I just recently watched Michael Powell's filmography this week. I started with "I Know Where I'm Going!" (1945) and "A Canterbury Tale (1944)" which were both huge disappointments to me. However, I just got done with "Black Narcissus" (1947) and I loved that film, it may be on my top 200 films of all time.
The next film I will be viewing from his is "The Red Shoes" and "Peeping Tom" (1960).
Why were IKWIG & ACT "huge disappointments" to you?
It doesn't really say anything to just say that they were "huge disappointments to me" without giving any reasons
Steve
I just watched "The Red Shoes" last night and it was a masterpiece! Great use of techni-colors, great use of score. The Archers know how to shoot amazing photography.
shareIKWIG & ACT were both in B&W. Did that influence your opinion of them?
They both have amazing B&W photography in them
Steve
I guess that's why I was disappointed, it was shot in black and white instead of the Archer's well known technicolor. Don't get me wrong I do love black/white films (Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" & "I Vitelloni", Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal", Etc).
However I'm still not digging the chemistry between the lead characters in "I Know where I'm Going!". Also, the lead actress came off as too stubborn and egotistic for me to latch on to her character.
I guess I need to give "I know Where I'm Going!" A second viewing.
The Archers worked in B&W for all of their early films (except Blimp) up until AMOLAD in 1946. That's the only technology that was available to them at the time. But they made good use of it. Some of their B&W cinematography is better than some of their colour cinematography.
Joan in IKWIG was supposed to be a not very likeable character for most of the film. She appears to be just out for what she can get and not at all sympathetic to or understanding of the locals. That's why her change after the boat trip is such a revelation.
The Archers often made films with a non-standard storyline. Not for them the standard (almost boring) leading man & woman in love throughout the film.
All Archers film reward a second (& third, and multiple) viewing. There's a lot in them and people often don't immediately "get" them or realise all of the nuances.
Steve