The Pleasure Garden (1952 film)
Encyclopedia
The Pleasure Garden is a short film written and directed by James Broughton
in 1953. Among its crew was Peter Price
as sound editor. Cast members included the subsequent director Lindsay Anderson
and (in a bit part) Broughton's partner Kermit Sheets
.
Terraces, The Pleasure Garden is a poetic ode to desire, and winner of the Prix de Fantasie Poetique
at Cannes
in 1954. Made by the American poet James Broughton, the film features Hattie Jacques
and Lindsay Anderson
, with John le Mesurier
as the bureaucrat determined to stamp out any form of free expression. The history of the Crystal Palace also comes alive in The Phoenix Tower, presented as an extra on the BFI DVD release.
on 15 February 2010. The release also includes The Phoenix Tower (UK, 1957, 39 min.), a short documentary charting the construction of the BBC's Crystal Palace Television Tower, plus a fully illustrated booklet with film notes, an original review and a history of the Crystal Palace.
James Broughton
James Broughton was an American poet, and poetic filmmaker. He was part of the San Francisco Renaissance...
in 1953. Among its crew was Peter Price
Peter Price (film editor)
Peter Price was an English film editor-Filmography:*Daybreak *Chance of a Lifetime *The Pleasure Garden -External links:...
as sound editor. Cast members included the subsequent director Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Gordon Anderson was an Indian-born, British feature film, theatre and documentary director, film critic, and leading light of the Free Cinema movement and the British New Wave...
and (in a bit part) Broughton's partner Kermit Sheets
Kermit Sheets
Louis Kermit Sheets was an actor, director, playwright and an artistic partner with poet James Broughton.-World War II:...
.
Synopsis
Filmed among the ruins of the Crystal PalaceThe Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
Terraces, The Pleasure Garden is a poetic ode to desire, and winner of the Prix de Fantasie Poetique
Short Film Palme d'Or
The Short Film Palme d'Or is the highest prize given to a short film at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the same jury of the Cinéfondation....
at Cannes
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
in 1954. Made by the American poet James Broughton, the film features Hattie Jacques
Hattie Jacques
Josephine Edwina Jaques was an English comedy actress, known as Hattie Jacques.Starting her career in the 1940s, Jacques first gained attention through her radio appearances with Tommy Handley on ITMA and later with Tony Hancock on Hancock's Half Hour...
and Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Anderson
Lindsay Gordon Anderson was an Indian-born, British feature film, theatre and documentary director, film critic, and leading light of the Free Cinema movement and the British New Wave...
, with John le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier was a BAFTA Award-winning English actor. He is most famous for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army.-Career:...
as the bureaucrat determined to stamp out any form of free expression. The history of the Crystal Palace also comes alive in The Phoenix Tower, presented as an extra on the BFI DVD release.
DVD release
The Pleasure Garden was released on DVD in the UK by the BFIBritish 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...
on 15 February 2010. The release also includes The Phoenix Tower (UK, 1957, 39 min.), a short documentary charting the construction of the BBC's Crystal Palace Television Tower, plus a fully illustrated booklet with film notes, an original review and a history of the Crystal Palace.