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October 25, 2008
David Watkin's Holiday (1957)
Writes the BFI's Robin Baker, "Few films have captured the kiss-me-quick pleasures of Blackpool more colourfully, energetically and convincingly than 'Holiday'. Made by British Transport Films, it chronicles a day in the life of this most British of seaside resorts as it's invaded by people hell-bent on getting the most fun possible from their precious holidays. It is certainly no chaste and po-faced trip. Among the candy floss and donkey rides the camera spies canoodling lovers; it lingers over near-naked flesh; captures some very suggestive shellfish-eating and offers images that must be among the most homoerotic in British cinema of the 1950s. Cinematographer David Watkin (who sadly died on 19 February 2008) achieved this level of intimacy by hiding his camera away from prying eyes under a cardboard box on the top of his van, presumably not worrying too much whether or not his subjects ever got round to signing release forms."
Posted by Ray Pride at October 25, 2008 01:03 PM
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