London films: John Boorman, British Film Institute, 'Hope and Glory'

Film director and producer John Boorman made Hope and Glory (1987), one of the best films depicting how Londoners coped with bombs dropped on the city during the Blitz of World War II. (London journalist Paul Coleman reports from the South Bank).

   Boorman told a South Bank audience: "Most films fail. But some films fail famously."

   Several Boorman films - Point Blank (1967), starring Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson, banjo plucking Deliverance (1972) and The Tailor of Panama (2001) - received global acclaim.

   But Boorman told the British Film Institute audience how even he advised people not to go and watch his 1977 film, Exorcist II: The Heretic.

  "People responded in droves," recalled Boorman. "And those who did go to see it threw stuff at the screen and demanded their money back."

Good fellow

Witty raconteur Boorman received his BFI fellowship from actress Sinead Cusack as actor Jeremy Irons looked on. Afterwards, the BFI screened Point Blank.

  "Audiences want to be lost in a movie," said Boorman.

 Sadly, the only thing I lost during Point Blank was my interest about half way through.

   Not one of Boorman's better failures.

Paul Coleman, London Intelligence, March 2013