Classic Films - Reviews and Reflections with Stuart Fernie

Send us Fan Mail A departure from my usual fare – a discussion of the advantages of using film and song in the modern languages classroom, aimed principally at teachers.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Sydney Pollack’s “The Yakuza”, starring Robert Mitchum, Ken Takakura, Keiko Kishi and Brian Keith.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion of reaction to Megalopolis, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis, from an existential perspective, of characters and themes in “The Dirty Dozen” directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes et al. 

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Denis Villeneuve’s “Sicario”, written by Taylor Sheridan and starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in the 2006 French-Canadian musical starring Bruno Pelletier, with reference to Luc Besson's 2025 version of "Dracula". 

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “The Invention of Lying” written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Sam Fuller’s “The Big Red One”, starring Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill and Robert Carradine.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Casablanca”, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “Emperor of the North”, starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and Keith Carradine.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “The Professionals”, starring Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Woody Strode, Jack Palance and Claudia Cardinale.

Send us Fan Mail Brief discussion of the purpose of the various genres of the arts, their effect and how to judge their “success”.

Send us Fan Mail Personal thoughts on the appeal of the Bond films and discussion of how the portrayal of the main character has developed over the years.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in “The Sand Pebbles” (1966), directed by Robert Wise and starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna and Candice Bergen.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Hal Ashby’s “Being There”, starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine and Melvyn Douglas . 

Send us Fan Mail Brief discussion of the relationship between Hermann Goring and psychiatrist Douglas Kelley during the Nuremberg Trials, how authoritarian figures can succeed in a democracy and lessons to be learned concerning the protection of democracy.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Michael Ritchie’s “Prime Cut” starring Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman and Sissy Spacek.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in David Lean’s “Hobson’s Choice” starring Charles Laughton, John Mills and Brenda de Banzie.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Clouzot’s “The Wages of Fear”, with comparison of William Friedkin’s “Sorcerer” (1977) to the original, and mention of the 2024 version of “The Wages of Fear”

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Sidney Lumet’s “The Offence”, starring Sean Connery, Ian Bannen, Vivien Merchant and Trevor Howard.

Send us Fan Mail Discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Danny Boyle’s film starring Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremner. On a personal note, this episode marks 25 years of posting material online.

Send us Fan Mail Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in George Clooney’s “Good Night and Good Luck”, starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella et al.

Send us Fan Mail Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liv Schreiber, Stanley Tucci et al.

Send us Fan Mail Brief discussion and analysis of themes and characters in Pollack’s “Three Days of the Condor”, Starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson and Max von Sydow