Open University and Bbc Four Celebrate British Cinema

Media Relations Office Direct Lines 01908 653343/ 653256 The Open University 01908 653248/652580 Walton Hall Fax 01908 652247 Milton Keynes [email protected] MK7 6AA News site: www.open.ac.uk/media/

news release

For the attention of: Television editors PR4651

24 October 2002

OPEN UNIVERSITY AND BBC FOUR CELEBRATE BRITISH CINEMA

Film enthusiasts are to be offered a rare insight into the making and impact of two of the most influential films in British cinema history in a new BBC/Open University series on BBC Four.

Cast and Crew celebrates the autumn re-release of ‘60s classics Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by bringing together original cast and crew members – those responsible for making and starring in the films.

Presented by film enthusiast Kirsty Wark, the programmes offers some unique insights; from writer, Alan Sillitoe, cameramen, and members of the film’s cast, who will share their personal memories and insights into the making of the films. The two films were part of an extraordinary revolution in British filmmaking in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Each film has, at its core, a group of people who pioneered the change from conventional cinema to the ‘British New Wave’. Novelist, children’s author, playwright and social critic Alan Sillitoe wrote both films. He was one of the pioneers to first introduce realistic working-class heroes to British film. His first novel and first film to be adapted to screen was Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, which features a reckless young man, working as a lathe operator in an industrial town. He lives for his weekends of boozing, schmoozing and bedding his co-worker’s wife. When she gets pregnant and he is beaten to a pulp for it, he wakes up to face reality, but only slightly. He marries a local girl – but will it be the quiet domestic life he expects?

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner tells the story of working class life in the inner- city, which is characteristic of Sillitoe’s work. A delinquent young man is sent to reform school after becoming embroiled in petty crime. He is singled out to represent that school in a long distance race against an upper-class boy’s institution.

Loneliness is arguably closer to the European avant garde tradition than Saturday Night, and pioneered many techniques that would be picked up in later films, including innovative use of sound mixing and semi-documentary camera techniques.

The films are also studied in Open University undergraduate and masters courses.

Dr Tony Aldgate, Reader in Film and History at the Open University and academic consultant on Cast and Crew said:

“The British New Wave was the forerunner of everything we appreciate as the best of social realism in British cinema and Saturday Night and Loneliness are excellent examples of this. This genre will figure prominently in the Open University’s new film and television history course in 2003.“

EDITOR'S NOTES Cast and Crew will be shown on BBC FOUR at 9.10 p.m. starting with Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner on 30th November and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning will be shown on December 8th. A booklet written by Dr Tony Aldgate giving further information on the series is free to viewers by calling 0870 900 0311 or by logging onto the series website at www.Open2.net. Information about preview tapes and photographs from the series is available from the Open University Media Relations office.

These titles are currently touring the UK courtesy of the British Film Institute. Please check the website at www.bfi.org.uk/releases for further information.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Eulina Clairmont Open University Media Relations 01908 653248

Kate Morley Publicity BBC Arts Programmes 020 8752 7514

Dr Tony Aldgate Open University Faculty of Arts Work 01908 653552 Home 01865 553645 [email protected]