegantly crafted films brings this quintessential figure of British cinema out of the shadows.normal

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Timeline for the podcast:

Introduction/Background (00:00:01 – 00:12:27)

Sapphire (00:12:28 – 00:30:17)

The League of Gentlemen (00:30:18 – 01:00:15)

Victim (01:00:16 – 01:31:08)

All Night Long (01:31:09 – 01:58:29)

Conclusion (01:58:30 – 02:07:35)

Buy The Box Set On Amazon:

ES25_Dearden

Episode Links:

Director Overview:

Box Set Reviews:

Sapphire:

The League of Gentlemen:

Victim:

All Night Long:

Next time on the podcast: Eclipse Series 15: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu

Contact us:

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Email: theeclipseviewer (at) gmail.com
David Blakeslee ( Twitter / Website )
Trevor Berrett ( Twitter / Website )

David Blakeslee

David hosts the Criterion Reflections podcast, a series that reviews the films of the Criterion Collection in their chronological order of release. The series began in 2009 and those essays (covering the years 1921-1967) can be found via the website link provided below. In March 2016, the blog transferred to this site, and in August 2017, the blog changed over to a podcast format. David also contributes to other reviews and podcasts on this site. He lives near Grand Rapids, Michigan and works in social services. Twitter / Criterion Reflections