Bet your house on a Heath and Mickey double

It’s that time of year again. The Strat is back.

This semester the 10-year course is starting afresh, taking us from the birth of cinema up to 1920 sometime in May. Scratchy old silent film stock, hammy acting and primitive storytelling await. I am really, really looking forward to it.

Here is the oldest surviving celluloid footage to give you an idea of the thrills that await:



I know. Exciting, huh?

Meanwhile, my quest to take in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die has reached 812, and after watching the risible Crash and the charming Driving Miss Daisy, I have now seen every Best Picture Oscar winner as far back as 1956.

Geek much?