When it comes to
making cameo appearances in movies, Alfred Hitchcock really was the Master.
However, Cinema Retro magazine is hot on his heels after making its television
debut in the new hit BBC television show, “Psychovilleâ€, a seven-part series
currently airing in Britain.
Written by and
starring Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, best known for being part of
“The League of Gentlemen†team, “Psychoville†is a dark character comedy
mystery featuring characters from all over the UK, who each receive a
mysterious letter. The production values are high, the writing excellent, and
Shearsmith and Pemberton prove once again just how extraordinary their acting
talents are, playing not only the leads, but subsidiary roles too. What makes
this series stand out from others is the writing skills of this duo, who are
both self-confessed movie fanatics, and have woven references to many movie murder
mystery classics in the series.
In episode 4,
which aired on july 8th, the creative team paid homage to
Hitchcock’s “Ropeâ€, with the first 20 minutes or so being totally filmed in one
shot as the camera tracks around the actors in an apartment after just
murdering a man and putting him in a trunk in the centre of the room. It is just
brilliant, and a must-see for movie lovers.
So, where do we
come in? Well, throughout the whole show, a copy of Cinema Retro issue 2 lies
on top of the trunk holding the body! Now we know the guys are fans of the
magazine, as you can see from our news item in issue #14, when they met our
reporter Adrian Smith. However, whilst this is our first claim to product
placement, we can assure you no payment was made, although we do hear that Shearsmith and Pemberton are now making perverted sexual demands of our reporters.
Click here for
Adrian’s on-line interview with the team, and catch up with “Psychoville†now –
you will not be disappointed. The show’s web site is at www.bbc.co.uk/psychoville