The Magic Lantern

Of course part of the phenomenon that makes that series of still images flashing through the zoetrope into a moving image is:
Persistence of Vision.

I agree with the good doctor. Photo's are still memories but film reminds us that the people in it were alive because they moved and had voices. Voices are one of the things we forget after a while so movement and sound together remind us of that persons very existence, that they had a physical presence in the world even if they are no longer here.

John Hurt had a wonderful distinct gravelly voice and almost always turned in a performance of note. In fact it is quite extraordinary how much gravity the quality of a voice can add to a film. Any actor can speak and yet some actors voices have an unforgettable character of their own that transcends the mere mechanics of speaking. Not just John Hurt but Richard Burton, Alan Rickman, Orson Welles, Morgan Freeman, Donald Sutherland and George Clooney are ones that immediately spring to mind. In fact I was reminded of this when watching Phone Booth earlier this year, when it struck me that Kiefer Sutherlands voice has as much an impact in that film as anything you see on the screen.

I think music does the same thing. With the celebration of Sargent Pepper recently what struck me was there they all were in their 20's and 30's breaking boundaries. Look at The Girl Can't Help It. Probably thought of nothing substantial at the time but it led to so much more.

John Hurt was always an underrated actor. From Dr Who to The Elephant Man he made you want to watch and listen to him

Well said Mr K.
I can understand why so many actors prefer the theatre - the chance to get it right through constant repetition - but does that not make it all the more miraculous when they get it right on film and secure lightening in a bottle for the eternal magic lantern.

Ferris, think that day is some time away. Cushing certainly triggered the uncanny valley for me.
Out of interest, anyone know if his estate got any money for that?

There was a lovely old fashioned cinema in Liverpool city centre,on Church Street if my memory serves me correctly.
It was here i experienced the big screen for the first time,me and my Dad,him snoozing off,whilst i was immersed with Flash Gordon,Woody Woodpecker etc wide eyed,having my first transcendental movie exposures,incidentally the picture house was called "The Tatler"and long may it R.I.P.
As for John Hurt,he had a wonderful nose for sniffing out parts that fitted him like a glove.
Impeccable taste the man had,and may he too R.I.P.

The moving image does bring the past back to life, but we now seem to be moving towards the time of "resurrecting the dead", with CGI and performance capture. We've already had Peter Cushing brought back in Rogue One.

Who next?