 sj |
||
|
||
Morris: A Life With Bells On (film)
|
|
|
Subject: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Dick The Box Date: 18 Jan 09 - 03:21 PM Following the recent discussions about the imminent demise of Morris, the release of this film is timely! It seems to be genuine but then again it might be just a sophisticated hoax? Anyone got any more info?
|
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Kampervan Date: 18 Jan 09 - 03:32 PM Dick Thanks for posting the blue clicky. I tried to do the same in my posting earliet today on the 'Morris joins the Dodo' thread. Moderators feel to coalesce the threads. K/van |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: bubblyrat Date: 18 Jan 09 - 03:56 PM Wow !! I thoroughly enjoyed that ! Factual,no-holds-barred documentary making at its very best.Stunning realism,and a pleasingly down-to-earth approach to the sometimes seemingly insuperable problems attendant upon an understanding of what really drives men to participate in this ridiculous and depraved activity.I thought the item at the end,about shagging a pig,was most poignant.Whoever made this ground-breaking film-----I salute you!! |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Jan 09 - 02:31 AM Dick - when you create a blue clicky you need to add the http:// bit in front of the new URL, otherwise the blickifier adds your URL to Mudcat's URL cos it thinks it's a page on it's own site (or something like that!) I'm looking froward to seeing the movie - I spent time with my local Morris side at a festival this weekend (as I always do!) & managed to get a pic of them down on their knees in the dance they hadn't done for a while until they got an infusion of young (teenage) dancers! Someone here recently told me the name of this dance, but naturally I forgot. As the Squire said when introducing it to the watching hordes, it's the only dance they do that can hurt then, unlike those violent looking stick dances. sandra (creator of more than one Mudcat/other hybrid!) |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: The Borchester Echo Date: 19 Jan 09 - 03:45 AM Piece in the Daily Mail (of all places. Laurel Swift (of Morris Offspring) was the dance tutor for the film. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: GUEST,selby Date: 19 Jan 09 - 03:47 AM read the article in the mail apparently the actors involved want to go back to wimbourne festival and dance again they enjoyed it that much well done to everyone who helped them |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: romany man Date: 19 Jan 09 - 03:53 AM loved it, wether a just for laughs or a serious attempt at bringing morris to the fore film, more of it is needed, great bit of film. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: pavane Date: 19 Jan 09 - 04:44 AM I still think the best place to revive the Morris is at fitness classes. It is equivalent to high-impact aerobics, and more fun. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: George Papavgeris Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:52 AM From the film trailer it looks like a very healthy perspective, showing the passion of those involved in Morris, the extreme lengths that "purists" will sometimes go to versus the youngsters' wish to innovate, and the position that Morris enjoys (if that is the word) in the national conscience (the butt of jokes and yet... "Morris is English", shouts Derek Jacobi when he sees a Californian dance troupe taking Morris to the stage). I can't wait to see the film! As the hero says: "I breathe it, I live for it, I'd even die for it. In fact I know many that died doing it...!" |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: the lemonade lady Date: 19 Jan 09 - 09:22 AM you need the http:// to make it work |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: GUEST Date: 19 Jan 09 - 10:56 AM It's not a hoax but only seems to be on release in Wessex |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: mouldy Date: 19 Jan 09 - 11:42 AM It took a while but I got to watch the trailer - looks wonderful fun! It looks like it will be an affectionately humorous look at morris: and the traditionalists! Would it be appropriate here, given Derek Jacobi's character's remark, to mention that I actually first did Morris in South Africa...? I wonder if it will be available on DVD anywhere? Andrea |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Dick The Box Date: 19 Jan 09 - 11:53 AM Thanks for the advice about making the blue clicky work. Unless you live near Dorset I suspect that you stand more chance of getting the film on DVD than seeing it in a cinema! |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: boosh Date: 19 Jan 09 - 12:13 PM WOW! that has made my day! xx |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: mouldy Date: 19 Jan 09 - 12:20 PM Sandra - I bet that dance was Flowers of Edinburgh! Andrea |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Ruth Archer Date: 19 Jan 09 - 01:08 PM I would like to get a screening for Sidmouth this year - fingers crossed. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: GUEST,cardboard cutout. Date: 19 Jan 09 - 03:57 PM Hear hear, we'd like to ATTEND a screening at Sidmouth this year!! Figers crossed indeed. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 19 Jan 09 - 04:53 PM It's great! But...I is EVER SO worried at all these people wot is reading 'The Daily Mail' in here...LOL Oh, you have to see the funny side, The Daily Mail saves the day and makes Morris Dancing POPULAR! ;0) |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: SylviaN Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:05 PM I will confess that Keith and I bought the Mail on Sunday yesterday, the day the article appeared. Keith is a big fan of John Lennon, and there was a free CD of his - in the end it turned out to be a happy coincidence. If you haven't read the article yet (See Diane's message above with the blue clicky thing), it's well worth a read. Also, go to the film's website and sign up for the newsletter - the more of us that do that, the better the chance we have of seeing it. Next question - is there an Oscar for dance tutors? Laurel, if there were, I'd vote for you. Cheers Sylvia |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:20 PM Oh my heavens! It get worse...a Daily Mail Buying Session Confession! Sylvia...NOOOOOO! They'll be down on you like a ton of bricks! LOL (Tell them it was your neighbour's paper and you just happened to see it on the table, they may *just* accept that.) ;0) |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: SylviaN Date: 19 Jan 09 - 08:14 PM At my trial I'll use being tempted by John Lennon as my defense! |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: romany man Date: 20 Jan 09 - 06:36 AM now actually giving hard earned cash to buy the daily mail is going toooooooo far. anyone gets a copy of the dvd let me know where i can get one, its got to be sceened at sidmouth, jus gotta be, |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 20 Jan 09 - 06:42 AM "At my trial I'll use being tempted by John Lennon as my defense!" Oh dear, they've just passed sentenced of hanging, drawing and quartering, Sylvia. John Lennon 'they' deem as a Singer Songwriter. You've just committed two of the most terrible sins imaginable in the folk world, buying the Daily Mail and...buying it for a Singer Songwriter CD! Ooh, dearie, dearie, dearie... I'm with Romany Man though, I think screening a John Lennon DVD at Sidmouth would be a brilliant idea! ;0) |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 20 Jan 09 - 07:21 AM This could do for the Morris what "Callendar girls" did for the WI. What did it do for the WI by the way? |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 20 Jan 09 - 07:26 AM Was it that it increased the sales of the W.I. iced top sticky buns, because men realised where they put them to cool, and what the little cherry on top was modelled from? :0) |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Ruth Archer Date: 20 Jan 09 - 07:35 AM I've been having a chat with the film's director this morning. We're hoping we can do a screening, and with any luck some sort of pre-show event (like a Q&A) at Sidmouth. But in the first instance, they need a bit of grass-roots support, trying to help the film to get major distribution. It can only become the morris answer to Calendar Girls if people get to see it! Apparently the distributors thought the film's subject was "too niche" for major distribution, but I'm sure the combined weight of the morris and folk fraternities may disabuse them of this notion... Ring your local cinema and tell them you'd like to see the film. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: VirginiaTam Date: 20 Jan 09 - 07:57 AM What did the girls in Callendar do for the WI? No really! I think this is brilliant. Please post here again if anyony finds out, if released on DVD, where it can be had. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 20 Jan 09 - 08:20 AM Of course, these lassies will *definitely* have to be on the Mischieviously Magical Morris Calendar Wahey! The Loose Women's Morris Dance Team It's almost worth moving to Kent, just so you can tell the vicar you're a member of the loose women's institute, isnt' it? ;0) |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: GUEST, topsie Date: 20 Jan 09 - 11:45 AM What HAVE they DONE to the Cerne Abbas Giant? ... and WHY? Are we to believe that this 'proud' fellow, who has stood there for all to see for hundreds of years, would have caught sight of the film crew and suddenly come over all coy? |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Surreysinger Date: 20 Jan 09 - 12:36 PM Good grief!! I'd watched the trailer several times but not noticed that ... but you're quite right topsie!!! |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: VirginiaTam Date: 20 Jan 09 - 02:06 PM I can't see the entire video as it keeps breaking up and then freezing. I am wondering about the Morris Team in California, described in the plot summary. A few years ago at the Rochester Sweeps there was (I think) a self described extreme Morris from California. Black leather studded jackets with the sleeves cut out and black leather basques on the ladies, etc. They looked like the love children of Hells Angels and Morris Dancers. Some had pierced their upper arms and hung bells (big bells) from the wire or monfiliament in the piercings. It was quite gruesome in a cool way or the reverse. Those piercings were breaking open and bleeding as they danced. No wonder when you jump around with freaking sleighbells dangling from your skin. I would say they must have had balls the size of churchbells but some of them were women. Maybe they have been banned from returning to Uk for causing a public health risk. Biohazard Morris. Now that is extreme. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: GUEST, topsie Date: 20 Jan 09 - 02:13 PM If you let the video run to the end, complete with the breaking up and freezing, and then click on 'play again' you should be able to watch it properly. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: LesB Date: 20 Jan 09 - 02:19 PM I don't seem to be getting it. (the film that is) Just very jerky sound & vision, I am on broadband but it must be very slow, although it's alright for my space & other clips. Cheers Les |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: VirginiaTam Date: 20 Jan 09 - 04:07 PM i did twice.... I think the problem is I am in flat on broadband surrounded by 9 other bandwith greedy networks. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 20 Jan 09 - 04:09 PM I had the same problem, Tam. I found that if you keep re-starting it, it plays a little longer each time, and then, after about six goes it plays all the way through. Irritating, but doable, eventually. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 20 Jan 09 - 05:59 PM Another "not quite niche" film was "The Titfield Thunderbolt". This was, of course, one of the Ealing Comedy set and thus seen as a mainstream film, but I believe that it must have been partly responsible for the public's later reaction to Beeching and British Railways's obliteration of steam from the railway system. It was obviously a comedy but was not poking fun at the preservation movement because the film largely pre-dated it. It did make railways seem fun and accesible. Would there be so many preserved railways and steam locos today if this film was not there in the national sub-conscious? The same sort of effect could apply if we can get this film in general circulation. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: katlaughing Date: 20 Jan 09 - 07:02 PM topsie, I was wondering if I was right about a certain appendage missing! Just emailed them asking that it be released in the USA or on DVD. Probably the only way I'll get to see it. What fun it looks, though! |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: GUEST,Derek Schofield Date: 20 Jan 09 - 07:11 PM If you look at the other menu options on the website, one of them has the film preview that plays normally. Derek |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Surreysinger Date: 20 Jan 09 - 07:16 PM And posting the widget also means that you get a proper picture ... I notice that we're all commenting on the jerkiness - wonder if anyone has bothered to email the webmaster to let them know? |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: romany man Date: 21 Jan 09 - 04:29 AM it was probably cold that day, bring on the dvd it must be out there somewhere perhaps thats the way to get it distributed , my local cinima manager told me to piss off you nutter last night when i suggested he showed the film, so i hit im wiv me stick, hee hee |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: VirginiaTam Date: 21 Jan 09 - 07:51 AM maybe if we all go to the site and request DVD release. maybe if we get other mudcatters to do the same.... maybe if we get our families... our friends... collegues... the WORLD!!!! sorry... meglomania elf just nipped me in the ..... |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Folknacious Date: 21 Jan 09 - 09:03 AM Not so much Calendar Girls as Best In Show or A Mighty Wind, I think. And nothing wrong with that at all. A Mighty Caper! Is it possible that all the silly nonsense that the bloke from the Morris Circle (sorry . . . Ring) was spouting recently about no young people being interested in Morris was all part of an elaborate guerilla marketing ploy to warm up the media for this film? No, you're right, absurd idea! Surely might have accidentally helped though. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: GUEST Date: 21 Jan 09 - 12:24 PM I have been interested in this film for a year or two now, back when they were looking for extras. I forgot about it for a bit when I hadn't heard anything more, and was suddenly reminded the other day. I'll be going to one of the Dorset screenings (a little irked that it isn't showing quite where I am, despite some of the filming being done here, but oh well). Mad Alex |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: AlexB Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:28 PM Oops. Guest above was me. Didn't realise I wasn't signed in. |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Herga Kitty Date: 21 Jan 09 - 03:47 PM I see we got a quick flash of Bourne River morris at the beginning...! Kitty |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: doncatterall Date: 21 Jan 09 - 03:58 PM The Cerne Abbas Giant seems to have undergone some advanced surgical procedure - could this result in a stiff left arm? - makes me eyes water just thinking about it!! |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: Surreysinger Date: 21 Jan 09 - 06:10 PM errmmm ... keep up there don ... that was mentioned a little way back in the thread [grin] |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: katlaughing Date: 22 Jan 09 - 07:16 PM I just got this in answer to an email I sent: Thank you for your interest in Morris. We would love to show the film right across the globe and especially in the US (I know there are more Morris teams in the States than in the UK). Film distribution is a weird thing and not down to the film makers. Films get put in cinemas by distribution companies (Icon, Revolver, Lionsgate, etc). When those companies saw Morris, they loved it, but were worried there was no audience for it. We want to show them that there is. So, we need people like you to lobby their local cinemas en masse, or even the distribution companies themselves to show the film. If enough people make a noise to them about Morris, we can roll it out globally and everyone can get to see it. Let's make them realise that people want to see this film. All best wishes Lucy LUCY AKHURST Producer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Let's help them out, folks! |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: SylviaN Date: 22 Jan 09 - 07:36 PM Hope this works. This link should take you to where you can find contact details for UK film distributors. where to find UK film distributors Most of the contact details are their websites. I've looked on Icon's site and can't find an e-mail address. Katlaughing - can Lucy give us any more help on this? Cheers Sylvia |
|
Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 22 Jan 09 - 11:58 PM I Unerstand that Joanie Crump (Ms Archer of this parish and artistic guru of Sidmouth FF) is in negotiation with the Producers to get a screening in Sidmouth at this years festival. (Doesn't help US readers I know, frustrating, isn't it) So, why not heed Ms Akhursts advice. bombard cinemas and distributors alike, with any means availlable.......Rise Up Morris Folk, Rise Up and seize the day!! Anyway I want to see an Oscar at next years award ceremony with Baldricks and Bells on!! It can happen...Look at Slumdog Millionaire? |
| Share Thread: |