Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms 1950s films

I wonder whether anyone watches 1950s / early 1960s films on the 'Talking Pictures' channel? This specialises in British B and W films and newsreels of the period and is a must for anyone interested in the cars and road conditions of the time even if the films may be regarded as suboptimal.
Earlier this week 'Circle of Danger' (1951) was aired featuring Ray Milland and Patricia Roc but the star was the late 1920 Mercedes (two seater SS I think) seen driving around London and Scotland towards the end of the film. Would have been high on a trad owners wish-list I think.

I'd not come across this before Rob, thanks for the heads-up. I do love a 1950's movie.

Sky 328 for those of you on satellite.

Virgin 445; Freeview /Youview 81; Sky 328; Freesat 306

When I get the TV to myself I watch practically nothing else now. Last Saturday afternoon was brilliant, Devil Girl From Mars followed by The Magnet.

They are a very small outfit run by a father and daughter but they have just become Britain's biggest independent television channel, deservedly so.

By the way, as well as old British films they also hold a lot of the back catalogue of the long defunct Southern Television, which includes Dick Barton - Special Agent.

talkingpicturestv.co.uk

It gets use here as well. Our little SkyQ thingy has a fair few stored for the boring bits when all channels are transmitting Br***t unicorn droppings.

Thanks for the post. There are so many channels to look at, I have never ventured all the way down to 81 on FreeSat, I must give it a look.

I love B&W Films 50/60s streets of London, not just the cars but the Buses and Lorries, as at 10years of age helping my Dad in the Garage these were the vehicles we worked on.


Strange but true, all my memories of been a kid up to about 11years of age are in black and white, all the cars we owned up to 1965 were Black until he ventured into a Vanden Plas 3.0l which was two tone Cream/Brown.

Really glad to know I am not alone in liking this channel as both my wife and I tend to turn to this more than any other now. What is great about it is the unexpected gems of newsreels and filmed 'glimpses' of life that don't feature in the printed TV schedules in the papers or TV mags.
Ian mentions the old television serials and these change intermittently. Earlier on in the year a series of the Invisible Man was aired complete with much footage of him driving his Austin Healey 3000 - mainly on empty arterial roads.
Also really liked 'The Magnet' Ian. Charming film with great location footage of Merseyside showing its broader diversity.

Silly old sod, that Freeview not Freesat. No wonder I couldn't find it, I will give it another go.

Yes, Invisible Man was good, featuring a very young Deborah Watling. Also worth watching was Scotland Yard, 30 minutes "shorts" introduced by Edgar Lustgarten, originally made for the cinema. Lots of street scenes in that and plenty of Wolesely police cars!

Recently they have been broadcasting Colonel March of Scotland Yard, with Boris Karloff as Colonel March, the eye-patch wearing head of Scotland Yard's "Department of Queer Complaints" (yes really). One of the very first ITV series, made in 1955. Unfortunately, it is mostly studio-bound so you don't often get to see vehicles ... or indeed any outdoor scenes. And some of the plotlines are a bit shaky!

However, later this month TPTV starts a repeat run of Gideon's Way with John Gregson, which is a treasure trove of early 60's street scenes and pretty decent storylines.

~ian

Has anybody else noticed that "period" films made recently all seem to feature spotless period cars. Totally unrealistic, clearly supplied by fastidious owners. Shame we don't see many oily rag jobs