Location Visit: Ye Olde Mitre Pub, as Featured in The Deep Blue Sea
The Beautiful Ye Olde Mitre pub is one of London's most hidden pubs, and dates from 1546, with extensive remodelling in the 1930's. Fans of Tom Hiddleston will recognise it…
High-Rise in Newcastle and an Evening With Clint Mansell
One of the wonderful things about my travels to see the film High-Rise is that it has given me the magnificent opportunity to visit many of the wonderful independent cinemas of Midgard. On Asgard our choice is limited, and large soulless chain cinemas fill their screens with the latest blockbusters, selling over priced popped corn and questionable meat products.
On my travels I have had the pleasure of visiting the home of film premières: the Leicester Square Odeon, enjoyed the huge screen (and the cakes) at the wonderful Central Picturehouse, had my first taste of visiting the BFI, witnessed the majesty of the Barbican, and saw the beauty of the Phoenix Cinema.
I was familiar with the Tyneside cinema, but had never had reason to visit before, so my heart sang with joy when I saw the beautiful 1930’s interior, and deep red curtains. This was likely to be my final visit to the High-Rise in a cinema, and I was delighted to end my journey in such a beautiful venue.
This was my eighth visit to see High-Rise, and even after so many viewings I was still excited as the opening titles appeared upon the screen.
I paid special attention to the music this time, knowing that just a few short hours later I would be seeing it performed live at the beautiful Gateshead Sage.
I have long been a fan of Clint Mansell’s film scores, ever since I saw Requiem For A Dream in my chambers on Asgard, but I had never seen him live until this night!
Mr Mansell and his band performed tracks from many of his film scores, and I am unashamed to admit that I cried like a baby abandoned in a temple on Jotunheim when he performed his wonderful score from Moon.
Location Visit: Laing’s School of Physiology, AKA the Ashby Building at Queen’s University
The Ashby Building at Queen’s University provided the filming location for Laing’s School of Physiology in the film High-Rise. The drive to the physiology department of the medical school took…
Brutalist Architecture and the Inspiration Behind High-Rise
Balfron Tower
Balfron Tower was designed by Ernő Goldfinger in 1963 for the London County Council, has long been cited as the inspiration behind J.G Ballard’s book High-Rise.
Much like in the novel, the architect lived in the Balfron tower, frequently throwing champagne parties for the residents, before moving out some short months later.
Image from the High-Rise pamphlet
(Click the image to view full size)
The Balfron was the source of several sounds used in the film High-Rise, including the lift door sounds and the rubbish chute. (Source: High-Rise Sound Designer Martin Pavey)
Early residents of the Balfron spoke favourably of their new lives there, despite the fact that the lifts often broke down, the heating didn’t work, there were no doorbells and the windows were draughty.
Later reports would show that anti-social behaviour, vandalism, leaking pipes and rodent infestation became common.
Source: balfrontower.org
Many consider Balfron Tower the direct inspiration behind High-Rise due to the book’s description of its location near the Thames.
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I Make a Triumphant Return to Cragside
I last visited the beautiful Cragside in Journey Into Mystery #640
The Angel of the North is my Latest Recruit
I visited the Angel of the North on a bright June day. He shared with me his hopes and dreams for the future, and agreed to help me destroy the Avengers,…