Cookery means the knowledge of Medea and of Circe and of Helen and of the Queen of Sheba. It means the knowledge of all herbs and fruits and balms and spices, and all that is healing and sweet in the fields and groves and savoury in meats. It means carefulness and inventiveness and willingness and readiness of appliances. It means the economy of your grandmothers and the science of the modern chemist; it means much testing and no wasting; it means English thoroughness and French art and Arabian hospitality. It means, in fine, that you are to see imperatively that everyone has something nice to eat.
So said that eminent Victorian John Ruskin, and who's to argue with him. He is thus quoted at the beginning of this beguiling 'short' (some 20 mins) directed by Sarah Erulkar, for the Gas Council. As the dedicated reader of this blog will know I have a certain soft spot for these short films, documentaries, made to be shown in British cinemas before the main feature. 'Something Nice to Eat' is one of my favourites. It is erudite, intelligent, playful and deeply stylish. Visually, it is a feast. It may even be described as quintessential 'Sixties'. After all, the model Jean Shrimpton does make 'a brief but intriguing' appearance.
I have written briefly about Erulkar before on this blog, when I made mention of her wonderful film for the GPO 'Picture to Post', which is another visual feast. In 'Something Nice to Eat' her cinematographer was Wolfgang Suschitzky, who was also, you'll remember, the cinematographer for 'Get Carter'. Between them they create some arresting and inventive imagery; food in particular is photographed in abundance and with sensuousness. The fruit and veg stalls in Berwick St market are piled high with produce, both mundane and exotic; the butchers and the fishmongers displays are splendid. War and Post-war Austerity, this film may be saying, is over, banished. Much use is made too of Schlieren photography (by Ronnie Whitehouse). The result is rather Psychedelic.
I have written briefly about Erulkar before on this blog, when I made mention of her wonderful film for the GPO 'Picture to Post', which is another visual feast. In 'Something Nice to Eat' her cinematographer was Wolfgang Suschitzky, who was also, you'll remember, the cinematographer for 'Get Carter'. Between them they create some arresting and inventive imagery; food in particular is photographed in abundance and with sensuousness. The fruit and veg stalls in Berwick St market are piled high with produce, both mundane and exotic; the butchers and the fishmongers displays are splendid. War and Post-war Austerity, this film may be saying, is over, banished. Much use is made too of Schlieren photography (by Ronnie Whitehouse). The result is rather Psychedelic.
In both films Erulkar was also the script writer. Here her words are narrated by David de Keyser, and the recipes presented by John Addey. The cookery consultant was Margaret Costa of The Sunday Times Magazine. Music by Johnny Hawksworth.
In all a very classy production, especially when one considers it is essential an advert for the latest gas appliances.
Something Nice to Eat
1967
Producer: Anthony Gilkison Associates, The Gas Council
Director: Sarah Erulkar
Cinematographer: Wolfgang Suschitsky
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