Omnibus (1967)

Sir John Betjeman (1994x9)

Uitzenddatum: Apr 26, 1994

In the week that a collection of Sir John Betjeman's letters is published, this documentary reflects on one of our most popular and engaging poets. Betjeman's poetry was accessible: it told of suburban correctness and indiscretions, urban loneliness and sadness and he made many films for the BBC which he felt were poems in their way, too. This portrait includes extracts from his much-loved Metroland, comments from some of his admirers such as Professor Malcolm Bradbury and Barry Humphries, as well as a sprinkling of classic Betjeman quotes ("I've always admired people who were taller than myself. I like freckles, turned-up noses, wide-apart grey-blue eyes and locks thrown loosely back, and sulky lips and a hint of latent power."). There are some rare insights, too, from Lady (Mary) Wilson and Betjeman's daughter, Candida Lycett-Green, who puts the record straight on some of the myths that have built up around him. Director: Rick Stroud