Kes....

I went to the Afternoon With David Bradley, Kes talk at Hoyland Library today. It was really enjoyable and David was very engaging, full of little facts and anecdotes about the film. He talked for nearly two hours and it was free! If you have any unanswered queries about the film post them and I'll see if he touched on it. While it's still fresh in my mind.

They were really caned and each lad got paid an extra ten shillings for each take.

 

What a great film, havnt watched it for a while as my teenage son "Nicked it", and I'm not going in his room, **** no it stinks! LOL....

 

Did anyone mention the fact that his performance in Kes was one of Daniel Day Lewis's favourite ever performances and a big ingluence in his acting career? Some accolade from one of this generation's greatest actors

 

Treat yourself to the new Criterion release. Ken Loach himself supervised the digitalisation from the original print and apparently looks stunning. It is a two disc pack including extra features and Cathy Come Home. DB also said that the original un-dubbed audio is an optional feature. The original release was dubbed to tone down the Barnsley accent at the insistence of United Artists. The new DVD is region 1 only, so make sure you have a compatible machine.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Criterion...t=UK_CDsDVDs_DVDs_DVDs_GL&hash=item565106ddb9

 

It wasn't mentioned, no. DB might have heard that, but he's not the sort of fella to mention it. He champions the film and other performances, but is quite modest about his own.

 

Just read his wiki page
Where is the hamlet of Stubbs?

 

That was mentioned but he didn't know anything about it. Went on to say he was born in Kingstone, then moved to Athersley South and went to St. Helen's.

 

Are you in the photo on the front page of the Hoyland edition of the Barnsley Chron?

 

Who, me? No, why?

 

There is a photo from the event. Ian McMillian and a few others.

 

Does he still live in Barnsley ? Saw him last year get on the 12 bus near the building that used to be the fleets pub

 

Not me, no. I just went to the Dave Bradley one and the Geoffrey Howse one last week. We did go into Walkers afterwards to get him a Hoyland edition Chronicle as there is a picture of his football team and an article about his PE teacher at the time who hammered in mountaineering spikes into the Old Hall so he could climb up to get the bird. p.13

 

Not sure, think he might be living back here. He lived in London for a long time, Hackney I think.

Some woman hassled him for losing his Barnsley accent. He goes, "I lived in London for 40 years and I'm an actor."

Thing is, he hasn't. He still has an accent, it just speaks clearly to be understood. Same as a lot of us have to in our professional lives, let's face it.

 

Is the new copy of the print coming to the UK anytime soon?
Also, Price of Coal you mentioned a while ago. Was that a good copy of the original film used or a copy off a videotape.

Ta,

 

Dunno mate, it is available here but for some reason it's region 1 only so you need the right player. I have Price of Coal on the DVD Ken Loach at the BBC box set, which is absolutely brilliant value, think I paid £16. The quality is fine as it was made on film and I am assuming this has been digitalised and cleaned up a bit. It is still in the 4:3 tv ratio.

I do know what you mean though, a lot of telly plays were held on early video tape and have an odd quality.

A lot of Ken Loach's stuff is available to rent/view on youtube, through an official Ken Loach/Sixteen films account. The y cost 1.99 and you can access them for 3 days. I watched the Gamekeeper recently which I had never seen and is well worth watching if like me, you love Rockley & Stainborough Park. Top quality digital conversion too.

 

Much obliged Mr Cameron.
I,ll give the you tube a go.

 

Vote for meeeee!!!

 

Apologies, no insult intended. Predictive text running amok there!

 

Could have been worse.... Actually, no it couldn't.

 

What street in Barnsley is it where the shop is where he does his paper round