Monthly Film Bulletin
Encyclopedia
The Monthly Film Bulletin was a periodical of the British Film Institute
published monthly from February 1934 to April 1991. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom
, including those with a narrow arthouse release. The MFB was edited in the mid-1950s by David Robinson
, in the late 1950s and early 1960s by Peter John Dyer, and then by Tom Milne
. By the end of the 1960s, when the character and tone of its reviews changed considerably with the arrival of a new generation of critics influenced by the student culture and intellectual tumult of the time (not least the overthrow of old ideas of "taste" and quality), David Wilson was the editor. It was then edited by Jan Dawson (1938 – 1980), for two years from 1971, and from 1973 until its demise by the New Zealand-born critic Richard Combs.
In 1991 MFB merged with Sight and Sound, which had until then been published quarterly - Sight and Sound then became a monthly publication and took up the Monthly Film Bulletins remit to review all films released in the UK.
The Monthly Film Bulletin was originally published to allow UK cinema managers to decide what films to show, hence the complete cast and production lists, full plot followed by a thorough critique. Only films that had been registered with the UK government trade authority were covered each month. During the years of full supporting programmes, the MFB printed long lists of B-features and short films with brief capsule reviews; by the 1970s, the tone and style of its reviews had changed considerably, and was increasingly influenced in some cases by the auteur theory
and Marxist-infected film theory, though some more traditional critics such as John Gillett remained, and others such as David McGillivray and Paul Taylor took exploitation movies more seriously than had previously been considered acceptable, while Steve Jenkins wrote a lengthy defence in 1981 of Glen or Glenda?
. Another change was that all reviews had a byline - up to September 1968, only the reviews of films considered more significant by the BFI had a partial byline of initials only (so Tom Milne would be "T.M."). From January 1971, all films were listed in alphabetical order, mainly because a new wave of critics who were influencing the magazine had already overturned the assumptions implicit in the separation of films (for example, several by Sergio Leone
and many from the stable of Roger Corman
were only included in the "shorter notices" section). From the July 1982 issue, the MFB changed again to include more feature articles, interviews, and photographs.
The MFBs many contributors included:
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
published monthly from February 1934 to April 1991. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, including those with a narrow arthouse release. The MFB was edited in the mid-1950s by David Robinson
David Robinson (film critic and author)
David Robinson is a British film critic and author. He started writing for Sight and Sound and the Monthly Film Bulletin in the 1950s, becoming Assistant Editor of Sight and Sound and Editor of the Monthly Film Bulletin in 1957-1958...
, in the late 1950s and early 1960s by Peter John Dyer, and then by Tom Milne
Tom Milne
Tom Milne was a British film critic.After war service, he studied English and French at Aberdeen University and later at the Sorbonne...
. By the end of the 1960s, when the character and tone of its reviews changed considerably with the arrival of a new generation of critics influenced by the student culture and intellectual tumult of the time (not least the overthrow of old ideas of "taste" and quality), David Wilson was the editor. It was then edited by Jan Dawson (1938 – 1980), for two years from 1971, and from 1973 until its demise by the New Zealand-born critic Richard Combs.
In 1991 MFB merged with Sight and Sound, which had until then been published quarterly - Sight and Sound then became a monthly publication and took up the Monthly Film Bulletins remit to review all films released in the UK.
The Monthly Film Bulletin was originally published to allow UK cinema managers to decide what films to show, hence the complete cast and production lists, full plot followed by a thorough critique. Only films that had been registered with the UK government trade authority were covered each month. During the years of full supporting programmes, the MFB printed long lists of B-features and short films with brief capsule reviews; by the 1970s, the tone and style of its reviews had changed considerably, and was increasingly influenced in some cases by the auteur theory
Auteur theory
In film criticism, auteur theory holds that a director's film reflects the director's personal creative vision, as if they were the primary "auteur"...
and Marxist-infected film theory, though some more traditional critics such as John Gillett remained, and others such as David McGillivray and Paul Taylor took exploitation movies more seriously than had previously been considered acceptable, while Steve Jenkins wrote a lengthy defence in 1981 of Glen or Glenda?
Glen or Glenda?
Glen or Glenda is a 1953 exploitation film written, directed by, and starring Ed Wood, and featuring Bela Lugosi and Wood's then-girlfriend Dolores Fuller. The title was originally I Changed My Sex! and is often given as Glen or Glenda? but the question mark is not present in the film itself...
. Another change was that all reviews had a byline - up to September 1968, only the reviews of films considered more significant by the BFI had a partial byline of initials only (so Tom Milne would be "T.M."). From January 1971, all films were listed in alphabetical order, mainly because a new wave of critics who were influencing the magazine had already overturned the assumptions implicit in the separation of films (for example, several by Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter most associated with the "Spaghetti Western" genre.Leone's film-making style includes juxtaposing extreme close-up shots with lengthy long shots...
and many from the stable of Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
were only included in the "shorter notices" section). From the July 1982 issue, the MFB changed again to include more feature articles, interviews, and photographs.
The MFBs many contributors included:
- Gilbert AdairGilbert AdairGilbert Adair is a Scottish author, film critic and journalist. He won the Author's Club First Novel Award in 1988 for his novel The Holy Innocents. In 1995 he won the Scott Moncrieff Translation Prize for his book A Void, which is a translation of the French book La Disparition by Georges Perec...
(joined in 1979 and was a regular through the early 1980s) - Martyn AutyMartyn AutyMartyn Auty is a British film and television producer. He attended the University of Hull and graduated in 1972. He began his career as a film critic for Time Out and the Monthly Film Bulletin....
(1978 - at least 1987) - Geoff Brown (1974-91)
- Richard Combs (1969-91; editor from 1973)
- Jan Dawson (1967-80; editor from 1971-73)
- Raymond DurgnatRaymond DurgnatRaymond Durgnat was a distinctive and highly influential British film critic, who was born in London of Swiss parents...
(often at odds with the BFI in earlier years, but contributed regularly in the 1980s) - Peter John Dyer (at least 1956 - 1966; editor in late 1950s and early 1960s)
- John Gillett (at least 1954 to at least 1983 - an unusually long run during a period when the magazine changed beyond recognition)
- Verina Glaessner (1969-91)
- Penelope HoustonPenelope Houston (film critic)Penelope Houston is a British film critic and journal editor. In 1947 she was the first editor of the short-lived film journal Sequence founded by Lindsay Anderson, Karel Reisz and Gavin Lambert. From 1956 to 1990, she edited Sight & Sound, the journal of the British Film Institute, and was a...
(c. 1950 - mid-1970s) - Steve Jenkins (joined in 1980 as associate editor; continued as a contributor for most of that decade)
- Gavin LambertGavin LambertGavin Lambert was a British-born screenwriter, novelist and biographer who lived for part of his life in Hollywood...
(c. 1950- c. 1956/7) - David McGillivrayDavid McGillivray (director)David McGillivray is an actor, producer, playwright, screenwriter and film critic.Originally a critic for Monthly Film Bulletin, McGillivray wrote his first film script, Albert's Follies, for friend Ray Selfe in 1973...
(a regular throughout the 1970s) - Tom MilneTom MilneTom Milne was a British film critic.After war service, he studied English and French at Aberdeen University and later at the Sorbonne...
(1962-91; editor from c. 1963-68) - Kim NewmanKim NewmanKim Newman is an English journalist, film critic, and fiction writer. Recurring interests visible in his work include film history and horror fiction—both of which he attributes to seeing Tod Browning's Dracula at the age of eleven—and alternate fictional versions of history...
(1982-91) - David PirieDavid PirieDavid Pirie is a screenwriter, film producer, film critic, and novelist.As a screenwriter, Pirie has written numerous mysteries and horror-themed works, mostly for television, including recently the hit ITV series Murderland starring Robbie Coltrane . He was nominated for a BAFTA for his...
(1969 - mid-1970s) - Derek Prouse (mainly in 1950s; created the London Film FestivalLondon Film FestivalThe BFI London Film Festival is the UK's largest public film event, screening more than 300 features, documentaries and shorts from almost 50 countries. The festival, , currently in its 54th year, is run every year in the second half of October under the umbrella of the British Film Institute...
in 1957) - Tim Pulleine (1977-91)
- John Pym (1975-91)
- Tony RaynsTony RaynsAntony Rayns is a British writer, commentator, film festival programmer and screenwriter. Much inspired in his youth by the films of Kenneth Anger, he wrote for the underground publication Cinema Rising before contributing to the Monthly Film Bulletin from the December 1970 issue until its demise...
(1970-91) - Eric RhodeEric RhodeEric Rhode is a British writer on traditional cosmology and psychoanalysis.-Life and work:Rhode's writing is unusual in its striving towards the integration of a wide variety of interests and intellectual disciplines...
(mainly in late 1950s and early 1960s) - David RobinsonDavid Robinson (film critic and author)David Robinson is a British film critic and author. He started writing for Sight and Sound and the Monthly Film Bulletin in the 1950s, becoming Assistant Editor of Sight and Sound and Editor of the Monthly Film Bulletin in 1957-1958...
(mainly in 1950s - editor from 1955-6 - but continued sporadically into the 1970s) - Cynthia Rose (early 1980s)
- Richard RoudRichard RoudRichard Roud was an American writer on film and co-founder, with Amos Vogel, and a former program director and latterly director of the New York Film Festival from 1963 to 1987....
(mainly in late 1950s and early 1960s) - Elizabeth Sussex (mid-1960s)
- John Russell TaylorJohn Russell TaylorJohn Russell Taylor is an English critic and author. He is the author of critical studies of British theatre; of critical biographies of such important figures in Anglo-American film as Alfred Hitchcock, Alec Guinness, Orson Welles, Vivien Leigh, and Ingrid Bergman; of Strangers in Paradise: The...
(first contributed in 1959; continued for much of the 1960s and into the 1970s) - Paul Taylor (1978 - at least 1986)
- Robert VasRobert VasRobert Vas — film director He came to England after the Hungarian uprising in 1956. He was committed to documentary and, after a short period working for the National Coal Board, he went on to make a seminal series of films for the BBC...
(mainly in late 1950s and early 1960s) - David Wilson (1965 - at least 1987, though very sporadic in later years; editor from c. 1968-71)
- Robin WoodRobin Wood (critic)Robert Paul "Robin" Wood was a Canada-based film critic and educator. He wrote books on Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, Ingmar Bergman, and Arthur Penn and was a member, until 2007, of the editorial collective that publishes the magazine CineACTION!, a film theory collective founded by Wood and...
(often at odds with the BFI, but briefly contributed c. 1972/3. Notable for giving a positive review to Death LineDeath LineDeath Line is a 1972 British horror film, distributed as Raw Meat in the United States. The film stars Donald Pleasence as Inspector Calhoun, and was directed by the American filmmaker Gary Sherman.-Plot:...
, a film otherwise condemned by almost all critics.)