You may know him as the classic Bond villain Blofeld, or maybe Dr Loomis from John Carpenter’s Halloween franchise. One of the most prolific actors in history, even if you’ve been residing under a rock you’ve probably seen Donald Pleasence on the telly or at the cinema. Joey Bell of Kino Klubb explains why three Nottingham film clubs have come together to celebrate his work with Pleasfest.
Carpenter would also cast Donald Pleasence in what I think is one of his best films: Prince Of Darkness. He’d planned for Pleasence to play Blair in The Thing, but a scheduling conflict got in the way. I love Wilford Brimley’s performance in that role but I can’t help but fantasise about what might have been. Sigh…
As I grew older, I discovered more great Pleasence performances: in Harold Pinter's The Caretaker; Roman Polanski’s Cul-De-Sac; Gary Sherman’s Death Line; and Dario Argento’s Phenomona. I loved it when he appeared with his daughter Angela in From Beyond The Grave. Then there was his terrifying voice work in the public service information film The Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water. But my real Pleasence-related revelation came much later, in 2012. I was in New York, flicking through a copy of Time Out, when I saw a five-star review for a film directed by Ted Kotchef. It was called Wake in Fright. The name rang a bell, and I remembered seeing a clip from the film in a documentary about Ozploitation. But what really grabbed my attention was the photo of Donald Pleasence that accompanied the piece. He looked grubby, sweaty and unshaven, with his usual mischievous grin, and in place of his eyes were two large coins with crosses scratched into them. That one striking image meant I just had to see this film.
The next day, I discovered that Wake in Fright should never be watched with a massive hangover. It could well have put me off alcohol for life, and those who have seen it will understand. Yet I totally fell in love with the film and regard it is as one of my all-time favourites, in which Pleasence’s intense performance as Doc Tydon is astounding. It cemented my love for him and I couldn’t wait to get back to tell my partners at Kino Klubb all about it. It happened that Wake in Fright was also loved by the people behind Mayhem Film Festival, an annual celebration of horror movies held at Broadway. They screened a print, and it looked glorious.
So what could I do with this Pleasence obsession now? I thought back to a conversation I’d had with Jim Cooke, my old boss from Selectadisc. He told me that Pleasence was actually born in Worksop. Holding a festival of his films there could be a brilliant tribute. When we heard that funding was available through the BFI Film Hub Central East, it all came together. Kino Klubb joined forces with Kneel Before Zod and Watergate Cinematek to programme Pleasfest, and where better to hold it than at Worksop’s Savoy Cinema? It’s little more than a two minute walk from his family home, and it made perfect sense to celebrate a local legend in his home town.
I feel proud to have come from the same part of the world as him. I hope that the people of Worksop feel proud too.
Pleasfest Picks
You Only Live Twice (1967)
Donald Pleasence plays the most iconic James Bond villain – Ernst Blofeld – and it’s easy to see his direct influence on Dr Evil from Austin Powers. This is the only Bond script written by Roald Dahl. It features amazing sets designed by Ken Adams, including Blofeld’s volcano lair, built with a cost of £1m (as Dr Evil would tell you, that was a lot at the time). As Sean Connery’s final outing as Bond in the sixties, this is a quintessential Bond movie. I’ve never seen a classic Bond on the big screen, so I’m dead excited.
Cul-De-Sac (1966)
Made in the middle of a great run of Polanski films, including Repulsion (1965), Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) and Rosemary’s Baby (1968). It’s a very arty, very sixties, very odd psychological thriller, set in a paranoid nightmare world brushed with black humour. It was shot on Holy Island, cut off by the tide from the mainland twice a day, which adds to the sense of helplessness and isolation. A truly powerful and unforgettable performance from Pleasence.
THX 1138 (1971)
I’m not mentioning Star Wars. This is nothing like Star Wars. While studying at USC, George Lucas made a short film called Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB. He impressed Francis Ford Coppola so much that he gave Lucas the money to turn the short into a feature length film. THX 1138 has a similar paranoiac feel as Coppola’s The Conversation, and uses audio to an unnerving effect. It has aged well, thanks to its minimalist qualities and unique look. Plus, any film that mixes religion and robots is always worth seeing. There’s a humanity and restraint in Pleasence’s character SEN, and I love the final beautiful scene where he talks to some children.
Death Line (1973)
Although directed by an American, this is one of the greatest British horror films ever made. It’s grim and dirty with the similar filthy wrongness as Hitchcock’s Frenzy. There are some fantastic special effects for the time and it’s pretty full on with the gore. In the Frankenstein vein, Death Line features a sympathetic, beautifully crafted monster who feels more like a victim. The only thing this creature can say is "Mind the doors" and it’s amazing how much meaning Hugh Armstrong puts into those three words. Pleasence is at his scenery-chewing best as a no-nonsense copper, bringing honesty and pathos to his character. Watch out for a cameo from Christopher Lee. The scene they share is nuts.
Pleasfest will be at Savoy Cinema, Worksop, on Sunday 8 March 2015. Tickets are £6 (individual), £20 (four films), £30 (four films, plus return coach from Nottingham).
Kino Klubb will also be screening a brand new 4K print of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s The Tales Of Hoffman on Sunday 22 March 2015.
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