O Dreamland *** (1953, dir Lindsay Anderson) – Classic Movie Review 1409

Writer-director Lindsay Anderson’s 13-minute black-and-white documentary short on the Margate, Kent, amusement park of the title is a richly flavoursome, poignant classic. In place of any commentary, the story is told in background noises and music, as well as the images, prompting their own conclusions about manufactured fun.

Then an ambiguous critique of the pleasures of the English at play, it is now a wonderful time-capsule, bringing back a long-lost period of social history. It’s as entertaining as it is revealing, and now a valuable document of the era.

It was made in 1953 by Anderson and his cameraman/assistant John Fletcher, using a single 16mm camera and an audiotape recorder, but not released till 1956 when Anderson included it as part of the first Free Cinema programme.

Anderson is best remembered for his Mick Travis trilogy that star Malcolm McDowell: If…. (1968), a satire on public schools; O Lucky Man! (1973), a Pilgrim’s Progress inspired road movie; and Britannia Hospital (1982).

http://derekwinnert.com/if-classic-film-review-91/

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1409

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com/