In the new episode, Number 53, Neil and Dario screen and discuss Elaine May’s hilarious and acerbic 1971 comedy masterpiece A New Leaf, co-starring Walter Matthau. Neil screened the film at Falmouth University’s School of Film & Television with his colleague Kingsley before a live audience of staff and students.
Discussions in the episode cover writer/director/performers in Hollywood, the belatedly secured reputations of women in film, what comedy should be used for and when, and the genius of Walter Matthau.
The second of those topics is pertinent to the interview for this episode, which Neil conducted with Rob Curry and Tim Plester, the filmmakers behind the new documentary The Ballad Of Shirley Collins. The film is a wonderfully lyrical film and it’s now on general release - http://www.shirleycollinsmovie.com/
Key Moments:
10Mins            A New Leaf Screening Intro
34Mins            The Ballad of Shirley Collins (Interview & Chat)
1hr 5Mins        A New Leaf Post-Film Discussion
Links to articles on A New Leaf:
BFI
RogerEbert.com
NY Times (Original Release)
New Yorker (DVD Release)