Holmfirth Hollywood

Brilliant writing for a documentary on early film, coupled with clever staging, judicious use of rare early film clips, appropriate music, and a flair for comedy that's almost Monty Pythonian in style, Holmfirth Hollywood is truly funny and enjoyable on multiple levels: whether your interest is simply seeing some of the first films Britain produced or whether you are approaching the documentary from solely an educational viewpoint you will be pleased with the end result in any case.

I have a friend in Britain who sent me this show on PAL DVD-R and I enjoyed it thoroughly on my region free player. I wish these shows on BBC4 could be shown on BBC America here in the States. This one, and other excellent documentaries produced by the same channel like Silent Britain, Edwardians in Color, or Friese-Greene, are outstanding - fun times combined with education! What a concept! Just one afterthought though: one of the jokes in the script is about "if Hitchcock had had a son and put him before the camera". Someone should have done a little checking because although Hitch didn't have a son he DID have a daughter, and he certainly did put HER before the camera (Strangers On A Train, for one).

Refreshing to see quality drama doc's made with real wit and charm and probably on a low budget. BBC 4 is proving to be a consistently excellent choice of viewing amongst this digital mishmash of channels offering little substance and no quality.The production values in all aspects of Camera (visually it was delight, the 'obvious' blue screen type effects creating a lovely jovial atmosphere and one that was absorbing and the re-con style drama was executed with great effect and style) Edititng (masterfully played the narrative and was obviously enjoyed by the editor-editors) and Direction (selflessly avoided over dramatic style that I was expecting from TV telling a story of a 'film' pioneer. Seamless) were superb. Thoroughly enjoyable and more of what the BBC should be making with the licence fee.