A while ago we wrote an article about a young singer called Freya who makes music with her dad. She has a gig next week and we thought it fitting considering their working arrangement to give them a plug on Father’s day

Freya is playing with her band at the Kingston Night Market this coming Thursday… 18th June http://www.thestockmkt.com/ Just to remind you of her ……. Youtube Video 1: http://youtu.be/a6smPUeuOcQ Youtube Video 2 : http://youtu.be/jFdE8IxoDPs

The Kingston Green Fair was a remarkable achievement by a small group of people with a commitment to the environment and sustainable living. First held in May 1987 on Canbury Gardens by the River Thames, it attracted thousands of environmentally-minded people to promote and celebrate green thinking. It was one of the first of its kind in this country and was held regularly until 2008, when bad weather two years in a row caused insurmountable financial problems. In its heyday, it attracted 25,000 people.

According to the first programme, The Kingston Green Fair was about “music, dancing, good food, games and stalls – the whole community getting together to enjoy itself and to be informed about areas of environmental concern”.

Simon Tyrrell of The Community Brain, the organisation running the project, said :

“the exhibition aims to capture that spirit, explain how and why it came about when it did and why it became so popular.  It will also explore its wide-reaching impact – not only across the Borough, but nation-wide.”

Volunteers from across the community have been researching that innovative first Fair.  The original organisers and early participants have been donating their memories and memorabilia, and festival organisers and performers who were inspired by their experience of the Kingston Green Fair have been talking about the impact it had on their lives.

The exhibition is one part of an ongoing project, funded through a “Your Heritage” Lottery grant.  The project is developing an archive that will be available online and through Kingston Heritage Services and that will include oral histories from some of the key characters involved.  New folk songs and stories will be created in workshops with primary school children, teachers resources will be developed, and a celebration is planned for Canbury Gardens in the Autumn.

Simon Tyrrell is keen for the project to be as inclusive as possible, drawing on the widest possible contribution from across the local and environmental community: “From the perspective of today it seems a totally understandable and natural thing to do, but 25 years ago very few people were paying attention to the need for environmental sustainability. The fair was intergenerational and we want to ensure that this project reflects that with contributions from people of all ages. We welcome help from anyone with stories, skills or just the enthusiasm to learn more.”

Jean Vidler, from the Kingston Environment Centre, who was part of the group of local individuals who created the fair, welcomes the project :

“The Green Fair did have a lasting impact on Kingston and started many people’s interest in sustainable living. It has a great sense of folklore around it but there is a real danger that knowledge of this achievement and its legacy will be lost as the time between the last Kingston Green Fair and today increases.”

Des Kay, who was also part of the collective who organised the fair and who founded and launched the Save the World Club there, is also pleased that a project will capture the heritage of The Kingston Green Fair.

“This was a remarkable achievement by a small group of people with a commitment to the environment and sustainable living. Many of those involved have gone on to champion ‘green living’ not just locally but across the UK.”

Sue Bowers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London, said:

“This project will conserve the story of a how a community of environmentally-concerned people created an event that, during its lifetime, helped to advance the green agenda at a local level in London.”

If anyone would like to get involved please visit www.thegreenfairkingston.org  email info@thegreenfairkingston.org or find TheGreenFairKingston on Facebook.

The Kingston Green Fair – the growth of environmental thinking runs from 14 June – 6 July 2013 at Kingston Museum, Wheatfiled Way, KT1 2PS.  It is open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10am – 5pm, with special late openings on Thursdays, until 7pm.

This documentary presents the life stories of Afghan women living in the UK. Their stories were collected as part of the DAWN project, the first oral history project ever to record the unique experiences of Afghan women who have settled in the UK over the last 40 years. The interviews explore the women’s lives in Afghanistan, their experiences of migration and life here in the UK. This project aims to combat the often negative stereotypes of Afghan women portrayed in the media.

This film was produced and directed by one of RAK’s volunteers Anne O’Connell who will be at the event.

For more information about the project please visit: http://saharafghan.net/    www.britishafghanwomen.org   www.refugeeactionkingston.org.uk

This year there will be 54 teams competing to see who can set the record time for the 250 metre race. All team members will also be doing their best to increase the number of sponsors supporting them, so that the money raised for charity will be even higher than the £50,000 raised last year.

For the children there will be bouncy castles and sideshows, and for everyone there will be a great selection of food stalls plus market and Charity stalls. All the money raised by teams will go to their chosen charity, and this year we are recommending teams support Kingston Young Carers.

www.kingstonrotaryclub.org.uk

I’ve seen and heard some reviews saying that you do not have to be a Stone Roses fan to enjoy this documentary following the band as they prepare for and embark on their 2012 comeback tour. I think that is wishful thinking by those reviewers, as whilst you could appreciate the dynamic between the band members, the extensive scenes of them performing are really only going to please their fans. However, by enlisting of Britain’s best and most creative film makers in Shane Meadows as the director, who just so happens to love the Stone Rose, the band and their management have ensured that this film is a cut above the musical documentaries that litter the BBC4 schedules on a Friday evening.

After a swift rise to stardom and the release of a stunning and critically adored first album, which still appears in many critics best of all time lists, in 1989, a protracted dispute with their record company and a generally poorly received second album five years later, the band split acrimoniously in 1996. 16 years later, after some initial exploratory talks between lead singer Ian Brown and guitarist John Squire, the creative hub of the band, they announced their comeback in 2012, with the intention to go on a brief tour culminating in 2 massive gigs at their home town Manchester’s Heaton Park.

This film follows them as they practice for those concerts, go on that warm up tour and culminates in the Heaton park concert. In parallel it tells the story of the band the first time around, detailing their rise and spectacular fall. Normally you would expect extensive interviews with the band members telling the story in retrospect. Instead, Meadows, lets archive footage tell that original story, whilst an almost entirely fly on the wall approach is used for the current day filming. Without being heavy handed, the director shows that although the band members are older and a little wiser, especially Brown, they haven’t changed that much and the creative / destructive dynamic remains. Squire is still the introverted one off stage, bassist Mani is the joker and drummer Reni still gives a Charlie Watts’ too good for this stuff vibe.

Indeed, old tensions come to the fore, when in one of their European gigs, Reni, played with technical problems, stormed off stage at the end of the show and left the tour entirely, putting the whole reunion in jeopardy. In an to camera piece afterwards, Meadows, is clearly desperately worried about what will happen and doesn’t seen to realised that the incident was perfect for his film, as it dovetailed with similar scenes 17 years previously when Reni was the first to leave the band then. Evidently things were patched up, and the next time we see Reni is back behind the drums at Heaton Park.

The lack of explanation for this turnaround is really my only criticism of this excellent film. Fascinating throughout, their are 2 standout sequences that lift this movie to another level. Firstly, before going to mainland Europe, the band announce one morning that they are going to play a gig at Warrington’s Parr Hall, which holds about 1000 people that evening. Tickets were available on a first come first served basis, but fans had to bring a record sleeve or other memorabilia with them. the scenes of fans rushing to the venue, the joy of those claiming their tickets and the dependency of those missing it are terrific. They really get over the adoration so many people have for them. The second is the climax of the film, footage from when they played in front of 220 000 over 2 nights at Heaton Park, in particular a stunning version of their breakthrough single ‘Fool’s Gold’. The ecstatic scenes in the crowd and the sheer fun the band are having is for all to see, and whilst it may not change the minds of people who did not like them the first time around, it may just bring them a new legion of fans.

This film was financed by Film 4 so it will appear on that network soon I imagine, but unless you have an amazing sound system at home, you should watch this at the cinema whilst you can.

THE GOLDEN PATHWAY ANNUAL

by John Harding & John Burrows
Directed by Graham Pountney
The Golden Pathway Annual is a brilliantly funny, touching, nostalgic and often Pythonesque
look at the Baby Boom austerity years of the 1950s and the swinging 60s. A series of
loosely connected fast-moving sketches whisk us through the life of Michael Peters from the
age of 2 to 23. Michael is given The Golden Pathway Annual on his 5th birthday and its
fictional characters erupt into his real life as he grows up through the Coronation, Grammar
School, adolescent awakenings, alienation from his parents, tries to find a job and
encounters a large chicken!
The show is a spectacular trip down Memory Lane for those who were there and a glimpse
into another world for those who weren’t, all wrapped up with lots of comedy and touches
of pathos. But it’s more than that: every scene is brilliantly written, the majority hilarious,
the rest genuinely moving.
‘The Golden Pathway Annual has things to say, says them well, looks you in the eye.’
Plays and Players review.
In short, it is fantastic.
1950s and 60s
You weren’t there? It’s perfect entertainment for anyone over 12!
Can’t remember them? You will now!
From June 4 to June 15
in the Casson Room Studio
Leatherhead Theatre
7:30pm Tuesday – Friday 2:30pm & 7:30pm Saturdays
No performances Sundays or Mondays
Experience this uplifting show from just a fiver!
Tickets £5 & £10 with Student/Senior concessions
Standard £12 tickets – discounted to £10 if you buy 3 in one transaction
Box Office Tel: 01372 365141
www.theleatherheadtheatre.org
Leatherhead Theatre, 7 Church St, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8DN
Book now – space is limited!

Hollywood seemingly managed to churn out comedy crime mysteries with ease in the 1930s. Despite it being one of the best of the genre, and the presence of Clark Gable in a leading role, this one is almost forgotten now and is impossible to find on DVD and hasn’t been shown on UK TV for years. Gable plays a reporter investigating a murder and Constance Bennett the rich girl he falls for.

399 Carrie (1976 / Brian de Palma)

Not all of De Palma’s films are great, though his bravura directing style usually provides some memorable scenes, Carrie is full of such scenes, and also boasts a wonderful performance from Sissy Spacek as the teen with telekinetic powers. The ending has been imitated by countless horror films since and a remake has been scheduled for release later this year.

398 Freaks (1932 / Tod Browning)

Modern audiences may look at most of the horror films from the 1930s and think them quaint, not so Freaks. Banned in the UK for 30 years from it’s original release date, it is a truly disturbing film about love and murder amongst circus sideshow ‘freaks’, with actual deformed circus performers used in the roles. Just a year after the huge hit Dracula, Browning’s career was virtually ended by the reception that the film received. The “One of Us” sequence still remains one of the scariest ever committed to film.

397 The Ghost Breakers (1940 / George Marshall)

Just one year after the hugely successful The Cat and the Canary, the stars, Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard were reunited in another comedy horror movie. Despite the similar premise and rushed production, this still feels fresh and is very funny. the plot involving a haunted castle in Cuba also manages to deliver a few chills.

396 They Live By Night (1948 / Nicholas Ray)

Film noir, also known as The Twisted Road, featuring Farley Granger as an escaped convict who bids to prove his innocence and settle down with the woman he loves, but his hopes are dashed as his past catches up with him. Strong performances and direction make this compelling viewing.

395 The Grapes of Wrath (1940 / John Ford)

Great books do not always make great movies, but this adaptation of John Steinbeck’s depression era tale is John Ford’s best non western. Henry Fonda excels in a uniformly excellent cast, and the sights, sounds and smells of the midwest dust bowl are perfectly captured by Ford.

394 White Heat (1949 / Raoul Walsh)

James Cagney stars in one of his most iconic roles as Cody Jarrett, an escaped convict who teams up with his old gang for a big heist. Cagney is a ball of fury, blighted by migraines and obsessing about his Mother. The film explodes in a terrific climax….”Made it Ma, top of the world!”

393 Thieves Highway (1949 / Jules Dassin)

The son of a truck driver who was swindled and then crippled by a crooked trader vows revenge. Another example of a trucker movie of this vintage. A tense story line and a marvellous turn by Lee J Cobb as the villain Mike Figlia, set this one apart.

392 Earthquake (1974 / Mark Robson)

I don’t like to use the term “guilty pleasures” but if I did, 1970′s disaster movies would be one of mine, both the big budget spectaculars and the made for TV efforts that followed them. This is one of the former, arriving at the height of the disaster movie craze, and starring Charlton Heston as a construction engineer who discovers that a major earthquake is about to hit Los Angeles. You might find this a little dated, and the “Sensurround” effects used in cinemas will be lost watching it on the telly, but this remains great entertainment. Watch out for a funny cameo from Walter Matthau.

391 Hotel Rwanda (2004 / Terry George)

The emotional true story of a hotel manager trying to save Rwandan refugees from genocide features a career best turn by Don Cheadle and solid support from Nick Nolte and Sophie Okonedo. Both thrilling and moving, this film deserved more acclaim on its release.

390 Sweet Sixteen (2002 / Ken Loach)

Another hard hitting but also touching drama from director Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty. A teenager in an impoverished part of Scotland tries to raise the money to buy a home for his Mother, who is due out of prison, and him to share away from her evil ex boyfriend. The grim elements are enlivened by some comic moments, and Loach gets his usual great performances from the young cast.

389 The Sweet Smell of Success (1957 / Alexander MacKendrick)

A New York newspaper columnist enlists the help of a a press agent to stop his sister marrying a jazz musician. A biting drama starring Burt Lancaster as the columnist and Tony Curtis as the agent, both without a redeeming feature. The director was previously best known for his Ealing comedies, but this movie (far removed from those efforts) ran way over budget and was a box office failure. His career stalled after its release.

388 Dirty Harry (1971 / Don Siegel)

The first of 5 appearances by Clint Eastwood as “Dirty” Harry Callahan. the four sequels are all enjoyable but the original is the best, as Harry tracks down the ‘Scorpio Killer’ in San Francisco. Violent and hugely influential on cop dramas that have been produced since, with some of the most quotable dialogue in film history.

387 Angels One Five (1952 / George More O’Ferrall)

Usually considered one of the lesser British second world war films, and overshadowed somewhat by the big budget Battle of Britain. This, however, is a personal favourite of mine. Telling the story of a young Hurricane pilot deployed to an operational base at one of the most important points of the second world war. Plenty of stiff upper lip and bravery against seemingly impossible odds.

386 Captain Blood (1935 / Michael Curtiz)

Another Errol Flynn swashbuckler. Here he stars as a doctor wrongly convicted of treason becoming a pirate on the high seas. Maybe considered slow by modern viewers brought up on the awful Jonny Depp franchise, this still features some great action sequences whilst feeling more real than most films in the genre. Once again, Olivia de Havilland provides the love interest and Basil Rathbone makes a great villain.

385 Lady for a Day (1933 / Frank Capra)

Frank Capra’s breakthrough film, box office wise, is a charming comedy about an apple seller in New York posing as a wealthy lady so that her daughter is accepted by her rich fiancé’s family. It does show its age but there are enough laughs nonetheless and I prefer it to Capra’s own remake, Pocketful of Miracles.

384 The Naked Spur (1953 / Anthony Mann)

The second Anthony Mann / James Stewart western to make my top 500. The naked Spur has the added benefit of Janet Leigh playing the girlfriend of the bad guy, played by the always watchable Robert Ryan, who Stewart, a bounty hunter, is chasing. the bleakness of some of the story is in contrast to the stunning cinematography by William Mellor.

383 Cat People (1942 / Jacques Tourneur)

The team of director Tourneur and producer Val Lewton made a series of low budget horror films in the 1940s. All are worth watching but two have made my top 500. The first is about a Serbian immigrant to America who believes she will turn into a killer panther if she becomes intimate with a man. The plot sounds absurd but the film is awash with subtexts and the atmosphere created by Tourneur is atmospheric and spooky.

382 Up in the Air (2009 / Jason Reitman)

Reitman made an impressive start to his directorial career with Thank You for Smoking, Juno, and, the best of the 3, Up in the Air. George Clooney plays an executive who makes people redundant on behalf of companies for a living. That involves a lot of air travel and he delights in clocking up a record number of air miles. He is totally happy with his life until he meets 2 women who cause him to think again and big changes at work threaten to turn his life upside down. A smart script plus spot on performances by Clooney and the rest of the cast add real depth to the story.

381 The Big Heat (1953 / Fritz Lang)

A tough film noir with leading performances from 2 underrated stars of Hollywood’s golden age – Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame. Grahame in particular is superb as the girlfriend of the villain, played also brilliantly by Lee Marvin, who is being pursued by Ford’s cop. A scene where Marvin throws scalding coffee in Grahame’s face is still shocking and the dialogue crackles throughout this picture.

Better Homes is a £65million five-year programme to modernize housing and it is the biggest council housing investment in decades. The Council has exceeded expectations by completing work on 403 properties, compared to the 195 target set by Greater London Authority (GLA).Councillor Patricia Bamford, Kingston Council’s Lead Member for Better Homes, said:

“I am delighted with progress. The scheme is going from strength to strength with even more homes set to be refurbished this year.”

As a result of the progress, the GLA has brought forward its grant funding and allocated £3million to the council for the first year’s work, £1m more than originally planned. 
The council expects to complete work on a further 600 homes between now and next March. Councillor Bamford also said:

“Tenants and leaseholders are seeing big improvements and the work is being done to a very high standard.”

Residents are encouraged to meet staff and contractors and talk about proposed internal and external works to their homes, as they are expected to make a contribution to the costs of the work.
When the scheme is complete it is expected to bring Kingston Council’s homes up to the Kingston Better Homes Standard and to exceed the government’s Decent Homes minimum standard.

Councillor Rolson Davies, Lead Member for Finance and Resources said:

“The most important thing for anyone claiming benefits is to find out how they will be affected by the government’s reforms.”

Couples with or without children living with them and single parents with children living with them will have a benefit limit of £500 a week, while single adults not living with their children will limit of £350 a week. However there are exceptions to the cap.

Households will not be subject to the cap if one of the adults or any dependent child qualify for Working Tax Credit or receive Disability Living Allowance, Industrial Injuries Benefits, Employment Support Allowance when paid with the support component, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments, or War Pension Scheme payments. Kingston is expected to see more changes in January 2014 as Personal Independence Payment and the introduction of Universal Credit is to take the replacement of Disability Living Allowance.

The Universal Credit will roll together a wide range of benefits into a single monthly payment and is expected to affect around 11,000 residents. Kingston Council said that they were aware that a monthly payment might cause budgeting problems for some residents. Councillor Davies added:

“We want to make sure that people have the information they need,”

Kingston Council is working in partnership with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Surrey Credit Union to offer free money advice and budget management training.

If you are interested in attending a session, call Tony Willis on 020 8547 5000 or email tony.willis@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

To contact the Surrey Credit Union visit www.surreysave.co.uk or call 01932 339290. 



For more information about how the benefit cap may affect you, telephone Kingston Council on 020 8547 5001 or go to www.kingston.gov.uk/benefits or www.direct.gov.uk/benefitcap

Both Neil Simon’s best loved play and probably the most well known pairing of those great comedic talents Jack Lemmon and Walther Matthau. They starred in 8 films together over a 30 year period, and their natural chemistry and timing was never better than in this very funny film. The TV sitcom spin off, though featuring neither Lemmon or Matthau was surprisingly good.

419 Nobodys Fool (1994 / Robert Benton)

At this stage of his career, Paul Newman was adept at playing old rascals, who still have a twinkle in their eye. In this low key but touching drama, he gives his best performance of the 1990s as Sully Sullivan, nearing retirement and coping with family dramas and a burgeoning romance. Surprisingly little known, despite a supporting cast that includes Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, Jessica Tandy and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

418 Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1989 / David Zucker)

Spun off from the hilarious but unsuccessful TV show, Police Squad, this film completed Leslie Nielsen’s transformation from stoic performer in mostly TV movies to major comedy star. Although, a lot of the characters and jokes had already been seen in the TV series this is still uproariously funny, and two decent sequels followed. It does feel strange seeing O.J Simpson back when he was a beloved ex American Football star rather than a notorious criminal!

417 Play Misty for Me (1971 / Clint Eastwood)

Eastwood’s directorial debut is a, by today’s standards, a low key shocker about a disc jockey (Eastwood) being stalked by a crazed female fan (Jessica Walter). So keen was Eastwood to direct this that he persuaded the studio to let him by agreeing to star in it without being paid. There’s long been talk of a remake, which I’m sure will be more shocking and gory, but probably not as suspenseful as this effort.

416 Looking for Richard (1997 / Al Pacino)

Most people wouldn’t associate Al Pacino with Shakespeare, but this curious film shows his passion for the Bard, and for the play Richard III in particular. A mix of scenes from a stage version of the play, scenes from rehearsal and interviews with actors, this is a fascinating look at one man’s obsession. Scenes of Pacino playing the titular character here and his performance as Shylock in Michael Radford’s Merchant of Venice seven years later demonstrate that he is one of the few American actors able to get to grips with the difficult verse.

415 Harper (1966 / Jack Smight)

Also known as ‘Moving Target’, this is the first of 2 appearances by Paul Newman as the ultra cool private investigator Lew Harper. Its a fairly standard case of searching for a missing husband, but the story has enough twists and turns to keep you hooked and the style, Newman’s effortless performance and a supporting cast of Hollywood stalwarts make this an engrossing watch. It was nine years before Newman reprised the role in the less successful but still enjoyable The Drowning Pool.

414 The Hospital (1971 / Arthur Hiller)

Hospital dramas are a perennial favourite on TV but have fared less well on film. This mixture of typical 1970s black comedy/satire of a depressed doctor struggling to cope with the demands of his profession and a thriller about a killer at large in the hospital, is arguably the best attempt at presenting this genre on film. The great Paddy Chayevsky wrote the typically angry script and George C. Scott, fresh from his Patton Oscar win, is excellent in the lead role.

413 The League of Gentlemen (1960 / Basil Dearden)

Terrific British comedy crime film, concerning a group of ex soldiers teaming up for a bank robbery. Effortless stuff by a cast headed by Jack Hawkins and Richard Attenborough, peerless entertainment for a wet afternoon!

412 The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950 / Frank Launder)

Made four years before the more celebrated Belles of St Trinians, this is another British school set comedy. In wartime, an all girls school is billeted with an all boys school with the expected frenetic and funny results. Sharing both the director and much of the cast (including Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, Richard Wattis) of the debut St Trinians film, it also benefits from having the wonderful Margaret Rutherford in a leading role.

411 One Day in September (1999 / Kevin MacDonald)

A fascinating documentary about the hostage crisis at the Munich Olympics that really captures the horror of the proceedings and highlights some catastrophic errors made by the German police and security services. Moving and eye opening, would make a great double bill with the underrated Spielberg directed Munich.

410 The King of Comedy (1982 / Martin Scorsese)

No surprise that this is the only Jerry Lewis film on this list! Lewis plays a talk show host who is stalked by a wannabe comedian who idolises him. Robert De Niro plays the stalker, Rupert Pupkin, in one of his best and most disturbing performances. Scorsese still has a stellar reputation but he doesn’t make films of this quality anymore.

409 Local Hero (1983 / Bill Forsyth)

Forsyth announced himself as a fresh directing talent in the 80s with That Sinking Feeling, Comfort and Joy, Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero. After an unhappy spell in Hollywood his career petered out, but his small legacy of films remain. Local Hero features Burt Lancaster as an American oilman sent to a small Scottish village to arrange to buy it completely to allow a refinery to be built. Warm, touching and funny, you would need a heart of stone not to be affected by this film.

408 The Sea Hawk (1940 / Michael Curtiz)

Errol Flynn was the big action star of the 30s and early 40s, appearing in a string of successful all action movies. Swashbuckling tales of pirates on the high seas were particularly popular at the time and this is one of the best examples of that genre. Flynn plays a pirate, attacking Spanish ships at the behest of Queen Elizabeth I until he meets and falls in love with a Spanish princess.

407 The Hudsucker Proxy (1994 / Joel Coen)

This film isn’t held in as high esteem as many of the other Coen brothers films, but it is a favourite of mine because of the fast paced dialogue reminiscent of a screwball comedy of the 30s or 40s and a brilliant performance by the underrated Jennifer Jason Leigh as a reporter investigating dubious practices in Hudsucker Industries. The whole cast, including Tim Robbins, Paul Newman, Charles Durning and John Mahoney are outstanding.

406 Quo Vadis (1951 / Mervyn Le Roy)

I think my parents knew I had been bitten by the film bug when they found me, aged 10 or 11, tucked away in a spare room on my own watching Quo Vadis whilst Christmas festivities were going on in the rest of the house! One of the best of the Roman / Biblical epics produced in the 50s and 60s, featuring all the visual spectacle you would expect but also a better than average script and a fabulous performance by Peter Ustinov as Nero.

405 Chariots of Fire (1981 / Hugh Hudson)

Sports movies are too often clichéd and formulaic. Despite taking a number of liberties with the true story it is telling, Chariots of Fire largely avoids those pitfalls when telling the story of 2 British athletes with different religious backgrounds competing at the 1924 Olympics. Stirring stuff with Ian Holm giving a particularly memorable performance as coach Sam Mussabini. Legend has it that Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Fry are extras in the crowd scenes but you will need a more eagle eye than mine to spot them!

404 The Last Resort (2000 / Pawel Pawlikowski)

A heartfelt and compassionate film about Russian asylum seekers in the UK. The central relationship between Tanya, staying in a detention camp and Alfie who works in a shop there is sensitively portrayed, especially by the impeccable Paddy Considine.

403 Sleeping Car to Trieste (1948 / John Paddy Carstairs)

There aren’t a lot of remakes on this list, and especially not remakes of films that also appear but this is an exception. Moving the setting from the Rome Express to the more glamorous Orient Express, the story of spies hunting a lost and crucial diary on the train rattles along a good pace thanks to Carstairs who was better known for directing comedies, particularly Norman Wisdom vehicles.
Sleeping Car To Trieste [DVD]

402 Memento (2000 / Christopher Nolan)

Nolan’s breakthrough film when described as a man searching for his wife’s murderer sounds straightforward. However, when factoring in the man’s inability to build any new memories since her death, and the fact that most of the film is presented in reversed chronology, it is anything but straightforward. It is a testament to Nolan that the story remains coherent and gripping, and, along with Inception, shows that he is so much more than the Batman director.

401 What’s Up Doc? (1972 / Peter Bogdanovich)

For pure laughs, this film is hard to beat. A farcical plot involving mixed up identical suitcases culminates in a fantastic chase sequence through San Francisco and a riotous courtroom scene. Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal are the stars but Madeline Kahn and Austin Pendleton steal the movie in key supporting roles.