The Best House in London (1969)

Well, it’s my pleasure to introduce the ever‑present and always‑insightful blogger Mr Brian Hannan, a man whose moviegoing began in the 1960s — making that decade his cinematic foundation, much as the films of the 70s and 80s are mine. So, without further ado…

Here’s the latest from The Magnificent 60s

One of the worst – and certainly among the most repellent – films ever made. A hymn to misogyny under the guise of the not very difficult task of exposing Victorian hypocrisy, it labors under the bizarre thesis that all women want to be prostitutes. Screenwriter Denis Norden’s befuddled sense of history is awash with the same kind of contempt for audiences. Elizabeth Barrett (of Wimpole St fame) rubs shoulders with Lord Alfred Douglas (Oscar Wilde’s illicit lover) even though they lived half a century apart, the Chinese Opium Wars and The Indian Mutiny feature despite being separated by 15 years.

Sex workers had proved the basis for many good (and occasionally excellent) pictures in the 1960s ranging from Butterfield 8, Never on Sunday, Irma la Douce and Go Naked in the World at the start of the decade to Midnight Cowboy at its end, but these all featured well-rounded characters facing understandable dilemmas. But here the cynical and demeaning plot – more Carry On Up the Brothel than political satire – makes you wonder how this concept was perceived as either plausible or an acceptable subject for comedy…

…Read the Full Article @ The Magnificent 60s

The Magnificent 60s offers a sharp, curated look at one of cinema’s most transformative decades, mixing weekly reviews with production histories, box‑office insights, and behind‑the‑scenes stories. Its archive spans spy thrillers, westerns, biopics, musicals, and modern films that echo the era’s spirit.