Free Republic

It’s noteworthy that five of the most libertarian films ever made were produced by Britain’s Ealing Studios in the brief period, 1949-1957. These were among the much-praised “Ealing Comedies” that have become a classic genre in their own right.

SNIPPET: "Muslim convert Richard Dart declared “judging is only for Allah” and refused to stand in the dock as he was jailed for six years for terrorism yesterday." SNIPPET: "Mr Justice Simon said the three held “radical Islamist beliefs” and showed they were “committed to acts of terrorism”. Dart, 30, of Ealing, west London, was jailed for six years; Mahmood, 22, from Northolt, west London for nine years and nine months, and Alom, 26, of Stratford, east London, for four years and six months." SNIPPET: "Dart and Alom travelled to Pakistan to try to get terrorist training, and took advice...

Classic British Cinema Has Become An Elusive Delight The England I love is in the old films of Ealing, Elstree and Shepperton - and they're becoming harder to see. Simon Heffer 26 Dec 2009 We all have a cultural comfort zone. It is the place where we go when we need to feel entirely at one with the world and have the ultimate relaxation. For years – actually, decades – I thought that, for me, it was music. Then, not so long ago, I realised that was not the case. Most of my favourite music is loud, agitated, violent stuff...

Lieutenant George Wookey, who has died aged 84, established a world record when, half a century ago, he went deeper than any helmeted diver in a flexible suit; later he brought up whisky from the ship sunk off the island of Benbecula which was the subject of the novel and the film Whisky Galore.On October 12 1956 Wookey was lowered 600 ft from a diving tender into a Norwegian fjord as part of a trial to discover the depth at which a diver could assist stranded submarine crews. While he went down with a heavy steel bench, representing the hull...