The Cricklewood Greats
Feb 12, 2012 12:31:42 GMT
Post by Dave on Feb 12, 2012 12:31:42 GMT
I guess this should be in the TV based thread, but I thought it was such a brilliant and clever programme it deserved its own thread so more people who may be interested in it... notice it!
So, The Cricklewood Greats is a fictional documentary about the rise and fall of the British Film Industry, and in particular, The Cricklewood Film Studios.
It's written by Peter Capaldi and Tony Roche, and is presented by Peter Capaldi in a brilliant parody of modern 'personal journey' documentaries.
The 'documentary' charts the 100 year reign of the Cricklewood Studios over the British film industry. From the 1905 film "The Flying Pie", to the film that eventually caused the financial collapse of the studios, "Professor Hypochodria's Magical Odysey" (a film that was never completed, so annoyingly we'll never get to see)! The collapse of Cricklewood is given an extra level of amusement considering the director that is responsible... I won't give it away here, but you can probably guess!
The whole thing is brilliantly observed in terms of both the recreations of the old British films and also the style of the self-important documentary 'journey'.
I'm sure loads of you lot would enjoy giving it a watch, as I imagine most of you have an interest in films!
I have read some reviews that said that they thought the whole programme was played a bit too straight for a comedy... but I disagree, it manages a really nice balance of being believable, while also throwing in some occasional surreal moments along with all the other clever (but subtle) voice-over and presenter commentary.
I haven't been this surprised and delighted by something on TV for ages! But then I am always a sucker for totally invented history in comedy! It always makes me want to document it as if it were real ;D
It's on iPlayer until this Thursday;
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01bs3ww/The_Cricklewood_Greats/
There's a clip here too which shows the straight style in which it plays out: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00nvh4l
So, The Cricklewood Greats is a fictional documentary about the rise and fall of the British Film Industry, and in particular, The Cricklewood Film Studios.
It's written by Peter Capaldi and Tony Roche, and is presented by Peter Capaldi in a brilliant parody of modern 'personal journey' documentaries.
The 'documentary' charts the 100 year reign of the Cricklewood Studios over the British film industry. From the 1905 film "The Flying Pie", to the film that eventually caused the financial collapse of the studios, "Professor Hypochodria's Magical Odysey" (a film that was never completed, so annoyingly we'll never get to see)! The collapse of Cricklewood is given an extra level of amusement considering the director that is responsible... I won't give it away here, but you can probably guess!
The whole thing is brilliantly observed in terms of both the recreations of the old British films and also the style of the self-important documentary 'journey'.
I'm sure loads of you lot would enjoy giving it a watch, as I imagine most of you have an interest in films!
I have read some reviews that said that they thought the whole programme was played a bit too straight for a comedy... but I disagree, it manages a really nice balance of being believable, while also throwing in some occasional surreal moments along with all the other clever (but subtle) voice-over and presenter commentary.
I haven't been this surprised and delighted by something on TV for ages! But then I am always a sucker for totally invented history in comedy! It always makes me want to document it as if it were real ;D
It's on iPlayer until this Thursday;
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01bs3ww/The_Cricklewood_Greats/
There's a clip here too which shows the straight style in which it plays out: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00nvh4l