2011-12 programme announced

Posted on 27 July 2011 by

Check out our new programme for the first half of 2011-12, from this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or Tree of Life to British indy comedy Submarine.

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Lewisham’s last cinemas standing

Posted on 27 July 2011 by

Our earlier post about lost cinemas in Lewisham attracted a lot of interest and comments. Here are photographs of existing buildings that all used to be cinemas at some point.

Crofton Park

The Picture Palace, 346-350 Brockley Road: it opened in 1913, was later renamed the Crofton Park Picture Palace, the Crofton Park Cinema and finally the Rivoli Cinema. It had a capacity of 700 and closed in 1957. It has become the renown Rivoli Ballroom and is a  stone’s throw away from our very own venue, the Jack Studio Theatre.

Deptford

   

The Electric Palace, 197-199 Deptford High Street: it opened in 1914 and had a capacity of 418. It closed in 1942, was later converted into a bingo hall and, since 1989, has been a snooker club. It now houses the Shades snooker hall.

The Palace Theatre, 20A Tanners Hill: it opened in 1909 and had a capacity of 450. It closed in 1915. It is now home to a music shop and recording studio.

New Cross

The New Cross Super Kinema, 323 New Cross Road: it opened in 1925, later became the New Cross Kinema, the Kinema and finally the Gaumont. It had a capacity of ca. 2,000. Its auditorium has been demolished but the frontage still exists. The site is now home to The Venue night club.

The Electric Empire, 182 New Cross Road: it opened in 1909 and had a capacity of 310. It closed in 1917. The frontage remains and the site is currently occupied by a solicitors’ firm.

Catford

Central Hall Picture House, 1 Bromley Road: opened in 1913, it was later renamed the Plaza Cinema, the ABC and finally Cannon. It closed in 2001. It had a capacity of 1,046. The building is now used by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.

Forest Hill

The Capitol Cinema, 11-21 London Road: it opened in 1932. It later became the ABC and had a capacity of 1687. The cinema closed in 1973, was turned into a bingo hall and is currently the Capitol Weatherspoon pub.

The Picture Playhouse, 18 Dartmouth Road: it opened in 1910 and was later known as the Empire Picture Theatre. It seated 400 and closed in 1914. The site is currently occupied by a takeaway.

Hither Green

   

The Globe Theatre, Staplehurst Road: currently a Drain Centre store, it opened in 1913 and had a capacity of 700. It was later renamed the Playhouse Cinema. It closed in 1915. “It was for sale within a year and closed a year later. Became a biscuit factory, soda works, and engineering.” (Source: Edith’s Streets)

The Park Cinema, 232 Hither Green Lane: it opened in 1913 and seater 500. It closed in 1957. Recently, our colleagues from the Hither Green Community Hall and Arts Society unsuccesfully tried to purchase the building and restore it to its former glory. Bought by a developer, the site will be turned into a carpet shop.

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18 July: Pleasantville

Posted on 14 June 2011 by

This is what happens when you press the wrong button on the remote control. A brother and sister find themselves trapped inside their television and forced to live as characters in a 1950s television soap opera called Pleasantville. The modern teenagers have all the answers for the 1950s teenagers who haven’t even started to ask the questions.  New-fangled ways clash with old-fashioned values, and they bring colour into the life of a town where everything was black and white. But even modern teenagers don’t know everything. How can they get back to their own life and times? And do they really want to?

The film will be preceded by the screening of the short The Better Half by Zoltan Csirko.

“Brilliant and witty and much of it is curiously moving… this thoughtful, generous movie is a triumph”
The Guardian

“An ingenious fable… gloriously watchable.”
Time Out

Watch the trailer

Gary Ross / USA 1999 / 120 min / Cert: 12

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13 June: The Illusionist

Posted on 16 May 2011 by

The Illusionist is a superbly drawn ‘old style’ – pre CGI animation which perfectly captures the atmosphere of the 1950s milieu. The titular character is from a dying breed of entertainers forced out of the main theatres by more modern performers and left to play in obscure venues. At one such event, he is befriended by a young girl and this beautiful film, by the creator of Belleville Rendez-Vous, charts their relationship. It is at once tragic, graceful, funny and inspiring.

“The Illusionist is a dazzling work of true beauty that begs to be viewed on the big screen.”  The Guardian

Watch the trailer

Sylvain Chomet / France 2010 / 83 min / Cert: PG

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Brockley Max festival 2011: film nights

Posted on 10 May 2011 by

The Brockley Max, our local community festival, will run from 27 May to 4 June for its eleventh year, offering a wide range of cultural events. Two film-related events will take place:

  • Tuesday 31 May at 8pm: screening of Loving Hands, “a film about inspirational South London community leader & long term Brockley resident Dame Sybil Phoenix (above) charting Sybil’s life from her arrival from the Caribbean in the early 60s, to her struggles with the National Front & her constant advocacy on behalf of the Afro-Caribbean community.” Read more
     Venue: Brockley Social Club, 240 Brockley Road SE4 2SU
  • Friday 3 June at 7.30pm: Brockleywood Nights, “a selection of locally made short films, crossing all genres and showcasing the many talents of people who live around the corner from you.”  £4/£3 concs. Read more
     Venue: Lewisham Arthouse, 140 Lewisham Way SE14 6PD
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Lewisham cinema multiplex put on ice

Posted on 10 May 2011 by

The disputed Lewisham Gateway development project, which originally included a cinema multiplex, is facing further delays due to lack of finances and the current economic situation (News Shopper of 4 May). It has been announced that the project will not start before 2013 at the earliest. Joost Van Well, from Lewisham Council’s planning department, told us:

You might be aware that it has been a longstanding ambition of Lewisham Council to have a dedicated cinema in the borough again.  (…) With regards to the Lewisham Gateway scheme, we have ensured that there is sufficient space for a multiplex cinema in this development. However, this subject to operators being interested. At the moment, we are not sure if there will be a multiplex scheme as part of the development.  You will hopefully understand that the Council itself is not planning on opening or running a cinema. However, (…) in principle we will look favourable on any such schemes coming forward.

Meanwhile, our colleagues from Hither Green Hall are campaining to bring back the Park Cinema (pictured above) and for a new cinema to be built on the site of the Ladywell Leisure Centre.

But the good news is that right now we have a very active and larger-than-ever group of community-led cinema clubs throughout South-East London offering a diverse selection of films each month, including your very own Brockley Jack Film Club!

Update: we’ve been informed that the Park Cinema building has now been sold to a retailer (read more). Thanks to Kate of the South London Press for the information.

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16 May: A Prophet

Posted on 18 April 2011 by

Sentenced to six years in jail for attacking police officers, Malik is an illiterate young man who can read people. A young Frenchman of North African descent, he inhabits the border between two different peoples – the living and the dead. In a brutal prison where he has to kill or be killed, he makes the obvious choice and ends up surprising everyone. From the first scenes, it’s apparent why this film won 29 major awards around the world. Tahar Rahim was named Actor of the Year by London Critics only because there was no category for Actor of the Decade.

“Blisteringly ­powerful… a modern classic from the very first frames… Audiard has created a long, involved, relentlessly brutal but gripping and thrilling picture.” ***** The Guardian

Watch the trailer

Jacques Audiard / France 2009 / 155 min / French with subtitles / Cert: 18

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