Sequence (journal) facts for kids

Sequence was a special magazine about movies from Britain. It was started in 1947 by four friends: Lindsay Anderson, Peter Ericsson, Gavin Lambert, and Karel Reisz. Even though it didn't last long, it was very important for how people thought about films.

What Was Sequence?

Sequence was a magazine that talked about films. It was published in the United Kingdom. It helped shape new ideas about how movies should be made and watched. The magazine was active for a few years, from 1947 to 1952.

The Brilliant Minds Behind It

The four people who started Sequence were all very talented. They met at universities or through school. Each of them brought unique skills and ideas to the magazine.

Lindsay Anderson's Journey

Lindsay Anderson was a key founder. He came back to Oxford University after serving in the army. He worked with the Intelligence Corps in Delhi, India. This group helped gather important information for the army.

Peter Ericsson's Secret Work

Peter Ericsson was studying at New College, Oxford. During World War II, he was a senior codebreaker at Bletchley Park. This means he helped crack secret codes and messages. Later, he worked for the British Labour Party, helping with international relations from 1955 to 1958.

Gavin Lambert's Path

Gavin Lambert was a school friend of Lindsay Anderson. He went to Cheltenham College. He started studying English at Magdalen College. But he decided to leave when he found out he had to study Middle English. This is an older form of the English language.

Karel Reisz's Film Passion

Karel Reisz studied chemistry at Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge. He later became a famous film director. He once said he met Lindsay Anderson on a bus. Karel was going to the British Film Institute to learn about film editing. Lindsay was going to watch a movie called The Iron Horse.

From Idea to Influence

The magazine started small but quickly grew. It changed its name and became a voice for new ideas in film.

The Birth of a Magazine

Sequence first began as the Film Society Magazine. It was the official magazine for the Oxford Film Society in 1947. Penelope Houston was its first editor. Soon after, the magazine changed its name to Sequence. It published 14 issues between 1947 and 1952. The last few issues were edited by Karel Reisz and Lindsay Anderson.

Inspiring Free Cinema

The ideas from Sequence magazine were very important. They helped start the British Free Cinema movement in 1956. This movement was co-founded by Lindsay Anderson, Karel Reisz, Tony Richardson, and Lorenza Mazzetti. Free Cinema was about making films that showed real life and had a strong message. Many articles written by Anderson for Sequence were later collected in a book. The book was called Lindsay Anderson: The Collected Writings.