Film society wants wider range of flicks at Harrow's Vue cinema

FILM enthusiasts have lobbied Harrow's multiplex cinema to show a wider range of films after the Observer highlighted that a locally-shot movie could not be seen here.
Members of Harrow Film Society wrote to the Vue Entertainment to complain about the limited range of flicks that appear at its nine-screen picturehouse in St George's Shopping Centre, St Ann's Road, Harrow.
They often have to go out of their way to travel to the Swiss Cottage Odeon in Swiss Cottage, north-west London, if they want to see anything other than blockbuster releases and not only are the transport costs higher but the tickets are more expensive too.
As if to typify the friends' frustration, a film called 'Nowhere Boy' about musician John Lennon's formulative years in Liverpool was partially shot in Pinner yet was disappointing not being shown at Harrow Vue.
Following the Observer's story, the company did eventually organise showings but only for one week and only during the daytime.
Society co-founder Gina Lane said: "It was a good response, but not if you are working all week.
"They also showed 'La Traviata' and 'The Road'. We were amazed to have three really good films in the same week."
Harrow Film Society, which during the 1980s organised screenings of independent films at Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End, told Vue it welcomed the response to 'Nowhere Boy' and asked for the cinema to continue this policy.
Society co-founder Claudia Mernick explained: "It's been so frustrating over the years.
"Films like 'Che', 'Frost/Nixon' and 'An Education' just never come here.
"We always have to go elsewhere to see it. Harrow really loses out."
n The society is urging other Harrow residents to make representations to the Vue Corporation by visiting www.myvue.com/corporate and clicking on 'Comment'.