Underground (Asquith, 1928): BFI Southbank, NFT3, 6.40pm
This film is on an extended run at BFI Southbank. Details here.
Time Out review:
'In celebration of the tube’s 150th
anniversary comes this painstakingly restored print of a classic British
silent movie, which unfolds in and around the London Underground of
1928. Eyes meet across a Northern Line carriage and soon Bert (Cyril McLaglen) is pursuing the alluring Nell (Elissa Landi), though she’s already involved with dashing ticket inspector Bill (Brian Aherne).
Tensions between the two men soon escalate into violent confrontation,
which threatens the safety of the network when the action switches to
Bert’s workplace – the LU’s Lots Road Power Station.
Extensive
filming in and around Waterloo tube station provides cherished vintage
period detail of uplighters on the escalators, smoking on the trains and
pre-Harry Beck route maps. But the film’s much more than a mere time
capsule. True, the plot is somewhat coincidence-prone but it’s delivered
with muscular performances and an array of thrillingly mobile
camerawork from the oft-undervalued Asquith – its sweep from lyricism to
high tension is matched by Neil Brand’s cracking new orchestral score.
An utterly splendid achievement all round.'
Trevor Johnston
Here is an extract.
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