Tuesday
Oct272015
London is Magic.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 6:39PM 
Nathaniel popping in to say hi. In case you've been wondering where I've vanished to, there was a last minute London trip for a film junket. I couldn't leave town without seeing two of my favorite actresses on stage so I stayed a couple of extra days and I'll tell you all about it when I return! For those who don't want to wait you can always follow on twitter or instagram.
Yesterday I walked across Waterloo Bridge and thought of Vivien Leigh. Have you ever been to London... and if so what movies did you think of while strolling around?
Reader Comments (26)
Adore London. Things coming to mind - well, all things Agatha Christie, being a hardcore fan. The original British Queer as Folk. I also lived in Scotland for a year - Bridget Jones' Diary and About a Boy were around that time, so those tend to hit home. Truly an amazing city.
Can´t wait to hear what you thought of Photograph 51!!
In London now and come every year for work. Notting Hill is one of the iconic "London" movies for me that makes great use of that area; I even took my mom (a huge NH fan) to visit the area on my first trip out here. The millennium bridge makes me think of Harry Potter, as does King's Cross. Houses of Parliament demands visions of V for Vendetta. From Hell creeps to mind every time I visit Whitechapel. Can't see the Thames without thinking about (wait for it) A Knight's Tale and of course Sweeney Todd. Insanely cinematic city. Recently saw Suffragette here and it was definitely a nice experience being in town.
I LOVE London. My favorite memory is seeing Harrod's Department Store all decked out for Christmas. Truly magical. :)
Oh, and I should add that Victorian London is my all time favorite setting for a film. "Gaslight," anyone?
TWO actresses!? I hope this means that you caught Imelda Staunton in Gypsy too?
kermit_the_frog, the answer is on Twitter
No word of lie: The one time I went to London I only demanded a single film-related pilgrimage of my travel mates, and that was to pose as Robert Taylor on Waterloo Bridge.
I wonder how many pedestrians crossing that bridge think about it?
Yes! I went to see The Turner as Martha. I kept thinking about Bridget Jones!
Yes - Love London, I went a little crazy with all the Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle, Ian Fleming and Rumpole at the Bailey references. For those of us who love detective fiction and history it can't be beat.
SO MUCH to love about London. Surprisingly picturesque and has such a fun buzz.
I've been watching Luther with Idris Elba, which is filmed around East London, not only is it a brilliant show, it shows a different, grittier side to London, compared to the likes of Match Point, Notes on a Scandal, Richard Curtis films etc.
The Anthony Minghella film Breaking and Entering is a great representation of London.
And I saw Imelda in Gypsy too, wasn't it just the most sublime musical theatre-going experience !!!
I got a friend who has has seen Gypsy five times. She's poor now, but she's happy.
London is awesome although it still doesn't have the jolting energy of New York. Nathaniel, was this your first time in London? How did it compare to NY for you?
hey, that's exiting! Tell us about Photograph 51!!
My Fair Lady, of course! Ironically filmed on an LA soundstage I believe. I was very disappointed to find that there was no 27A Wimpole Street.
@Jase - but London's got "the violent jolt of the Capital" ;)
I always think of Vivien when I'm in London. My illustration of Viv in Waterloo Bridge: http://tinyurl.com/pbwmjee
Hey, Nathaniel, glad you're enjoying London. As a Londoner, I love hearing about other people's positive experiences. Hope you have had a great time, and come back soon!
NATHANIEL, please come to Brazil!
We love you
The last time I was in London I saw the stage versions of Billy Elliott (different from and almost just as good as the film) and War Horse (so brilliantly staged that there's just no way the film could match it, as the magic of the stage version is in how they bring the horse to life - the story itself isn't really all that great).
I'm dying to hear what you thought about the two plays and their leading ladies. Seeing Nicole Kidman live was incredible (as a long time fan) but what Imelda Staunton did with Gypsy was just out of this world! How does she compare to other renditions? Hope you enjoyed the rest of your time here in London.
I haven't been to London in years — the last time I know I had My Beautiful Launderette, Georgy Girl, Victim and Beautiful Thing on my mind.
I've been there 15 times! Watched Dames on stage (Dench, Smith and Mirren}. Saw Rupert Graves and Rachel Weisz do Noel Coward and Rupert Everett do Tennessee Williams. Also saw Mike Nichols and Miranda Richardson in an intimate reading of The Designated Mourner, I thought of Séance on a Wet Afternoon because I actually met Richard Attenborough there! And of course the other films of Bryan Forbes, The Whisperers and The L Shaped Room.
I want to go back soon.
YOU SAW NICOLE ON STAGE?!?! LUCKY BUGGER!!!
I saw Staunton as Mama Rose a few weeks ago and it was astonishing. It was a Saturday matinee, I had front row seats and I've never seen such a volcanic performance, particularly in Act 2 which is so emotionally draining that I couldn't imagine how anybody could be capable of turning around in 3 hours and delivering it all again. It's the second time I've been blown away by Staunton on stage - I saw her play Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, which I didn't think she could top. But her Mama Rose is definitely one for the West End history books (it helps that there hasn't been a revival of Gypsy in London in over THIRTY YEARS, since Angela Landsbury's original run!)
London is an awesome city and I love living here.
Really wish I'd made an effort to see Gypsy but it really isn't going to happen now. I just hope it and Staunton transfer to Broadway (Tony award!!) and I'd fly across the pond to see it. Like Peggy Sue's friend I'd be poor, but oh so happy.
Would love it if you did a review, along with your thoughts on Photograph 51. Another show I should have made an effort to see!!
so, did you post your thougts on Photograph 51? Would love to hear your impression.... The play didn't do much for me, but, maan, Nicole was awsome!