Films On Tv (10th April+)

[DB7]

Oliver Twist

13:20 on Monday 10th April on Channel 4.

Alec Guinness's superb performance as Fagin dominates David Lean's classic adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel. With John Howard Davies in the title role, Robert Newton and Anthony Newley.

Director: David Lean

Starring: Robert Newton, Alec Guinness, Kay Walsh, Francis L. Sullivan, John Howard Davies, Henry Stephenson

(Black and White, Subtitles, 1948, U, 4 Star)



Dangerous Beauty

02:00 on Tuesday 11th April on Channel 4.

Loosely based on a true story, Marshall Herskovitz's film is set in 16th-century Venice, where strict rules rather than love dictate who may marry whom. Veronica Franco and Marco Venier love each other but he is a nobleman's son and she is beneath his station.

Director: Marshall Herskovitz

Starring: Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell, Oliver Platt, Moira Kelly, Naomi Watts, Fred Ward

(Premiere, Widescreen, Subtitles, Signed, 1998, 15, 4 Star)



Captain Horatio Hornblower RN

13:05 on Tuesday 11th April on BBC 2 North.

Seafaring epic based on C S Forester's naval hero of the Napoleonic Wars. A young British officer is assigned to deliver weapons to a Central American dictator, El Supremo, who is fighting the Spanish. But, seemingly overnight, the political alliances change as Spain and England unite to fight El Supremo, leaving Captain Hornblower in the middle.

Director: Raoul Walsh

Starring: Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo, Robert Beatty, Moultrie Kelsall, Terence Morgan, James Kenney

(Subtitles, 1951, U, 3 Star)



Cromwell

13:00 on Wednesday 12th April on Channel 4.

Lavish and thoughtful biopic that charts the rise of Oliver Cromwell from passionate, Puritan patriot to lonely dictator via the battlegrounds of the Civil War and a collision with Charles I over the thorny issue of rights: human vs divine. Memorable lead performances, handsome set pieces, Oscar-winning costumes and a stellar cast including Robert Morley, Frank Finlay and Patrick Magee help enliven the sparring ideology.

Director: Ken Hughes

Starring: Richard Harris, Alec Guinness, Robert Morley, Dorothy Tutin, Frank Finlay, Timothy Dalton

(Widescreen, Subtitles, 1970, U, 3 Star)



Doctor Who and the Daleks

11:10 on Thursday 13th April on BBC 2 East.

In this feature-film version of the classic sci-fi television series, the Doctor and his companions are accidentally transported to the home planet of the deadly Daleks. The planet is also home to the peaceful Thals - whom the Daleks are planning to eradicate.

Director: Gordon Flemyng

Starring: Peter Cushing, Roy Castle, Jennie Linden, Roberta Tovey, Barrie Ingham, Michael Coles

(Widescreen, Subtitles, 1965, U, 3 Star)



Hannibal Brooks

13:20 on Thursday 13th April on BBC 2 West.

During World War II, English prisoner Brooks looks after Lucy the elephant in a Munich zoo. But he'll only make a break for the Swiss border if Lucy comes along too. Endearing adventure written by comedy team Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

Director: Michael Winner

Starring: Oliver Reed, Michael J. Pollard, Wolfgang Preiss, John Alderton, Helmut Lohner, Peter Carsten

(Subtitles, 1969, U, 3 Star)



Persuasion

19:15 on Friday 14th April on BBC 4.

Period drama set in 1814 England, based on the novel by Jane Austen. It is several years since Anne Elliot was persuaded by her friend to reject the marriage proposal from a naval rating who is now a prosperous captain. He returns to find Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own family tenants in her home. Amid the etiquette of social arrangements, their reunion gradually gives voice to some long-buried emotions.

Director: Roger Michell

Starring: Amanda Root, Ciarán Hinds, Susan Fleetwood, Corin Redgrave, Fiona Shaw, John Woodvine

(Subtitles, 1995, PG, 3 Star)



The Agony and the Ecstasy

11:30 on Sunday 16th April on BBC 2 Midlands.

Lavish Hollywood epic about Michelangelo, master artist of the Renaissance, and his conflict with Pope Julius II over his commission to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. When he is at first displeased with his work on the fresco, Michelangelo flees in disgust to the mountains. There he has a vision that inspires him to return to his task.

Director: Carol Reed

Starring: Charlton Heston, Rex Harrison, Diane Cilento, Harry Andrews, Alberto Lupo, Adolfo Celi

(Subtitles, Audio Described, 1965, U, 3 Star)



The Italian Job

20:20 on Sunday 16th April on BBC 3.

Classic comedy crime caper. Newly released from jail, Charlie Croker discovers that he has 'inherited' a brilliant plan for a bullion robbery in Italy. Aided and abetted by an imprisoned mastermind, the scheme calls for him to engineer the biggest traffic jam in history in order to steal the gold. All he has to do is overcome a few obstacles - such as a lack of money, not having a gang, and the wrath of the local Mafia.

Director: Peter Collinson

Starring: Michael Caine, Noel Coward, Benny Hill, Raf Vallone, Tony Beckley, Rossano Brazzi

(Subtitles, 1969, PG, 4 Star)

[theuofc]

(DB7 @ Apr 6 2006, 06:46 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>

Oliver Twist

13:20 on Monday 10th April on Channel 4.

Alec Guinness's superb performance as Fagin dominates David Lean's classic adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel. With John Howard Davies in the title role, Robert Newton and Anthony Newley.

Director: David Lean

Starring: Robert Newton, Alec Guinness, Kay Walsh, Francis L. Sullivan, John Howard Davies, Henry Stephenson

(Black and White, Subtitles, 1948, U, 4 Star)



[/b]

Quite a lineup of films next week, among them one of my all-time favourites: David Lean's "Oliver Twist" beautifully shot in black and white by Guy Green. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img] For anyone interested in this film and others by David Lean, I highly recommend Kevin Brownlow's biography "David Lean," which has an entire chapter on OT plus wonderful photos, among them Stuart Freeborn making up Alex Guinness as Fagin and another of Lean and Green perched high above filming the attempted escape of Bill Sykes and Oliver, played respectively by Newton and little John Howard Davies.



Before the bio, I hadn't realised that it was Kay Walsh who suggested the opening of the film to Lean and Stanley Haynes, who had been casting about for the elusive opening. The men had a competition at Pinewood with a reward to anyone who would offer an idea they could use, but had no takers. Up stepped Kay with a few pages of notes on the girl in the storm, etc. To use a cliche, the rest was Oliver Twist history.



A great film. Highly recommended.. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]



Barbara