Film Classification [My Version]

Here in the UK, the British Board of Film Classification  gives age ratings, and viewing guidance before any film can be shown in the public cinema or on TV. Introduced in 1912, there was U and A [Universal and Adult] in 1951 X was added [explicit content] ...and now there are 7 bands [R18 is restricted to 18+, only shown in sex shops]
As well as the rating, guidance can say things like "violence, racism theme, threat, language, rude humour, dangerous behaviour" That is the warning on the new Railway Children" film - a PG. I think that's fair - we might feel that children are unlikely to copy the bits about running on railway tracks and playing in the sidings between the carriages, but you never know. And there is fighting, there are bombs, and racist actions and language. I wouldn't take Rosie [I might sit at home and watch the original with her though, that's a U]

I found myself thinking about this on Monday when my neighbour gave me this book. "I Was Monty's Double". She said it had been Daphne's [who also lived in The Close and died in 2010, aged 100] and that Daphne was related to the man who wrote it.Sadly the book is not signed by the author M.E. Clifton James. That might have made it valuable. "I love that film!" I declared. 

"Well you must definitely have the book then, Angela" 

Written in 1954, this autobiography covers events of 1944 - when 'Cliffy' was an actor on the London stage. He was the spitting image of General Montgomery - and someone in MI5 had this brilliant idea of getting him to impersonate Monty reviewing the troops in Africa in order to confuse the Germans [meanwhile plans for the the Normandy landing are taking place] The plan worked! Four years after the book came out, it was filmed [starring James - playing himself and the general, and John Mills is his aide] A great film imho.

It has set me thinking about some of the favourite films I am happy to watch over again, and how to classify them...

• children's films/cartoons [Toy Story, Mary Poppins, Railway Children]
• romcoms [Sleepless in Seattle, Working Girl, Love Actually]
• thrillers/crime [Witness, any Hitchcock, 39 Steps-1978 version]
• classics [Gone with the Wind, Moby Dick, Kill A Mockingbird, Breakfast at Tiffanys]
• sci fi/fantasy [Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings] 
• musicals [Cabaret, Carousel, West Side Story, Sound of Music, LesMis]

But more importantly than that, there is the category known in this family as IRONING FILMS. These are films which keep me going when I have a mountain of ironing to do. Many of these are black and white classics from the 30s-60s. Like Monty's Double, or anything filmed at Elstree or Ealing Studios. And such films fall into one of three categories - general, hot or cold.

hot films make me feel hot, so I only watch them in the winter months...Lawrence of Arabia, Twelve Angry Men, Ice Cold in Alex, Capricorn One. If these are on, I find myself reaching for the fan, or opening windows

cold films are the opposite, and just what I want to watch right now...Where Eagles Dare, Scott of the Antarctic, the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Even in this sweltering heat, I shiver and reach for a cardi.

general films are anything else with no specific temperature/climatic features but are a useful distraction from the task in front of me.  

I know people who won't watch thrillers before bed in case of nightmares - I understand that. But am I the only person who won't watch "Mississippi Burning" on a hot day, because I shall faint from feeling excess heat?

What is your favourite film? and is it HOT or COLD?