Holiday with the Cary Grant Film Festival at Bristol Cathedral
Posted on: 2018-02-19
Our rating:
Rather than sitting in the huge expanse of the Nave, we watched the film in the more intimate but equally stunning setting of the Chapter House. From an architectural perspective this is probably one of my favourite parts of the city of Bristol.
I've made Bristol my home for nearly five years so it seemed only apt to bear witness to the local’s Hollywood success. I admit that whilst my exposure to and knowledge of Cary Grant (a Bristolian who changed his name from Archie Leach) is limited, but I do love a feel-good story.
Holiday was, as far as I know, the second Valentine’s Day screening that the Cary Grant Film Festival have partnered with Bristol Cathedral for and it was a great chance to see a classic movie in a beautiful building. Rather than sitting in the huge expanse of the Nave, we watched the film in the more intimate but equally stunning setting of the Chapter House. From an architectural perspective this is probably one of my favourite parts of the city of Bristol so well worth taking an opportunity to check it out.
The audience was greeted with a full size portrait of the man himself alongside a jazz overture and a glass of bubbly. For £10 it represented great value for money so it's no wonder that tickets sold out quickly and well in advance.
This starts as a epilogue to a classic boy meets girl story. Johnny, a hardworking start up, has fallen in love with socialite Julia and asked her to marry him. On visiting her grand family home for the first time Johnny meets her young sister Linda and as the story progresses he questions if she the better match? All in all it’s lovely, uplifting and funny story with a little bit of comic silliness which is very much of its era. Katharine Hepburn is sassy as Linda and she and Grant have great onscreen chemistry. The small audience of 80 responded well, a show of hands indicated many had been to Cary Grant screenings before.
Holiday was released in 1938 long before the advent of television sets in every home and it’s safe to say there’s nothing quite like watching a movie as it was originally intended: surrounded by others on the (perhaps smaller than average) big screen.
For the fanatics who just can’t watch a film without it there was popcorn for a donation. And to top it off there was also hot chocolate - perfect for the cold February night that it was. The Cary Grant Film Festival runs biannually and this autumn they'll be bringing us even more of his classic films. Watch this space.
Holiday was the second film I’ve watched at Bristol Cathedral, having previously seen The Medusa Touch (filmed in the Cathedral itself) about 18 months ago and they regularly hold film screenings. In January they served up The Terminator (introduced by guest speaker Dr Peter Walsh) and in March there are two offerings to choose from! First they are teaming up with Bristol Film Festival to screen Chariots of Fire. Then as part of Bristol Cathedral’s Electric Shadows series, and just a few days later, you’ll be able to catch Days of Heaven.
For more information on Cary Grant visit www.carycomeshome.co.uk or follow Cary Grant Comes Home on Facebook or for Bristol Cathedal events it's www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk/whats-on.
Article by:
Sarah currently resides south of the river. Her second home is the theatre and after graduating from Rose Bruford College she went onto work for a number of multinational clients based in the Asia Pacific region, she has since been working in business development. Sarah no longer has enough walls for the art she collects, subscribes to a monthly gin delivery, and loves anything a little bit quirky. She is a member of the WI and channels her inner adventurer in her spare time.
