Bernstein - 1950s American Decca Recordings

A 1950s classic

Advantages: Life as it was in the 1950s
Disadvantages: None at all.

The author and life in the 1950s The late John Braine was born in 1922 in Bingley, West Yorkshire and in total he wrote twelve books, all fiction. John's most popular novel was `Room At The Top`, written in 1957 and eventually two years later the story was made into a film. It is obvious that John had a great rapport with the North of England and his understanding of the Northern way of life during the 1950s is strikingly `real` as you start to head into the story. Lets not forget for one moment just how different life was during the 1950s, the men were seen as the head of the household, men drank beer in smoky public houses, smoking was perfectly acceptable and even considered as chic and sophisticated. Money was tight for most families and many working families lived in sub standard housing that would be seen as only fit ...

Sarahjh1 26.08.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Room at the Top - John Braine

A 1950s Xperiment

Advantages: a good history lesson in cinema
Disadvantages: a bit dated

... Richard Wordsworth puts on a good performance as Victor Carroon, the changed astronaut. Although he doesn't say much, as he's only human for a small part of the film, you can see the anguish in his face as he copes with the changes going through him. Brian Donlevy is Quatermass, the abrupt american, who seems to deal with the crisis strongly and calmly - although the director of the original tv series thought he murdered the part. Everyone else puts on a good performance, in the "fast-talkin,high-trousers" 1950s style. You could say this an exciting film, and it certainly would have been very intense in a cinema so long ago, but compared to today's explosion-fests, it appears quite tame. That is not to belittle the film though, as it is a very enjoyable watch. The director uses various tools to create a tense atmosphere, such as a good ...

Pyrokeet 28.08.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Quatermass Experiment (DVD)

Bryson, the 1950's superhero

Advantages: Enlightening, highly amusing
Disadvantages: slightly strange in bits

of the finest things about him. As well as sidesplitting humour, there is also a very intelligent side to him as his various works on language and science prove. His most recent book, entitled, 'the life and times of the thunderbolt kid', is one of his most honest yet. It tells the story of his childhood in Des Moines, as well as his take on the surreal place that America was in the 1950's. The inside cover of the book has a full two page photograph from the Hagley Museum and gallery in Delaware, showing a typical American family with all the food that they consume in a year. This makes for a very interesting introduction to the times that are described within. Next comes a photo of Bill with his parents when he was a young boy. So what was it like to be Bill Bryson, growing up in the early days of the nuclear age, when convenience was new ...

freeridemtber 19.06.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson