Friday Family Film Night: MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER review

·34 min·3 clips

Martin Scorsese narrates a love letter to Michael Powell, sparked by childhood illness and black-and-white TV screenings.

The episode begins with the hosts introducing the documentary 'Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger', a 2024 film directed by David Hinton and available on Turner Classic Movies and Prime Video. They explain that Martin Scorsese narrates the documentary as a passion project and love letter to Michael Powell, one half of the Powell and Pressburger duo and co-founder of The Archers film company. Scorsese's connection stems from his childhood, where he watched Powell and Pressburger's films on black-and-white television due to illness, despite the films being intended for color. The hosts note that Hollywood studios initially avoided TV, leaving British films to fill airtime. They discuss how Scorsese's early viewing influenced his filmmaking, with specific comparisons like 'The Red Shoes' impacting 'Raging Bull' through techniques like silent, music-driven sequences. The co-hosts share personal opinions on Powell and Pressburger's films: one loves 'Black Narcissus' for its visuals and themes, while the other dislikes 'The Red Shoes' for its characters and story, particularly the protagonist's suicide. They analyze the documentary's focus on Michael Powell's personality, describing him as a visionary risk-taker compared to Emmerich Pressburger's more practical approach. The hosts mention other films in the duo's repertoire, such as 'A Matter of Life and Death' and its homage in 'Captain America: The First Avenger'. They debate the documentary's quality, with one host giving it an 8.5 for its personal insights and archival footage, and the other rating it a 4 for lacking multiple perspectives. The episode concludes with recommendations to watch Powell and Pressburger's films for film students and a mention of Scorsese's role in film restoration and supporting Turner Classic Movies.

As heard by us

A candid discussion of Scorsese, Powell and Pressburger, and Peeping Tom's difficult afterlife.

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger comes through as Martin Scorsese's personal tribute to Michael Powell, with the hosts tracking how that affection shapes the episode.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a film-history detour that lands on Peeping Tom, TCM, and a family Black Narcissus plan.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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