has finally arrived. See here for legal downloads of public domain movies, propaganda films, clips, cartoons and adverts. From the sublime to the ridiculous, Capra’s Meet John Doe to Night of the living dead, via Chaplin, the Marx Brothers and game ads.
This list is a must for film fans, social historians or those looking for media clips for projects.
The archive also lists text and audio books, music and even sermons. Well worth a look
“Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called “The Pledge”. The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course… it probably isn’t. The second act is called “The Turn”. The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you’re looking for the secret… but you won’t find it, because of course you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn’t clap yet. Because making something disappear isn’t enough; you have to bring it back. That’s why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call “The Prestige”.” Cutter (Michael Caine)
What turns 2 colleagues in early 20th century London turn against each other, from mere career rivalry to hatred and beyond?
Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), 2 minor magicians working for the same magician as plants in the crowd, discover that the desire to be the best brings out the worst in them. The search for the ultimate Prestige drives obsession, grief and jealousy push the limits of their imaginations.
Great performances from Caine, Bale and Jackman, and even David Bowie’s not bad as the electrical wizz Nikola Tesla
Its a film exploring the darkest side of human emotion, with no redemption in sight. A masterpeice of illusion which keeps the viewer guessing as the magic show moves towards the ultimate prestige. You will want to be fooled!
Finally watched Amazing Grace today, didn’t get a chance when it was at the cinema. It reminded me of my childhood.
Growing up in Yorkshire, learning at a young age about “local men done good” like Wilberforce (Hull was part of Yorkshire when he was an MP), and Sir Titus Salt, fed my interests in politics and in the wide world outside of my limited experience. The showed me that people can be unknown to you personally, but still valued; that the value placed on an individual is regardless of the work they can do or the colour of their skin; that one person can make a difference, can even change the world, by raising a voice or by living in a particular way. Salt, as many of my fellow students pointed out in later years, probably inherited some of his wealth from previous generations’ involvement in the slave trade. But he used that wealth to build and serve a community, paying his mill-workers an annually adjusted minimum wage, built a school and provided free education to all children of his workers to the age of 12. Health-care was provided by means of a purpose built almshouse, and a church was built to service the faith needs of the 850 homes he built. A novelty in Yorkshire, each of those houses had its own loo! The only things lacking in the village of Saltaire, until about 10 years ago, were a Pub and a Bookmaker. The pub is now there, aptly named “Don’t tell Titus”
The thing both of these men had in common, apart from being Yorkshiremen, was that they each lived what they believed, and despite antagonism, conflict and opposition, continued to do so until the day they each died. Politicians, activists, men of faith. Lives of faith and action, faith in action. Lives that still make a difference, and challenge and change perceptions. One is famous worldwide, the other only locally. But does that matter? The effects of both are still felt, at least by this Yorkshire educated lass.
Sadly, slavery still remains, even though outlawed. Injustice in the workplace, poor wages and poor health are still rife in many of our industrial (or post industrial) towns and cities. The work is not done. May God give this generation and future ones the courage and the voice to continue the work of such men as these.
Oh yeah - the movie’s not bad either.
