This Thursday, 16 July, I’ll be introducing Aleksandr Rou’s wonderful Soviet fantasy film VASILISA THE BEAUTIFUL (1939) at Finsbury Park Picturehouse in London. Further info and tickets here: picturehouses.com/Vasilisa
Vic Pratt
@vicpratt.bsky.social
Films, TV, books, music, comics, arts, Blu rays, DVDs, VHS tapes, 9.5mm, old stuff. 16, 33, 45, 78, 80 RPM records. The Junior 'Sooty' Xylophone. Crumbling paper. Co-author of THE BODIES BENEATH: THE FLIPSIDE OF BRITISH FILM & TELEVISION.
A great evening at the BFI with Deborah Allison discussing her new book, The Films of Aleksandr Rou. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a fascinating conversation about one of Russian cinema's most visionary filmmakers. 🎬📚
In the rather funky environs of the Club Room at Picturehouse Finsbury Park to see @deborahuk.bsky.social introduce Soviet fairy tale Vasilisa the Beautiful. Here lie the origins of so much 80s fantasy cinema! Looking forward to getting Deborah's book.
𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 @vicpratt.bsky.social‘s excellent commentary for the little-seen psychological drama Eclipse (1977), available on the @BFI Blu-ray 🎧
Chuffed to have contributed to the extras for Hammer's 36 HOURS (1953) with the likes of Dr Jo Botting, @barryf48.bsky.social, Heath Holland Maxim Jakubowski, Wayne Kinsey, @annodracula.bsky.social, @vicpratt.bsky.social, Toby Roan, @britfilmmelanie.bsky.social, et al. Out today! hammerfilms.com
In this illustrated presentation, Dr Deborah Allison introduces the work of one of the world’s great masters of fairy-tale cinema. Buy tickets here 👉https://ow.ly/a1cw50YY5sS Dr Deborah Allison
Today’s postal delivery. I wrote about the opening title sequences of Universal horror movies in the 1930s and 1940s for the new issue of The Age of Thrills. #titledesign
Please join me next Monday, 15 June, when I’ll be on the other side of this lovely Storyteller window at the BFI Reuben Library to talk about my latest book: ‘The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema’. More info here: tinyurl.com/43atz6ce @intellectbooks.bsky.social
On this episode, James Campbell is joined by Deborah Allison, author of The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema. They discuss Rou's life, filmmaking style, fairy-tale adaptations and lasting impact on Soviet cinema. Watch 👉https://youtu.be/aysnlid-LNM
The BFI has done great work with the films we used to watch at after school film club in the mid 1970s. Also reminded of that time I went to a CFF reception at parliament with my old man, Labour grandee Gwyneth Dunwoody, Keith Chegwin and Rod Hull and Emu. I have photographic evidence somewhere
Vic Pratt@vicpratt.bsky.social · 2mo agoThere's a lovely review of Children's Film Foundation Bumper Box Volume 6 by the marvellous Bob Fischer @bobfischer.bsky.social in the latest Fortean Times...
There's a lovely review of Children's Film Foundation Bumper Box Volume 6 by the marvellous Bob Fischer @bobfischer.bsky.social in the latest Fortean Times...
'Short, sweet, high on kid-based comedy hi-jinks and straightforward adventure; low on boring grown-ups' ★★★★★ CHILDREN'S FILM FOUNDATION Volume 6 - Life-enhancing vintage entertainment, for children of all ages, now on #BFI DVD - review @grahamrickson.bsky.social www.theartsdesk.com/film/dvd-chi...
Discover the Soviet fantasy cinema of Aleksandr Rou and take a walk on the wild side with ‘Barbara the Fair with the Silken Hair’: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZH6cyBrB4. Read more about it in my new book, ‘The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema’: ow.ly/MbXT50YJNJs
Have you heard the GOON POD podcast? All things Sellers, Milligan,Secombe, et al. I had a fine time chatting to host Tyler Adams about the Sellers-directed MR TOPAZE - a much underated film & one of my favourite BFI Flipside releases. Check it out: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
Mr Topaze (1961)
Podcast Episode · Goon Pod · 6 May · 1hr 15min
podcasts.apple.com
Join me on Monday 15 June at BFI Southbank in London, where I’ll be talking about my book, ‘The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema’, at the wonderful BFI Reuben Library. Tickets available now.
I did some writing! It was fun to revisit ‘Invaders from Mars’ (1953) for the BFI’S upcoming extras-stacked 4K UHD Blu-ray release – out tomorrow.
Fancy the rare chance to watch a classic of Soviet fantasy cinema on the big screen? Join me at Finsbury Park Picturehouse on 16 July when I’ll be introducing director Aleksandr Rou’s rather wonderful VASILISA THE BEAUTIFUL (1939). picturehouses.com/Vasilisa
A record-breaking 35 degrees in London today. How I long for Jack Frost to touch me with his icy wand. Aleksandr Khvylia in MOROZKO (aka Jack Frost; dir. Aleksandr Rou, USSR, 1964).
Ahead of my book talk at the BFI Reuben Library on 15 June, I wrote this piece for the BFI website: Where to begin with Aleksandr Rou. www.bfi.org.uk/features/where-begin-with-aleksandr-rou
MR TOPAZE (1961) pod.link/1569929507 With Vic Pratt of the BFI @vicpratt.bsky.social The only film Peter Sellers directed, and one which rarely gets talked about despite some fine performances by Leo McKern, Michael Gough and Sellers himself, it's a muted study of the cynicism of human nature.
Have you heard the GOON POD podcast? All things Sellers, Milligan,Secombe, et al. I had a fine time chatting to host Tyler Adams about the Sellers-directed MR TOPAZE - a much underated film & one of my favourite BFI Flipside releases. Check it out: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
Mr Topaze (1961)
Podcast Episode · Goon Pod · 6 May · 1hr 15min
podcasts.apple.com
Discover the colourful Soviet fantasy cinema of Aleksandr Rou. Watch ‘Jack Frost’ (Morozko, 1964) with subs: youtube.com/watch?v=BdXygZcZSWY. Then read more about it in my new book, ‘The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema’: intellectbooks.com/the-films-of-aleksandr-rou
Discover the weird and wonderful fantasy cinema of Aleksandr Rou. Watch ‘The Magic Weaver’ (USSR, 1959) with subs: youtube.com/watch?v=EfYy_FPrRjk. Then read more about it in my new book, ‘The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema’: intellectbooks.com/the-films-of-aleksandr-rou
The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema by Deborah Allison is out in paperback now! This book introduces the exhilarating oeuvre of one of the world’s great masters of fairy-tale cinema to Western audiences. Find out more here 👉https://ow.ly/MbXT50YJNJs
Today in 1914 director William Castle was born.
Delighted to have been given the opportunity to contribute to this splendid new 4K UHD release of Saul Bass’s PHASE IV, released by 88 Films this week. It’s a film I like a lot. Review by @nicksetchfield.bsky.social for SFX Magazine.
Love folklore on film? Horror, romance, music and comedy combine in ‘May Night’ (USSR, 1952), based on Gogol’s retelling of Ukrainian folktales. Read more in ‘The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema’, out in paperback April 2026. intellectbooks.com/the-films-of-aleksandr-rou
Discover the fantasy cinema of Aleksandr Rou. Watch ‘The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors’ (1963) with subs: sovietmoviesonline.com/fantasy/korolevstvo-krivyh-zerkal. Then read more about it in ‘The Films of Aleksandr Rou: Father of Soviet Fairy-Tale Cinema’: intellectbooks.com/the-films-of-aleksandr-rou
