Chap From Childhood

David Tomlinson

Briefing notes: Prodigious British actor, acclaimed for his contributions to the great Disney hits of the 1960's and early 1970's. As George Banks in Mary Poppins, his character evolves from stern authoritarian patriarch  to caring, joyful model father. As the loveable rascal  Emelius Browne he shone in perhaps my favourite ever children's film: Bedknobs & Broomsticks. He was a tremendous friend and confidant to Peter Sellers who was quoted as saying "The only person I want to see is David" when he was admitted to hospital shortly before his passing.

Further information: 

Luckier Than Most: Autobiography of David Tomlinson

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1344949/David-Tomlinson.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYBECKl0zFo

March

Watch
People - Alan Bennet at the National Theatre
Side Effects - Steven Soderbergh
House of Cards - Netflix

Visit
Becoming Picasso - Courtauld Gallery
Art 13 - Kensington Olympia

Eat
Mishkins - Soho
Shiori - Bayswater

Read
Bright Young People: The Rise and Fall of a Generation 1918-1940 - D J Taylor
The Further Letters Of Henry Root - Henry Root

Listen
Tom Odell - Another Love
The Clash - The Clash

Image
The Painter's Studio: A Real Allegory of a Seven Year Phase in my Artistic (and Moral) Life - Gustave Courbet 1855

Acting Above Our Station

Mark Rylance

Briefing Notes: Perhaps the greatest living stage actor. His portrayal of Rooster Byron in Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem earned him global  awards and plaudits from the critics. However, it is the acclaim garnered from audience members who never usually frequented the theatre that has marked him out as a true great. Rylance was instrumental in the success of the new Globe Theatre, which had been ear marked as a certain 'flop' by the establishment at its naissance. If Jerusalem ever plays again to audiences, with Rylance in the lead role, make sure you come by a ticket, it is now one of those 'amazements' that you should watch before you move on.

Further Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rylance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJYmBqQcw4

Directions To A Director

Stephen Poliakoff

Briefing Notes: Back currently with his new drama 'Dancing On The Edge' which I am greatly enjoying. Poliakoff excels at crafting thought provoking and beautifully shot intelligent television. I have recently re-watched 'Gideon's Daughter' and 'The Lost Prince' both of which have brightened up a weekend when the wretched weather has 'stopped play'.  Also intriguing was his recent film 'Glorious 39' which focuses on the British upper classes and their appeasement of Hitler in order to maintain their way of life. The background causes of appeasement have always fascinated me.

Further information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Poliakoff
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Stephen-Poliakoff-BBC-Collection/dp/B000CFX5FA

In The Eye Of The Artist

Alex Prager

Briefing Notes: Supremely talented video artist and photographer. Influenced by the iconography of Hitchcock and William Eggleston. Work displays dark and heavy subjects but in an intense beautiful way.

Further information: http://www.alexprager.com
http://new.fourthandmain.com/editorial/post/alex-prager/
http://www.michaelhoppengallery.com/artist,show,3,120,0,0,0,0,0,0,alex_prager.html

February

Watch
Quartermaine's Terms - Wyndham's Theatre
Old Times - Pinter Theatre
Flight - Robert Zemeckis
To The Wonder - Terence Malick
Dancing On The Edge - Stephen Poliakoff - BBC 2

Visit
Man Ray Portraits - Royal Portrait Gallery

Eat
Boca di Lupo - Soho
Shiori - Bayswater

Read
An English Affair: Sex, Class and Power In The Age of Profumo - Richard Davenport-HinesThe Last Tycoon - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Listen
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Blues - Various Artists
Françoise Hardy - Le Temps de l'amour

Image
La Trahison des Images - René  Magritte

Winston Smith?

Adam Curtis 

Briefing Notes: Consistently superlative documentary filmmaker. Films mesh together themes of ideology, politics, history and human nature to offer an explanation of events and prevailing thought. He utilises a wide array of imagery to keep the mind focused, interested and inspired to think differently.

Further Information: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Curtis
Film: The Century Of The Self - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prTarrgvkjo
Film: The Mayfair Set - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-05iRb_fug
Film: The Power Of Nightmares - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDUJwKgXu5Q  

Kit List

Ties

Briefing notes: Silk or wool. Printed, woven or knitted. Tipped (lined) or untipped (unlined for less bulk). Nothing 'fun' or childish unless given as a present to someone you do not care for. My recommendations are Hermes or Ferragamo for printed ties and a continental approach or Drakes of London for woven offerings for a 'British Gentleman' look. 

Further Information: http://uk.hermes.com, http://www.drakes-london.com

A Speech To Saviour

Robert Kennedy on the death of Martin Luther King Jr.



Briefing Notes: Bobby Kennedy's eulogy to Martin Luther King Jr. given in Indianapolis. That night riots took place in 60 cities across the USA in reaction to the assassination of Dr. King. Indianapolis was not amongst them which has been put down to the calming rhetoric of Kennedy.

Further Information: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/rfk-mlk.htm

January

Happy New Year

Watch
The Magistrate - National Theatre
New Yes, Prime Minister - UK Gold
Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino
Zero Dark Thirty - Kathryn Bigelow 
Ripper Street - BBC 1

Visit
Manet: Portraying Life - Royal Academy

Eat
Bounce - Holborn
The Moral Fox - Notting Hill


Read
Raffles and the Golden Opportunity - Victoria Glendinning
The Essential Spike Milligan - Spike Milligan

Listen
Forever - Haim
Tuesday Morning - The Pogues

Image
Edouard Manet - Races at Longchamp