MADE IN ENGLAND: Marty's Memories

MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL & PRESSBURGER (Blu-ray)

2024 / 133 min

FROM COHEN MEDIA GROUP

Review by Princess Pepper😺

Of course, Martin Scorsese is a national treasure, and not just because of his slew of masterpieces. In addition to being one of our greatest living directors, he’s one of cinema’s biggest fans and few filmmakers have personally done more to preserve its long history. 

You’d also be hard pressed to name an American director more knowledgeable of its past…or present, for that matter (sorry fanboys, but he’s right about all those Marvel movies). So when he speaks, anyone possessing even half of his appreciation and knowledge tend to listen. And he speaks a lot in Made in England.

As the full title indicates, this is about the British writer-director team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, probably most famous on this side of the pond for The Red Shoes. As an introduction to their body of work, Made in England is indispensable. Part biography, part retrospective, part analysis, Scorsese narrates with a knowledge and enthusiasm that’s infectious. 

This scene from The Red Shoes was originally supposed to feature a T-Rex.

Reflecting on Powell and Pressburger’s lengthy career, Scorsese discusses individual films in considerable detail, providing historical background, summary & analyses, and most importantly, the duo’s considerable influence, not only on British cinema, but the director himself, both personally and professionally. Scorsese shares childhood recollections of seeing certain films for the first time - if even on a tiny black & white TV - and how specific sequences inspired his own work as a director.

It might be his autobiographical asides that ultimately render Made in England such an entertaining, insightful film, which includes Scorsese’s own personal encounters with Powell (a friendship based on mutual respect). If nothing else, this film shines a light on the work of a filmmaking team that may not be household names, but certainly impacted the life of a man who is.