Charles Crichton

I am not one of those “movie people” who can expound at length about the genius of Kinji Fukasaku.

But I do note with some surprise that Charles Crichton, who directed The Lavender Hill Mob in 1951 also directed, with John Cleese, A Fish Called Wanda in 1988.

Inexplicably, he also directed several episodes of Space: 1999, arguably the worst science fiction television series ever produced.

But perhaps I write that from the perspective of a disappointed 9 year old (which is how old I was when the series first aired); one website, in discussing the series, says:

In retrospect the series seems to a great extent to reflect the contemporary development of continental philosophy, illustrating in a fascinating manner central ideas and dictums elaborated by Adorno, Arendt, Derrida, Foucault, Kristeva, Lyotard and so on.

Who am I to argue with that?

In any case, if you’ve never seen The Lavender Hill Mob, you should: it’s an excellent picture with a great cast.

While you’re at it, you can’t go wrong with the new three-DVD Audrey Hepburn set; it contains Roman Holiday, Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Hepburn is in The Lavender Hill Mob too, although it’s only for a few seconds, right at the very beginning.

Must go now, before I do begin to sing the praises of Fukasaku.