July 21, 2006

When Michael Powell's film 'Peeping Tom' was released in Britain in 1960, it was met with a wave of revulsion and was pulled from release, effectively ending the career of a genius who was the co-creator of undeniable classics such as 'The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp', 'A Matter of Life and Death' and 'The Red Shoes'. Why?

Ebert on Peeping Tom. Michael Powell at Wikipedia and IMDb.

posted by At Swim Two Birds 18 years ago
  • Far out! He was born in Bekesbourne. I used to spend a shitload of time there when I was a teen. Both Ian Fleming & Joseph Conrad lived there at one time or another. I always thought that place inspired the imagination! Interesting post.
  • I have heard of this movie several times but never seen it. When I get a job I will have to see about getting the DVD.
  • I can tell you exactly why this film was reviled. Peeping Tom turns the camera's gaze right back on the spectator and directly accuses the voyeuristic joy they take in sex and violence of being something less than healthy. Naturally, this cannot be permitted to stand. Burn him!
  • thanks astb, i've seen most of powell's films without knowing anything about him.
  • It dealt with similar themes that Hitchcock explored (Rear Window, Psycho) but more directly. Paraphrasing Wolof, by watching the film, we the audience had our own voyeuristic obsessions reflected right back at us. And, he got away with it, at least for a time. Two other films that deal with unrepentant murderers that I enjoyed and might reccomend. Targets by Peter Bogdanovitch Monsieur Verdoux by Charles Chaplin
  • I never get tired of watching "The Red Shoes." I can't really put my finger on what it is I like, because on paper it really SHOULDN'T be my cup of tea. But there it is.
  • I agree with TUM. I usually don't like tear-jerkers, but The Red Shoes is one of my favorite movies ever. I'll admit that I tried to watch Peeping Tom and it gave me a stomach ache. I'm pretty sure that was the point, though.