Shows
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 13 - The Gaunt Stranger (1938) with Adrian SmithFor our first film at a venue other than the Kino, Bermondsey, we were delighted to be hosted on October 8th 2023 at the gorgeous Garden Cinema for our screening of The Gaunt Stranger (1938). Based on a novel by Edgar Wallace, The Gaunt Stranger is the story of a mysterious criminal called "The Ringer" who, although supposedly dead, has threatened to kill a corrupt lawyer called Maurice Meister at a specific time and date.Directed by Walter Forde with a screenplay by Sidney Gilliat, The Gaunt Stranger has a small place in history for being the...
2023-10-3047 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 44: Evergreen (1934)Jessie part two.This is the second instalment of a three part mini-series about the 1930s' biggest UK film star, Jessie Matthews.Evergreen (1934) was based on Ever Green, CB Cochran's 1930 musical spectacular at the Adelphi Theatre. Jessie starred as Harriet Green in both the stage show and the film.We're joined by Dr Melanie Williams of The University of East Anglia to talk about the film and Rob Baker, Jade Evans and Dr Lawrence Napper return to the show to talk about Jessie's life. Evergreen is the story of two Harriet Greens...
2023-10-241h 01
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 43: The Good Companions (1933)The Big Jessie series.This is the first of a three part mini-series focusing on the 1930s' biggest UK film star, Jessie Matthews.None of Jessie's films were set in Soho, but the fact that she was born on Berwick Street where her dad was a market trader, that she lived in William & Mary Yard on Brewer Street and that she learned to dance in an upstairs room at The Blue Posts means that, as far as we're concerned, any film starring Jessie Matthews is a Soho film.Across the next three episodes...
2023-09-201h 03
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 42: A Fallen Idol?Not a normal episode.We're not actually talking about a Soho film in this episode. It's a long story... We do, however, talk to a genuine film star from the golden era.As an eight year old boy, Bobby Henrey was rocketed into the public eye when he starred in Carol Reed & Graham Greene's 1948 thriller, "The Fallen Idol". He joins us on Soho Bites (on his 84th birthday!) to tell us about that experience.Bobby is now known as Robert and there is a double reason for having him on the show. His...
2023-07-1546 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 41: The Green Cockatoo (1937)At last! It's the long awaited exotic birds episode.The Green Cockatoo (1937) is a noir-ish thriller set in gangland Soho. The Green Cockatoo of the title is not actually a beautiful tropical bird but a drab Soho nightclub. When Dave Connor gets on the wrong side of some gangsters, his brother, Jim and an innocent bystander, Eileen get caught up in the trouble.Directed by William Cameron Menzies, it stars John Mills, supported by Rene Ray (The Countess of Midleton! Yes really!) & Robert Newton. The film has a superb supporting cast and was based on...
2023-05-2651 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 40: All Night Long (1962)It's Jazz, man. Also, it's Shakespeare.All Night Long (1962) is a re-telling of Shakespeare's Othello in which Othello is Rex, the famous leader of a jazz band, Desdemona is a singer called Delia and Iago is the band's drummer, Johnny.The film was directed by Basil Dearden and stars Patrick Mcgoohan and Richard Attenborough plus several major jazz stars of the day, including Tubby Hayes, Charles Mingus, Johnny Dankworth and Dave Brubeck.Film & theatre composer, Gary Yershon, returns to Soho Bites to talk about the film.Watch a trailer for All...
2023-04-2949 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 39: Nighthawks (1978)Thirty nine episodes in and we finally do a gay themed episode of the show. About time too!Nighthawks (1978) was directed by Ron Peck and was based on a script developed by him and Paul Hallam. It stars Ken Robertson as Jim, a geography teacher at a London comprehensive school who spends his nights looking for love in gay bars, clubs and discos (discos were still a thing then).To talk about Nighthawks we're joined by Prof Glyn Davis of St Andrews University. Turns out he's not as Welsh as you expect him to be!
2023-03-2959 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 38: East of Piccadilly (1941)Murder mystery? Rom-com? And, as an afterthought.... wartime boosterism?East of Piccadilly (1941) was known as "The Strangler" in the US and was directed by Harold Huth. It stars Judy Campbell & Sebastian Shaw and was written by the then quite young J Lee Thompson. It tells the story of a murder investigation and is (extremely) loosely based on a real life case, that of the "The Soho Strangler".1940s UK film expert, Mel Byron, comes all the way in from Talking Picture TV Podcast HQ to talk about the film. It's her third visit to the...
2023-02-2753 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 37: Beat Girl (1960)Attention jiving scum! This is one is straight from the fridge dad.It doesn't get more Soho than Beat Girl (1960) - coffee shops, beatniks, strip clubs, The 2 i's.... it's got the lot.Gillian Hills leads the cast of Beat Girl, which also stars Adam Faith, Christopher Lee, Shirley Ann Field and, in a very small role, a young Oliver Reed.We met novelist, Des Burkinshaw in the bar of the Soho Theatre to talk about Beat Girl which is the closest we could find to a bohemian coffee bar.Des is...
2023-02-0549 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 12 - Scrooge (1935) with Ming HoScrooge (1935) was the subject of our Christmas special and the last Kino Quickie of the season.It's the first ever talkie version of A Christmas Carol and stars Seymour Hicks, a man who had played the part hundreds of times before, on both stage and screen.It's not this Seymour Hicks though.Our guest for the Q&A was the playright and screenwriter, Ming Ho.Follow Ming on Twitter.The Kino Cinema was packed to the rafters which made the second half of the Q&A all the more...
2022-12-2144 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 11 - Death on the Set (1935) with Richard FarmerThe cups all those millions of fans out there of the Kino Quickies mascot, Henry Kendall, runneth over this day, because Death on the Set treats us to a double dose of him.Our Henry plays two unlikeable men - a very unpleasent film director and his drunken and disreputable lookalike - who are locked in a cycle of crime.It's based on a book by Victor MacClure which is now out of print but you can buy it online if you sell all of your belongings.Our guest for the Q&A...
2022-12-091h 08
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 10 - A Fire Has Been Arranged (1935) with Steve ChibnallA Fire Has Been Arranged is the first full length feature starring the comedy musical duo, Flanagan & Allen.The first of two films in the season to be directed by Leslie Hiscott, it also stars Robb Wilton and a 35 year old (but perpetually middle-aged) Alastair Sim. It was, like many quota quickies, produced by Julius Hagan at Twickenham Studios.Our guest for the Q&A is quota quickie royalty in the form of the author Steve Chibnall, who literally wrote the book on quota quickies. It's called Quota Quickies by Steve Chibnall.You...
2022-11-2558 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 09 - I Lived With You (1933) with John SnelsonI Lived With You (1933) - a comedy starring Ivor Novello, based on a play that he wrote - is the third film in this second season of Kino Quickies.Novello plays a homeless Russian prince who meets Gladys Wallis (Ursula Jeans) in the maze at Hampton Court and moves in with her family. His presence in this normal family home has chaotic effects on the whole household. Also starring Ida Lupino as Glad's sister, Ada and Eliot Makeham & Minnie Rayner as her parents, the film was directed by the most prolific director in UK film history, Maurice...
2022-11-1057 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 08 - The Impassive Footman (1932) with Mel ByronThe Impassive Footman (1932), is the earliest film in Kino Quickies season 2. It's a tense melodrama about an unhappy marriage, a foiled affair and a doctor's dilemma, all watched over by a mysterious -you might even say impassive - footman.The film stars George Curzon as the eponymous footman, Betty Stockfeld & Allan Jeayes as the married couple at the centre of the film and Owen Nares as dashing young doctor, Bryan Daventry.NOBODY is credited as the film's director - the candidates are its producer, Basil Dean and Graham Cutts. We try to get to the...
2022-10-2659 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 07 - The Last Journey (1935) with Martin StolleryThe Last Journey (1935), the first film in season two of Kino Quickies, is a seat-of-the-pants, nail-biting thriller set aboard a runaway train, directed by Bernard Vorhaus.It stars Hugh Williams as Gerald Winter, Godfrey Tearle as Sir Wilfred Rhodes, Judy Gunn as Diana and Julien Mitchell as Bob Holt, the train driver whose suicidal mania is causing such a to-do.Our guest for the Q&A is Dr Martin Stollery who knows a thing or two about editing as he wrote British Film Editors .Your hosts are Dom Delargy and Dr Lawrence Napper,
2022-10-141h 00
Soho Bites PodcastDora Bryan competition winners & Kino Quickies previewThis is not really an episode I'm afraid - time just ran away from me.However, I've recorded this mini-episode because there is some very important business to finish up which is to announce two things....The winners of last month's Dora Bryan competitionKino Quickies season 2 Two lucky lucky listeners were destined to win a copy of the new 4K DVD release of The Sandwich Man - all they had to do was answer a fiendishly tricky question.Did you enter? Did you win? Listen to the episode to find out.
2022-09-1918 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies season 2 - Preview EpisodeWe're back!Welcome to this preview episode of the Kino Quickies podcast - SEASON 2!The Kino Quickies podcast is based on a series of live screenings of 1930s quota quickie films plus Q&As at the Kino Cinema in Bermondsey Square, London SE1. We were amazed at how much people loved watching these rarely seen films in season one so we decided to do it all again with another season of six films from October 9th - December 18th 2022.You can find details about the films, our guests, the venue and, of course...
2022-09-1814 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 36: The Optimists of Nine Elms (1973)Everything changes but....The changing faces of London neighbourhoods is our loose theme for this episode.In the first half, the novelist, Christopher Fowler makes his second appearance on the podcast, talking about his latest book and about his memories of Soho - a neighbourhood which changes constantly but somehow always remains the same.***UPDATE*** Christopher very sadly died a few weeks after we recorded this conversation. You can read an obituary HERE.Follow Chris on Twitter and peruse his website. Read about Chris's most well known charcters in...
2022-08-2955 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 35: Zeta One (1969)Two Films, One Guest.Normally we have two guests on each episode of Soho Bites, but when your guest is as good as David McGillivray, who needs a second?Long before Matthew Sweet gave him the moniker, "The Truffaut of Smut", David reviewed Zeta One (AKA The Love Factor - no idea why) for The Monthly Film Bulletin. He didn't have a lot of good things to say about it then - has his opinion changed over the last 51 years? He makes a return visit to Soho Bites to tell us.Produced by...
2022-07-2557 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 34: It Happened in Soho (1948)Double Stinker.After an extended break to allow our massive team to shift its attention to our most recent podcast series, Kino Quickies, we return to Soho Bites with the 1948 murder mystery, It Happened in Soho.It’s safe to say, the film had a very small budget and doesn’t have the highest of production values but it does boast a major star, Richard “Stinker” Murdoch.At the time the film was made, Murdoch was a big BBC radio star, having starred, at this stage, in two huge radio comedy hits - Band Wag...
2022-06-2847 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 06 - Brief Ecstasy (1937) with Charles BarrThe sixth and final film in Kino Quickies season 1, screened on May 22nd 2022, was Brief Ecstasy from 1937.Directed by Edmond Gréville - who is probably most famous for directing Beat Girl several years later - it's the story of a love triangle made up of Helen (Linden Travers), her husband Paul (Paul Lukas) and her former lover, Jim (Hugh Williams). The film is an early one from Ealing, so our special guest for the Q&A was Charles Barr, author of the seminal book about Ealing, "Ealing Studios" Charles doesn't only know a...
2022-05-2757 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 05 - Say it With Flowers (1934) with Gary YershonThe fifth film in the Kino Quickies season, screened on May 8th 2022, was Say it With Flowers from 1934.Directed by John Baxter, it's the simple story of a group of market traders who mount a benefit concert for their sick colleague. The film features performances from three of the biggest music hall stars of the Edwardian era, Charles Coburn, Marie Kendall and Florrie Forde.Our guest for the Q&A was the Oscar nominated film composer and all round nice chap, Gary Yershon.Gary talked about some really interesting stuff including a bit...
2022-05-111h 00
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 04 - Sweeney Todd (1936) with Jade EvansThe fourth film in the Kino Quickies season, screened on April 24th 2022, was Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street from 1936.Directed by George "King of the Quickies" King and starring Tod Slaughter, it's the well known story of the murderous barber who polishes off his victims who are then processed into pie filling by his next door neighbour. Yum!Our specially invited expert guest for the post show Q&A, Jade Evans, had a minor disaster the night before the screening when she tested positive for the dreaded Covid. Luckily, we had the...
2022-04-2659 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 03 - The Phantom Light (1935) with Neil BrandThe third film in the Kino Quickies season, screened on April 10th 2022, was The Phantom Light from 1935.An early film from director, Michael Powell, this is the story of spooky goings on in an isolated lighthouse off the remote Welsh coast.Our specially invited expert guest for the post show Q&A was broadcaster, composer and silent accompanist, Neil Brand.Follow Neil on TwitterYour hosts are Dom Delargy and Dr Lawrence NapperThe film is available to buy on DVD from our friends at Network Distribution....
2022-04-1458 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 02 - Death at Broadcasting House (1934) with Jo BottingThe second film in the Kino Quickies season, screened on March 27th 2022, was Death at Broadcasting House from 1934.In the futuristic and glamorous surroundings of the BBC's brand new headquarters, an actor is murdered while performing in a radio drama, live on air, before the unsuspecting ears of millions of listeners.Our specially invited expert guest for the post show Q&A was Dr Josephine Botting, curator at the BFI National ArchiveFollow Josephine Botting on TwitterYour hosts are Dom Delargy and Dr Lawrence NapperDeath at Broadcasting...
2022-03-301h 04
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies 01 - The Ghost Camera (1933) with Pam HutchinsonTo kick off the Kino Quickies season on March 13th 2022, we picked a sure fire crowd pleaser. The Ghost Camera is a comedy / mystery / thriller starring Henry Kendall as John Gray, Ida Lupino as May Elton and John Mills as her brother, Ernest.When John Gray finds a camera on the back seat of his car, he develops the film to try to find out the owner. What he discovers sets him on the path to danger, adventure and, perhaps, love.The film was directed by Bernard Vorhaus and edited by a very young David...
2022-03-1550 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 33: The Sandwich Man (1966)Special Sandwich Special.We’ve done some episodes in the past with some disparate and unusual themes. We did a Spain themed episode, a sport one, a God special and even a wrestling / boxing episode, but we think we’ve surpassed ourselves this time as the theme linking the two items in episode 33 is sandwiches.Sandwich boards, that is, and the men who wear them.There was a time when Sandwich men and women and other forms of portable adverts were a common sight in the west end but In August 2008, Westminster council impleme...
2022-03-0448 min
Kino QuickiesKino Quickies - Preview episodeWelcome to this preview episode of the Kino quickies podcast.Book tickets for any of the films in the Kino Quickies season HEREHere's a very good article explaining what Quota Quickies are from the Cinema History BlogWell that was fascinating but now I want to find out moreDon’t forget to subscribe to the Kino Quickies podcast. It comes out a couple of days after each screening.Follow Kino Quickies on Twitter for updatesYou can even follow us on Facebook!The Kin...
2022-01-2911 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 32: Turn the Key Softly (1953)Softly Shoe Shuffle.Murphy's Law states that if you've arranged an interview with a brilliant guest to talk about a fantastic film in a great location, then you will catch Covid and have to self-isolate. This is why my interview with Ming Ho about Turn the Key Softly (1953) took place online and not in the lovely surroundings of the BAFTA bar as originally planned.Turn the Key Softly is set over a period of twelve hours and follows three very different women on their first day of freedom after their release from Holloway Prison.
2022-01-2253 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 20 - HandelA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Dr Helen Coffey from The Open University about George Frideric Handel.
2022-01-2015 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 19 - Henry AngeloA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Keith Ducklin from The Royal Armories Museum in Leeds about fencing master, Henry Angelo.
2022-01-1913 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 18 - Chevalier d'EonA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Tony Shrimplin from the Museum of Soho, trying to figure out what was going on in the extraordinary life of Chevalier d'Eon.
2022-01-1814 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 17 - Maude StanleyA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom hears about Maude Stanley from Emily White of London Youth.
2022-01-1714 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 16 - Isaac NewtonA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom hears about Sir Isaac Newton from journalist and London tour guide, Ian McDiarmid.
2022-01-1614 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 15 - William BlakeA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom hears about William Blake from a trustee of the Blake Society, the cartoonist and illustrator, John Riordan.
2022-01-1514 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 14 - Paul VerlaineA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to poet, Niall McDevitt about another poet, Paul Verlaine.
2022-01-1414 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 13 - John SnowA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to vlogger and London historian, Jago Hazzard about John Snow.
2022-01-1313 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 12 - William HogarthA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, the subject is William Hogarth and Dom talks to art historian and Hogarth's biographer, Dr Jacqueline Riding. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on October 4th 2020.
2022-01-1213 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 11 - Ronnie ScottA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to painter, writer, musician & all-round polymath, Barry Fantoni, about his friend, Ronnie Scott.
2022-01-1113 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 10 - Angelica KauffmanA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to London tour guide, Nika Garrett about Angelica Kauffman Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on August 28th 2020.
2022-01-1013 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 09 - George MellyA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Oscar nominated composer, Gary Yershon about Soho polymath, George Melly. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on August 21st 2020.
2022-01-0911 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 08 - Admiral Sir Cloudsley ShovellA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Elaine Galloway from the Old Royal Naval College about the magnificently named Sir Cloudsley Shovell. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 31st 2020.
2022-01-0813 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 07 - CasanovaA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, biographer, Ian Kelly discusses Casanova. Music by Kerry Muzzey. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 24th 2020.
2022-01-0712 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 06 - Fanny KellyA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, theatre director, Luke Dixon, talks about actress, impresario and drag-king, Fanny Kelly. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 17th 2020.
2022-01-0612 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 05 - ShelleyA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Ken Hollings, talks about a former resident of Poland St, Percy Shelley. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 10th 2020.
2022-01-0512 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 04 - Jeffrey BernardA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, the cartoonist, Michael Heath, talks about his friend, the notorious Jeffrey Bernard. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 2nd 2020.
2022-01-0414 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 03 - Jessie MatthewsA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week we talk to Rob Baker about Soho's very own film-star, Jessie Matthews. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on June 26th 2020
2022-01-0312 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 02 - Groucho MarxA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, writer and Marx Brothers expert, Mark Brisenden talks about Groucho Marx. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on June 19th 2020.
2022-01-0212 min
Mural MorselsMural Morsels episode 01 - Karl MarxA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Tony Shrimplin from the Museum of Soho discusses Karl Marx (originally broadcast in Soho Bites episode 12)
2022-01-0112 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 31: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)Sohohoho Bites Christmas special.In this festive special, we’re talking about the much loved Christmas classic, The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) which, according to this article, is the greatest film ever made.In the first half of the show we meet up with Jonanathan Foster. He works at the Prince Charles Cinema, just off Leicester Square and is the co-host of the Pod Charles Cinecast. The PCC is renowned for its special event screenings including its Muppet Christmas Carol Singalongs which are are wildly popular.In the second half we’re off to a fe...
2021-12-1337 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 30: Good-Time Girl (1948)Kent Noir.Good-Time Girl is a post war UK film noir with three main locations – Lambeth, Soho and “Soho-On-Sea” (AKA Brighton). James Harrison of South West Silents & Film Noir UK joins Dom to talk about the film and about Film Noir UK.The star of Good-Time Girl is Jean Kent, known throughout the 1940s and beyond as UK film’s “bad girl”. To talk about Jean’s life and career, we drop in to the BFI to meet up with curator, Josephine Botting.For a few years before she became famous, Jean Kent worked as a Wi...
2021-11-1250 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 29: Absolute Beginners (1986)Wham bam Bowie special.In this Bowie special, we talk to Del Pike about the much maligned Absolute Beginners (1986) - was the critical mauling justified? And Aiden McManus returns to the show to talk about Bowie's pre-fame years in Soho.Arriving on cinema screens on the back of an inordinate amount of pre-publicity in 1986, Absolute Beginners was, notoriously, an instantaneous disaster at the box office and was ripped to shreds by the critics.Thirty years later, freelance writer, Del Pike wrote an article entitled “Absolute Beginners at 30 – Was it Really So Bad?” so we had...
2021-10-2549 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 28: Value for Money (1955)Early Dors.We look at two extraordinary lives in this episode. The film under discussion is Value for Money (1955) about a naive northern man played by John Gregson who becomes captivated by a glamorous West End showgirl played by Diana Dors. Hmm…. sounds familiar…. We meet Diana’s biographer, Anna Cale, to talk about the film and about the star’s tumultuous private life.Value for Money is on YouTubeAs is this two part biopic of Diana - Blonde BombshellOne of Diana’s early boyfriends was Michael Caborn-Waterfield, known colloquial...
2021-09-2452 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 27: Saturday Night Revue (1937)Yesteryear's Soho club-land.Dr Lawrence Napper of Kings College London met up with Dom to discuss 1937’s Saturday Night Revue. Starring Sally Gray and Billy Milton, it’s a role call of some long forgotten cabaret & variety acts of the day. That doesn’t sound promising but it’s great! Short clip from Saturday Night Revue. Not sure why they chose this bit to promote the film...The plot revolves around two night clubs, both called “Moons”. One is in Soho and the other is in Mayfair and is based on the Cafe de Paris. In...
2021-08-1055 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 26: Too Hot to Handle (1960)Lobotomy Room special.For the first part of episode 26, we headed out to Fontaines bar in Dalston (Stoke Newington if you’re an estate agent, Dalston if you’re “street”) to catch a screening of the kitsch, sexploitation B movie from 1960, Too Hot to Handle.The film was one of two that its star, Jayne Mansfield, made in the UK that year. Jayne plays Midnight Franklin an exotic dancer at the The Pink Flamingo club in Soho and Leo Genn plays her love interest, Johnny Solo (there’s only a 28 year age difference so that’s fine then...
2021-07-1142 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 25: The Golden Disc (1958)Just for the record.The theme of episode 25 is record shops. Soho was, for a long time (and arguably still is?) THE place to go to buy records of all genres with dozens of shops packed closely together. In the first half of the show, Dom talks to Garth Cartwright, the author of two books about record shops, about the history of the Soho record shop scene.Kenny Lynch in Soho, including his shop, The Kenny Lynch Record Centre on Walker’s CourtIn the second half of the show. Ken Hollings talks ab...
2021-06-2149 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 24: Something in the City (1950)Art Attack.The theme of Episode 24 is painting and painters, of which Soho has seen many.In the first half of the programme, David Boyd Haycock joins Dom in the Leicester Arms on Glasshouse Street to talk about the so called “King of Bohemia”, the artist, Augustus John. John was described by one of his tutors as the greatest draftsman since Michelangelo – high praise indeed!Lovely photograph of Augustus John in 1929 with Tallulah Bankhead and his painting of her.Short film about Augustus John from the Pathe “Picture Personalities” series.In the s...
2021-06-0350 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 23: The Boys (1962)Youthful rebellion.Episode 23 is all about generational conflict – specifically, older people disapproving of “kids today”. In the film chat, Dom talks to members of the South Bank Talkies movie discussion group about The Boys (1962), a courtroom drama in which four young men are on trial for murder. Starring Dudley Sutton, Jess Conrad, Tony Garnett and Ronald Lacey as the boys, they also have to contend with the prejudice of the court & witnesses against “teddy boys”.The film has a great ensemble cast including Richard Todd and Robert Morley as the barristers and Roy Kinnear, Wilfred Bramble, C...
2021-05-1248 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 22: A Touch of Class (1973)Ola......and welcome to the The Soho Bites Spanish special. The film under discussion, the 1973 Rom-Com, A Touch of Class, is set partly in Spain (but also in Soho, of course, or it wouldn’t qualify to feature on the show) and stars Glenda Jackson and George Segal.In the 1970s, it was de rigueur for the writers of British sitcoms to set their big screen spin-offs in Spain. As 1000s of Brits travelled abroad for the first time, Spain was an exotic location that suddenly became within reach. A Touch of Class taps into th...
2021-04-0848 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 20 - HandelA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Dr Helen Coffey from The Open University about George Frideric Handel.
2021-03-2215 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 19 - Henry AngeloA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Keith Ducklin from The Royal Armories Museum in Leeds about fencing master, Henry Angelo.
2021-03-1913 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 21: The Night Caller (1965)Aliens in Soho.This is our (vegetarian friendly) Butcher’s episode and please don’t @ me about that apostrophe – it’s meant to be there because we’re talking about Butcher’s Film Services who were based in Soho for many years.In the first half of the show, Dr Laura Mayne of Hull University joins us to talk about this long departed fixture of Wardour Street.Here’s an interesting article from The Londonist by Zoe Craig about the history of Wardour Street as the centre of the UK film industry.In the secon...
2021-02-0549 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 20: The Shakedown (1960)Episode 20: The Shakedown (1960) & Melanie Williams on Leigh VanceFor the first episode of 2021 we’re going back to 1960 for The Shakedown, a grimy tale of a pimp turned blackmailer, Augie Cortona played by the devilishly handsome Terence Morgan. We’re joined by Richard Luck of the New European to talk about this classic Soho noir which also stars Donald Pleasence, Harry H Corbett, Hazel Court and Bill Owen.Richard is very keen on the artwork for The Shakedown poster and there were several different versions made for various international territories. Click HERE for some lovely old...
2021-01-2546 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 19: Smashing Time (1967)Episode 19: Smashing Time (1967) & Jago Hazzard on Carnaby StreetWelcome, cool cats, to the Swingin’ 60’s special episode. For our film chat, Dom spoke to Barry Fantoni about Smashing Time, the 1967 satire / farce about Brenda and Yvonne, two girls from oop north seeking fame and fortune in that there swingin’ London.But according to our first guest, Jago Hazzard, they’re possibly three years too late. Jago joins Dom in a bleakly locked down Carnaby Street to find out how, when and why it briefly became the centre of the universe.You can watch the Smas...
2020-11-2547 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 18 - Chevalier d'EonA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Tony Shrimplin from the Museum of Soho, trying to figure out what was going on in the extraordinary life of Chevalier d'Eon.
2020-11-0914 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 18: Peeping Tom (1960)Famously, Peeping Tom (1960) pretty much ended the career of its director, Michael Powell, thanks to the universally horrendous reviews it received on its release. Also famously, the film’s reputation was rehabilitated by, among others, Martin Scorsese who counts it amongst his favourite films of all time. In this episode, Dom is joined by film producer, Colin Vaines, to talk about this controversial masterpiece.Peeping Tom trailerAnd a small selection of lobby cardsThe Powell & Pressburger Pages is an excellent resource for all your P&P needs.Watch Peeping Tom no...
2020-11-0348 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 17 - Maude StanleyA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom hears about Maude Stanley from Emily White of London Youth.
2020-10-2414 min
Soho Bites PodcastMoral Morsels 16 - Isaac NewtonA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom hears about Sir Isaac Newton from journalist and London tour guide, Ian McDiarmid.
2020-10-2414 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 15 - William BlakeA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom hears about William Blake from a trustee of the Blake Society, the cartoonist and illustrator, John Riordan.
2020-10-1814 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 14 - Paul VerlaineA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to poet, Niall McDevitt about another poet, Paul Verlaine.
2020-10-0314 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 13 - John SnowA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to vlogger and London historian, Jago Hazzard about John Snow.
2020-10-0313 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 12 - William HogarthA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, the subject is William Hogarth and Dom talks to art historian and Hogarth's biographer, Dr Jacqueline Riding. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on October 4th 2020.
2020-09-1713 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 17: Cover Girl Killer (1959)It’s all about mucky magazines in this episode, although the publication at the centre of our featured film is very mild stuff compared to others that would come after. In Cover Girl Killer from 1959, a madman played by Harry H Corbett is bumping off the models who appear on the cover of the fictional, “Wow!” magazine. Theatre director, Luke Dixon joins us to talk about the film and the conversation takes place in the very spot in which at least one of the murders occurs.This is the second Harry H Corbett Soho film we’ve talked a...
2020-09-1646 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 11 - Ronnie ScottA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to painter, writer, musician & all-round polymath, Barry Fantoni, about his friend, Ronnie Scott.
2020-09-0600 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 16: Soho Conspiracy (1950)Episode 16: Soho Conspiracy (1950) & Dr Adrian Smith on EJ FanceyThis is our Fancey episode and no, that’s not a typo. Edwin J Fancey (or EJ) was a Soho based film producer and distributor who made a fortune by churning out cheaply made films and by not always operating within those pesky confines of the law.Fancey would have been forgotten, were it not for the efforts of Talking Pictures TV (who sometimes screen his films and even released a box set of his back catalogue) and those of Dr Adrian Smith from Sussex University wh...
2020-08-2746 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 10 - Angelica KauffmanA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to London tour guide, Nika Garrett about Angelica Kauffman Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on August 28th 2020.
2020-08-2100 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 09 - George MellyA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Oscar nominated composer, Gary Yershon about Soho polymath, George Melly. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on August 21st 2020.
2020-08-2000 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 08 - Admiral Sir Cloudsley ShovellA series of short features made for Soho Radio. Each week we talk to a different person about somebody in the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Dom talks to Elaine Galloway from the Old Royal Naval College about the magnificently named Sir Cloudsley Shovel. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 31st 2020.
2020-07-2300 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 15: Tonight & Every Night (1945)This is the third and final episode in a mini-series about films set at the Windmill Theatre. Adam Roche from the Secret History of Hollywood and Attaboy Clarence podcasts joins us to talk about Tonight and Every Night – a glitzy, Technicolor Rita Hayworth vehicle set at the Windmill. We have now done EVERY film made about the Windmill and that’s enough for any podcast. Listen to the episode to hear the official Soho Bites order of preference. We would have called it a chart but four doesn’t seem to be enough to constitute a chart.In thi...
2020-07-2144 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 07 - CasanovaA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, biographer, Ian Kelly discusses Casanova. Music by Kerry Muzzey. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 24th 2020.
2020-07-1800 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 06 - Fanny KellyA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, theatre director, Luke Dixon, talks about actress, impresario and drag-king, Fanny Kelly. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 17th 2020.
2020-07-0800 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 05 - ShelleyA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Ken Hollings, talks about a former resident of Poland St, Percy Shelley. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 10th 2020.
2020-07-0300 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 14: Murder at the Windmill (1949)As far as we know (and please do let us know if we have got this wrong) there have been four films made about the Windmill Theatre. Murder at the Windmill was the second of these and is the film under discussion in this, the second instalment of our three-part mini-series about “The Mill”. Dr Ellen Wright of De Montford University joined us to talk about this low budget comedy / musical / thriller from 1949.The other three Windmill films are Secrets of Windmill Girl (1966) which we talked about in episode four, Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) which was the subject of o...
2020-07-0146 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 04 - Jeffrey BernardA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, the cartoonist, Michael Heath, talks about his friend, the notorious Jeffrey Bernard. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on July 2nd 2020.
2020-06-2600 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 03 - Jessie MatthewsA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week we talk to Rob Baker about Soho's very own film-star, Jessie Matthews. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on June 26th 2020
2020-06-2400 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 02 - Groucho MarxA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, writer and Marx Brothers expert, Mark Brisenden talks about Groucho Marx. Originally broadcast on The Soho Hour on June 19th 2020.
2020-06-1700 min
Soho Bites PodcastMural Morsels 01 - Karl MarxA series of short features from Soho Bites made for Soho Radio. In each episode we talk to a different person about a figure from the Spirit of Soho Mural. This week, Tony Shrimplin from the Museum of Soho discusses Karl Marx (originally broadcast in Soho Bites episode 12)
2020-06-1700 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 13: Mrs Henderson Presents (2005)Episode 13: Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) & Jill Millard ShapiroThis is the first of three episodes dedicated to films about the Windmill Theatre. For this first one, Dom met up with actor and Sohoite, Mike Warburton to discuss Mrs Henderson Presents. The film is directed by Stephen Frears and stars Dame Judi Dench in the title role along side Bob Hoskins as Vivian van Damm – the legendary producer at this legendary venue. An important piece of historical story-telling or nostalgic flim-flam? Or both?Mrs Henderson Presents trailerThe Windmill’s most famous asset was its Wind...
2020-06-1446 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 12: Das Phantom von Soho (1964)The lockdown continues, so our first interview for this episode – our German themed episode – took place over Skype. We met up (virtually) with Tony Shrimplin from the Museum of Soho. We discussed Soho’s most famous German resident and the only one (as far as I know) to have had an “ism” named after him.Karl Marx’s blue plaque at 28 Dean St, SohoThe film chat took place before anybody had ever even heard of Covid-19 and we met up with Daniel Reifferscheid of the Talking Pictures TV Podcast in a pub! Do you remember tho...
2020-04-3042 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 11: Where Has Poor Mickey Gone? (1964)March 16th 2020 was just one of many extremely weird days in recent times. For us at Soho Bites, it was supposed to be the date of a long arranged interview with jazz singer, David Tughan before a gig he was playing at Ronnie Scotts. Earlier that afternoon, Boris Johnson advised clubs, bars and other public places to close. Although the interview and the gig did take place (sort of ), it wasn’t quite the evening we expected…David Tughan performing at Ronnie Scotts…. on a different occasion.The virus has affected all of us – some more tha...
2020-03-2149 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 10: Cocaine (1922)It turns out the quietest place in Soho – and the perfect spot for an interview – is half way up the Clock Tower of St Anne’s church on Dean St (visible from Wardour St). After winding the clock(!) with the help of Amy, one of a small team of volunteer clock winders, Dom sat down in a funny little room half-way up the tower to speak to historian, author and blogger, Rob Baker about Brilliant Chang and the moral panic about women and drugs that gripped the nation after the First World War.Brilliant Chang after his deport...
2020-03-0245 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 9: Night & The City (1950)For episode nine, Dom was dragged down a dark Soho alleyway by writer, researcher, London tour-guide and host of the Murder Mile Podcast, Michael J-Buchanan-Dunne (hereafter known as “Mike”). Mike had death on his mind but thankfully it was one that took place back in 1965 – the mysterious and tragic demise of the boxer, Freddie Mills. Officially recorded as suicide, rumours have swirled around ever since that it was actually murder. But what does Mike think?Freddie in his 1940s boxing heyday.Freddie’s night club, behind which his body was found.Staying with the them...
2020-02-2446 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 8: Piccadilly (1929)For episode eight we met up with Julian Rodriguez, to talk about the exhibition he co-curated at the Photographers Gallery, Shot in Soho.Julian is a photographer and, among several academic posts, is Head of Film and Photography at Kingston University.We have been given permission to show two pictures from the exhibition. You can find them HEREYou can buy the book of the exhibition hereThe Regent Street Cinema decided to screen a Soho film to accompany the show. Of the several that Julian and his co-curator, Karen McQuaid...
2020-02-0441 min
Soho Bites PodcastNot an episode...'tis the season of coughs & sneezes which has led to our December episode being postponed due to both our contributors being sick! Normal service will be resumed in the New Year. Thank you for listening.Follow us on Twitter (or X - whatever)If Musk starts charging, find us either on our new Threads feed or on Blue Sky.Email us at sohobitespodcast@gmail.comWe'd love it if you left us a lovely REVIEW.And if you'd like to help support the show we'd be very gr...
2019-12-1102 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 7: Miracle in Soho (1957)Episode seven is our God and religion special and we were joined by two fantastic guests. Firstly, Alex Hester sat down with us at St Anne’s Church on Dean St, to talk about his late father, the former rector of St Anne’s, Canon John Hester.John was in post from 1963-75, so to be the vicar of Soho at this time and chaplain to over fifty strip-clubs must have been an unusual calling.John Hester published his memoir in 1970. Here’s the suitably groovy cover plus some pictures of the Rev John Hester out and...
2019-11-2040 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 6: Expresso Bongo (1959)Black coffee and cigarettes. Soho are synonymous. In this episode we talk to London tour guide, Nika Garrett about the 1950s coffee revolution and find out where she goes for the best Espresso Martini in town. HINTNika moved to London from Warsaw 10 years ago for love (that of a charming Irish man) and subsequently began a second love affair – with Soho. Nika loves coffee, art and history and runs walking tours on all of these subjects.You can book a tour and find all her social media contacts at www.mylondonwalks.co.uk...
2019-11-1738 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 5: Rattle of a Simple Man (1964)Episode 5: Rattle of a Simple Man (1963) and the Soho Cricket Collective.Episode five is our sports related episode! Producer Dom visited the Soho Cricket Collective.The Collective has been running as a team for over a decade and is made up of keen amateur cricketers drawn mostly from the film and media companies that have their homes here. A love of the game is pretty much the only requirement to bag a place on Soho’s only cricket team. If you’re itching to play, as long as you know which end of the bat to h...
2019-10-0638 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 4: Secrets of Windmill Girl (1966)Episode 4: Secrets of a Windmill Girl (1966) and Tales from Tin-Pan AlleyIn Episode 4 we welcomed Dr Adrian Smith to discuss ‘Secrets of a Windmill Girl’, an exploitation film produced by the infamous Compton-Cameo team Michael Klinger and Tony Tenser. The two were fierce property magnets in their own right and owned, alongside their film production arm, a number of casinos and porn cinemas in Soho. They bought the Windmill Theatre in 1964 and converted it into a cinema.The film is an attempt to ‘exploit’ their new purchase of the theatre and to ‘exploit’ what, beyond a surface le...
2019-10-0340 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 3: The Lodger (1927) & Frenzy (1972)Double Hitch.In our third episode we were invited on a Soho gangland tour guided by Aidan McManus of London Flipside Tours! We then hosted the podcaster, Adam Roche to discuss two of Hitchcock’s London films, his silent offering The Lodger and the colour-serial-killer-70s-frenetic-horror film Frenzy. Among Adam’s many podcasting achievements is a 20 hour long biographical masterpiece called, The Adventures of Alfred Hitchcock. He is also the founder of The Official Talking Pictures TV Podcast and Attaboy Clarence. Alfred Hitchcock and crew, during the filming of Frenzy (1972)You can fi...
2019-08-2744 min
Soho Bites PodcastSoho Bites 2: Street of Shadows (1953)Episode 2: Street of Shadows (1953) and Jessica Martin on her late father, IdoIn our second episode, we discussed little known ‘B’ film Street of Shadows (AKA Shadowman in the US Market) which was directed by Richard Vernon and released in 1953. The film imports American star Cesar Romero (CESAR ROMERO! Who starred in everything from ‘The Thin Man’ to ‘Batman’) as an Italian immigrant who owns a pin-table saloon in Soho and is falsely accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend. The film has some great sequences shot on location and even a shot of the Marquis of Granby pub in North Soh...
2019-08-2039 min