GB
2009
1hr 35mins
Dir: Malcolm Venville
Starring: John Hurt and Ray Winstone
A jealous husband and his friends kidnap his wife’s lover with the intention of restoring his wounded ego
This dark, brooding, and cynical crime noir is not for the faint-hearted, but if one is prepared to overlook the frequent profanities (you have been warned) then one will be amazed at the intensity of the film. Except for a few outdoor shots that are used to fill in the story, 44 Inch Chest takes place almost entirely within the confines of a dilapidated building, giving it the feel of a stage play – and a very good stage play at that. We are also rewarded with some brief shots of trains. The first is of a Class 319 EMU on Blackfriars Bridge, whilst the second is a shot of trains passing over a railway bridge at night, thought to be in the Bermondsey area of southeast London. The trains in this second scene consist of an unidentified EMU and a Network Rail Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), the latter being a very rare glimpse of a track maintenance machine. MPV’s are largely used for sandite laying and leaf-busting in the autumn and winter months.
