The Best of British Cinema

★ 8 · 1987 · Documentary

Sir John Mills narrates this entertaining compilation. "The Best of British Cinema" takes an insightful look back at some of the finest and most memorable feature films to be produced in major British studios over a period of five decades. All of the major stars are here, from Olivier to Leigh, from Sabu to Robert Donat, along with eminent directors. This series confirms the power, humor and drama of the great British films.

Episodes

▶1. The Heroes25m · From Tom Brown to Bulldog Drummond, from Biggles to Bond, the 20th Century British hero was represented as schoolboy, sleuth, soldier, sailor, sky-pilot and spy, and film portrayed them in all their different personalities - romantic, gritty, superior, gutsy, charming, and even with a tongue-in-cheek humour. Featured stars include Dirk Bogarde, Jack Hawkins, Stewart Granger, Kenneth More, Leslie Howard, David Niven and John Mills in films such as Reach For The Sky, We Dive At Dawn, A Tale Of Two Cities and A Matter Of Life And Death.▶2. Leave 'Em Laughing25m · Some of British cinema's most popular comedians, including Norman Wisdom, Stanley Holloway, Will Hay, Frankie Howerd, and the Carry On team in films such as On The Beat, Oh, Mr Porter!, The Ghost Train and Carry On Doctor.▶3. I Spy25m · A look at British spy stories, ranging from classic Hitchcock films of the 1930s to eighties paranoia in Defence Of The Realm, a mixture of the commonplace with the extraordinary - the ease with which laughs turn into thrills, the way a coded secret can suddenly mean life or death for a group of innocent people. Featured stars include Robert Donat, Kenneth More, Deborah Kerr and Margaret Lockwood in films such as Sabotage, The Lady Vanishes (1938 and 1979) and The 39 Steps (1935, 1959 and 1978).▶4. The English Roses25m · During the 1940s and 50s, British films featured female stars who portrayed fiery, independent characters in distinctive settings, and stories than emanated from the events of World War II and its cultural aftermath. Featured stars Phyllis Calvert, Patricia Roc, Margaret Lockwood, Virginia McKenna, Deborah Kerr, and Jean Simmons in such films as Madonna Of The Seven Moons (1945), Love Story (1944), The Wicked Lady (1945), A Town Like Alice (1956), Black Narcissus (1947) and The Blue Lagoon (1949)▶5. The All Singing All Dancing Show25m · Sequences from the golden age of British musicals highlight the talents of stars such as Jessie Matthews, Jack Buchanan, Jean Kent and Kay Kendall. Films include Evergreen, As Long As They're Happy, Trottie True and London Town.▶6. The War Game25m · Stars like David Niven, Trevor Howard and John Mills in enduring wartime classics such as A Matter Of Life And Death, In Which We Serve, The Way Ahead, The Life And Death of Colonel Blimp, The Way to the Stars, 49th Parallel and Henry V.▶7. Things That Go Bump in the Night25m · From the earliest days of movies, the potential for scaring audiences has been recognized and whether treated for thrills or comedy, ghosts and ghouls have proved a popular staple of British cinema. Featured stars include James Mason, Margaret Rutherford, Richard Greene and Claude Rains in films such as A Place Of One's Own, Blithe Spirit, Don't Take It to Heart, Hands Of The Ripper and The Clairvoyant.▶8. Fine and Dandy25m · Costume dramas have been a staple of British cinema, especially during the 1940s when the Gainsborough melodramas resulted in some of the successful and popular films of the period. The best examples of the genre mix sumptuous film-making artistry with propulsive narratives. Stars include James Mason, Margaret Lockwood, Phyllis Calvert, Patricia Roc, Stewart Granger, Dennis Price and Jean Kent in films such as The Wicked Lady, The Man In Grey, Fanny By Gaslight, Madonna Of The Seven Moons and The Magic Bow ▶9. The Eccentrics25m · The combination of distinctive actors and characters have resulted in some of the most indelible and memorable scenes. True originals of British cinema include Margaret Rutherford, Peter Sellers, Alastair Sim and Edith Evans in films such as Blithe Spirit, Waltz Of The Toreadors, Cottage To Let and The Importance Of Being Earnest.▶10. Power and Prejudice25m · British cinema has always has a strong tradition for powerful reflections on contemporary life, social and psychological dramas that mix insightful commentary and identifiable characters with involving narratives. Featured stars include Richard Harris, Patricia Roc, Stanley Baker and James Mason in films like This Sporting Life, When the Bough Breaks, Violent Playground and Odd Man Out.

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