In this week's episode of Old Movies, longtime friend of the show Paul Vickery, head of programming of the legendary Prince Charles Cinema in London, joins other Paul to discuss all manner of topics - his unusual route into programming, the changing nature of film fandom in a digital world, the erosion of cultural spaces in London, and the PCC's ongoing rent dispute with its billionaire landlord, Asif Aziz. But lest you think it's all old men yelling at cloud while also raging against the machine, we also find the time to discuss how an existential crisis during the pandemic led Paul V to the work of Mike Leigh and in particular his Old Movie of choice, 1997's Career Girls. It's a film about two old friends taking a wistful look back at their shared history in London, and this podcast, it turns out, is about the exact same thing.
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July 12th is MIKE LEIGH DAY at the Prince Charles Cinema - buy tickets to SECRETS AND LIES, CAREER GIRLS, NAKED and TOPSY TURVY now: https://tinyurl.com/39dyrzvr
Come and see Transmission's events at the Prince Charles Cinema - Vampire's Kiss and La cabina/El televisor: https://princecharlescinema.com/seasons-events/tx/
FURTHER READING/WATCHING:
It's Personal: Paul M on the Prince Charles and Criterion Capital: https://moviesaredead.substack.com/p/its-personal-the-prince-charles-cinema
The billionaire philanthropist making hundreds of Londoners homeless: London Centric on Asif Aziz: https://www.londoncentric.media/p/asif-aziz-mass-eviction-billionaire-landlord-criterion-capital
‘The city is being hollowed out’: the billionaire landlord locked in a David v Goliath battle for London’s West End - Guardian article on PCC vs Asif Aziz https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/14/the-city-is-being-hollowed-out-the-billionaire-landlord-locked-in-a-david-v-goliath-battle-for-londons-west-end
Mike Leigh on WTF (no link but I have faith you can find it)
