Classic Films - Reviews and Reflections with Stuart Fernie
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in films and books that I have found particularly engaging, thought-provoking and inspiring.You may be interested in my YouTube channel (Fernie150) and my blog (stuartfernie.blogspot.com).Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/togetherLicense code: KVEVPPSTHACBJLGO
Episodes
121 episodes
Episode 121: Brief reflections on Sidney Pollack’s “Three Days of the Condor”
Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in Pollack’s “Three Days of the Condor”, Starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson and Max von Sydow
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Season 1
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Episode 121
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5:31
Episode 120: Brief reflections on themes and characters in “Spotlight”
Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liv Schreiber, Stanley Tucci et al.
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Season 1
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Episode 120
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5:00
Episode 119: Brief reflections on “Good Night and Good Luck”
Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in George Clooney’s “Good Night and Good Luck”, starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella et al.
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Season 1
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Episode 119
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2:31
Episode 118: Reflections on the 2024 French film version of “The Count of Monte Cristo”
Discussion of characters and themes in the 2024 French film version of “The Count of Monte Cristo”, focusing on elements to do with the Enlightenment Movement and Existentialism.
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Season 1
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Episode 118
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8:14
Episode 117: Advice and questions to help in the analysis or discussion of films, and in producing an essay.
Episode aimed at young students or beginners with advice and suggestions for writing essays on films.A text version is available at stuartfernie.blogspot.com and a video is available at https://yout...
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Season 1
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Episode 117
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5:26
Episode 116: Reflections on characters and themes in “Midnight Express”
Discussion of characters and especially themes raised in Alan Parker’s “Midnight Express”, written by Oliver Stone.
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Season 1
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Episode 116
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5:47
Episode 115: Reflections on the Jason Bourne films and the nature of the conflict between Jason Bourne and the C.I.A.
Discussion and analysis of the nature of the antagonism between the C.I.A. and Jason Bourne, instigated by the consequences of Bourne’s amnesia.
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Season 1
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Episode 115
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5:34
Episode 114: Advocating arts and humanities
A defence and justification of arts and humanities in face of dismissive and condescending attitudes and outlooks.
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Season 1
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Episode 114
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4:55
Episode 113: Reflections on Michael Cimino’s “Heaven’s Gate”.
Discussion and analysis of characters, themes, strengths and weaknesses in “Heaven’s Gate”, written and directed by Michael Cimino and starring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt and Isabelle Huppert.
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Season 1
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Episode 113
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9:37
Episode 112: Reflections on characters and themes in “Civil War”
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Alex Garland’s “Civil War”.
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Season 1
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Episode 112
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6:27
Episode 111 : Reflections on “The Ghost and Mrs Muir” (1947)
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Joseph L Mankiewicz’s adaptation of “The Ghost and Mrs Muir” starring Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison and George Sanders.
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Season 1
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Episode 111
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6:35
Episode 110: Reflections on characters and themes in “Ad Astra”.
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in James Gray’s “Ad Astra” starring Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones.
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Season 1
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Episode 110
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11:19
Episode 109: Reflections on duality in 19th century literature, its philosophical forebears and its successors.
Discussion of the nature and implications of duality in examples of 19th century literature, how it was influenced by the Enlightenment Movement, and how it evolved into Existentialism and beyond.
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Season 1
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Episode 109
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13:16
Episode 108: Discussion of the use of humour in drama.
Discussion of the use of humour in drama with reference to Molière, Groundhog Day, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and some modern action/adventure franchises.
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Season 1
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Episode 108
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5:36
Reflections on characters and themes in “Living” (2022), starring Bill Nighy
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Living”, a remake of Akiro Kurosawa’s “Ikiru”, directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood and Alex Sharp
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Season 1
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Episode 107
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6:51
Reflections on characters and themes in “Oui, mais…” (Yes, but…) (2001) directed by Yves Lavandier.
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Oui, mais…” or “Yes, but…”, a French film directed by Yves Lavandier and starring Émilie Dequenne and Gérard Jugnot.This film could be used as part of a French course with senior pupil...
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Season 1
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Episode 106
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6:52
Brief reflections on characters and themes in John Boorman’s “Hell in the Pacific” (1968).
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Hell in the Pacific”, starring Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune, focusing on the need for collaboration between opposing sides in the face of common challenges.
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Season 1
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Episode 105
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4:40
Reflections on characters and themes in John Boorman’s “Point Blank”, focusing on the nature of the main character, Walker.
Discussion and analysis of the main character and themes in “Point Blank” (1967) starring Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson and Keenan Wynn.
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Season 1
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Episode 104
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9:21
Brief reflections on characters and themes in “Vera Cruz”, directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster.
Thoughts on elements of film noir and existentialism in “Vera Cruz” which predated and influenced later films that explored similar themes.
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Season 1
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Episode 103
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4:47
Brief reflections on “Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and thoughts on other modern action/adventure films.
Discussion of qualities and issues in “Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, and issues concerning character development, plot integrity and audience engagement in many modern adventure films.
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Season 1
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Episode 102
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5:21
My interpretation of the phrase “Il faut cultiver notre jardin”.
Discussion of the meaning of “Il faut cultiver notre jardin” in the context of the end of “Candide”, where the phrase appears, as opposed to interpretations of the stand-alone phrase.
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Season 1
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Episode 101
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3:57
Episode 100: Reflections on characters and themes in Gabriel Axel’s “Babette’s Feast” based on the short story by Karen Blixen.
Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Gabriel Axel’s “Babette’s Feast” starring Stéphane Audran, Brigitte Federspiel and Bodil Kjer.
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Season 1
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Episode 100
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7:06
Episode 99: Brief reflections on the principal characters and broad themes in Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car”.
General discussion and analysis of the main characters and principal themes in “Drive My Car”.
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Season 1
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Episode 99
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6:11