CHRISTIAN MCLAUGHLIN DISCOVERS A CINEMA RECALLING THE DAYS OF OLD, AT A VERY VERSATILE VENUE WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE
So much has happened at Hammersmith's Riverside Studios over the years it's hard to keep up.
A film and TV production venue since its conversion from water-pump factory in 1933, it grew to incorporate comedy, theatre, music and art.
Jo Brand and Julian Clary; Samuel Beckett and Complicite; Beatles and Rolling Stones; Anthony Gormley and David Hockney; TFI Friday and Top of The Pops - it's all happened here. But among the bigwigs, there's an unsung hero.
The cinema - programmed by the late Ed Lewis from its opening in 1987 until 2003 - was born under the principles of value for money, diversity and a respect for yesteryear's classics.
"We are the only cinema, apart from the National Film Theatre, that runs double bills almost every night," says current cinema director, Shira Macleod.
Two films for the price of one allows the best of offbeat cinema (often less financially successful) films to survive, as well as giving people the chance to recoup a West End show they missed, paired up with an older counterpart.
"I'm trying to stay put and not give in to the 'trendy sofas and expensive glasses of wine' scene that has swept London's cinemas," Shira says.
For full programme at Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, call 020 8237 1111 or see www.riversidestudios.co.uk
SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 28:
Double Bill. [25cf] 2pm: TheNight of the Hunter (15), Charles Laughton, USA, (1955). [25cf] 3.55pm: TheInnocents (12A), Jack Clayton, UK (1961).
WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 1:
Double Bill. [25cf] 7pm: On aTightrope.Petr Lom, Norway (2006). [25cf] 8.30pm: ManonWire (12A), James Marsh, USA/UK, (2008).
SUNDAY,OCTOBER 5:
Single Bill. [25cf] 2.30pm: Wall-E (U), AndrewStanton, USA, (2008).
WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 8:
Black HistoryMonth Programme [25cf] 7pm: Charles Burnett Shorts. Several Friends (15), (1969), The Horse (12A), (1973), When it Rains (U), (1995), Quiet as Kept (U), (2006). [25cf] 8.40pm: Killer of Sheep (12A), Charles Burnett, USA, (2008)
THURSDAY,OCTOBER 9:
Ciné Lumière at Riverside
Double Bill.
Here'sahandful of this season'shighlights
[25cf] 6.45pm: Breathless (PG), Jean-Luc Godard, France, (1959) [25cf] 8.35pm: Pierrotlefou (15), Jean-Luc Godard, France/Italy,(1965)
SATURDAY,OCTOBER 18:
Colombiage Festival [25cf] 2.30pm: TheWandering Shadows (15), Ciro Guerra, Colombia, (2004) [25cf] 4.20pm: DelPalenque de san Basilio (PG), Erwin Goggle/Esperanza Bioho Perea, Colombia, (2004). Plus Q&Awith director. [25cf] 6.30pm: Bluff (18), Felipe Martinez, Colombia, (2007) [25cf] 8.35pm: Espectro (18), Juan Felipe Orozco, Colombia, (2006)
MONDAY,OCTOBER 27:
Single Bill [25cf] 7pm: Biggathan Ben: A Russian's Guide to Ripping off London (15), Suzie Halewood, UK, (2008)
THURSDAY,OCTOBER 30:
Ciné lumière Double Bill [25cf] 6.45pm: BelledeJour (15), Luis Bunuel, France/Italy,(1967) [25cf] 8.45pm: That Obscure Object of Desire (15), Luis Bunuel, France/Spain, (1977) ..SUPL:
