| 41 |
A Ventriloquist's Story: Her Masters Voice (2012) #733
DOCUMENTARY
Main
1 hour. BBC. Internationally acclaimed ventriloquist Nina Conti, takes the bereaved puppets of her mentor and erstwhile lover Ken Campbell on a pilgrimage to Vent Haven, the resting place for puppets of dead ventriloquists. She gets to know her latex and wooden travelling partners along the way, and with them deconstructs herself and her lost love in this ventriloquial docu-mocumentary requiem. Ken Campbell was a hugely respected maverick of the British theatre, an eccentric genius who would snort out forgotten artforms. Nina was his prodigy in ventriloquism and has been said to have reinvented the artform. This film is truly unique in genre and style. No one has seen ventriloquism like this before. Nina Conti's funny, highly original and poignant documentary, takes us on two journeys. A personal journey, and a professional one, through the strange, surprising and often hilarious world of ventriloquism. When Nina was just another twenty-something wannabe actress, Ken presented her with a teach-yourself ventriloquism kit. This set her on a path to becoming a sell-out act in Britain and abroad, with a clutch of major awards. On the road, Nina brings all the puppets to life as struggles to meet the conflicting demands of her old acerbic partner Monkey, and the new characters she has been bequeathed. But one puppet remains silent. Ken's doll of himself sits mournful and judgemental in the hotel bedroom. Nina cannot find her master's voice and until she does, she will not be able to lay her old life to rest. Never has watching someone talk to themselves been this interesting. |
| 42 |
A Ventriloquist's Story: Her Masters Voice (2012) #785
DOCUMENTARY
Main
1 hour. BBC. Internationally acclaimed ventriloquist Nina Conti, takes the bereaved puppets of her mentor and erstwhile lover Ken Campbell on a pilgrimage to Vent Haven, the resting place for puppets of dead ventriloquists. She gets to know her latex and wooden travelling partners along the way, and with them deconstructs herself and her lost love in this ventriloquial docu-mocumentary requiem. Ken Campbell was a hugely respected maverick of the British theatre, an eccentric genius who would snort out forgotten artforms. Nina was his prodigy in ventriloquism and has been said to have reinvented the artform. This film is truly unique in genre and style. No one has seen ventriloquism like this before. Nina Conti's funny, highly original and poignant documentary, takes us on two journeys. A personal journey, and a professional one, through the strange, surprising and often hilarious world of ventriloquism. When Nina was just another twenty-something wannabe actress, Ken presented her with a teach-yourself ventriloquism kit. This set her on a path to becoming a sell-out act in Britain and abroad, with a clutch of major awards. On the road, Nina brings all the puppets to life as struggles to meet the conflicting demands of her old acerbic partner Monkey, and the new characters she has been bequeathed. But one puppet remains silent. Ken's doll of himself sits mournful and judgemental in the hotel bedroom. Nina cannot find her master's voice and until she does, she will not be able to lay her old life to rest. Never has watching someone talk to themselves been this interesting. |
| 43 |
Natural World: Animal House (2011) #805
DOCUMENTARY
Main
1 hour. BBC. Sir David Attenborough tells the stories of the world's best animal architects. There are house-proud bower birds, who only find a mate if they decorate their homes perfectly. There are hornets, who build electric central heating systems, and the star-nosed mole, whose house is designed so well that worms, his favourite meal, literally drop in for dinner. From larders to nurseries and from high-rises to subway systems, Attenborough shows that the animal architects have designed it long before humans. |
| 44 |
Who Do You Think You Are? Emilia Fox (2011) #807
DOCUMENTARY
Main
1 hour. BBC. Celebrities trace their family trees to reveal the lives of their ancestors. Emilia Fox, who was heavily pregnant while filming this episode, was intrigued to find out what family traits her baby might inherit. Part of the Fox theatrical dynasty, Emilia wants to find out just how far back the family's acting roots go. Emilia also discovers, in an extraordinary tale of rags to riches, that her great-great-grandfather Samson Fox made one of the most important inventions of the 19th century. Born into an impoverished family, Samson started work in a Leeds textile mill when he was just eight years old, but ended up becoming one of the richest men in Victorian Britain. As Emilia investigates further, she discovers how her illustrious ancestor was later touched by scandal. |
| 45 |
National Theatre Live: One Man, Two Guvnors (2011) #1253
FILM
Main
National Theatre Live - released 2019. Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe, a small time East End hood. Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubber. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart. James Corden in the lead role. |
| 46 |
National Theatre Live: Frankenstein (2011) #1261
FILM
Main
Directed by Danny Boyle. With Jonny Lee Miller, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andreea Paduraru, Ella Smith. Created by Victor Frankenstein, the one known only as the creature sets out to discover the world and the meaning of life. |
| 47 |
Get Him to the Greek (2010) #27
FILM
Main
Directed by Nicholas Stoller. With Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Elisabeth Moss, Rose Byrne. A record company intern is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow to a concert at L.A.'s Greek Theater. |
| 48 |
'As You Like It' at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (2010) #417
FILM
Main
Shakespeare's tale of young love, betrayal, cross-dressing, and redemption. |
| 49 |
On Expenses (2010) #677
FILM
Main
1 hour. BBC. Drama about American journalist Heather Brooke's fight for the disclosure of MPs' expenses under the Freedom of Information Act, resulting in one of the defining political scandals of the decade. |
| 50 |
Inglourious Basterds (2009) #222
FILM
Main
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth. With Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, Mélanie Laurent. In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same. |
| 51 |
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) #293
FILM
Main
Directed by Terry Gilliam. With Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Heath Ledger, Andrew Garfield. A traveling theater company gives its audience much more than they were expecting. |
| 52 |
The Dark Knight (2008) #72
FILM
Main
Directed by Christopher Nolan. With Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine. When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, the caped crusader must come to terms with one of the greatest psychological tests of his ability to fight injustice. |
| 53 |
The Dark Knight (2008) #120
FILM
Main
Directed by Christopher Nolan. With Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine. When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, the caped crusader must come to terms with one of the greatest psychological tests of his ability to fight injustice. |
| 54 |
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) #203
FILM
Main
Directed by Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan. With Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Saurabh Shukla, Anil Kapoor. A Mumbai teen reflects on his upbringing in the slums when he is accused of cheating on the Indian Version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" |
| 55 |
Weirdsville (2007) #310
FILM
Main
Directed by Allan Moyle. With Scott Speedman, Wes Bentley, Taryn Manning, Matt Frewer. A pair of slackers get in way over their heads when they try to dump the body of a dead girlfriend in the basement of a drive-in movie theater where a satanic cult performs ritual sacrifices. |
| 56 |
HMS Pinafore / Trail by Jury (2006) #613
MUSIC
Main
Opera Australia. Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, Colette Mann, John Bolton Wood, Tiffany Speight, Ali McGregor, Roxane Hislop, Richard Alexander, Andrew Jones Opera Australia Melbourne Chorus Orchestra Victoria / Andrew Greene. While HMS Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan’s first full-length satirical work and first major international success, Trial by Jury was their first collaboration - the show's outrageous antics made it the toast of London. In this filmed recording, Anthony Warlow, Australia’s musical theatre superstar, is at the helm as both the "right good captain" and the "good judge" too. He is joined by a stellar cast featuring David Hobson, John Bolton Wood and Colette Mann as "dear little Buttercup". |
| 57 |
Vera Drake (2004) #25
FILM
Main
Directed by Mike Leigh. With Imelda Staunton, Jim Broadbent, Heather Craney, Richard Graham. Abortionist Vera Drake finds her beliefs and practices clash with the mores of 1950s Britain--a conflict that leads to tragedy for her family. |
| 58 |
Heat (1995) #162
FILM
Main
Directed by Michael Mann. With Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight. A group of professional bank robbers start to feel the heat from police when they unknowingly leave a clue at their latest heist. |
| 59 |
Parkinson: The Interviews: Kenneth Williams (1990) #1006
COMEDY
Main
45 mins. BBC. In this compilation of clips from five of his eight appearances on Parkinson, Kenneth Williams gives vent to his dislike of theatre critics as well as Michael Parkinson, and gives his rendition of My Crepes Suzette. Contributors: John Betjeman, Patrick Campbell, Tom Lehrer, Annie Lewis, Tony Moss, Frank Muir, Robin Ray and Maggie Smith. |
| 60 |
Michael Feinstein in Concert (1989) #614
MUSIC
Main
60 mins. Acclaimed for his performances of the Gershwins, Berlin and other masters of the American popular song, pianist and singer Michael Feinstein is now well established on the US concert circuit. He entertained President Reagan and Mrs Thatcher at the White House last October, and made his British debut in last year's Royal Variety Performance. This recording is from a concert given earlier this year at London's Dominion Theatre. Produced and directed by Brian Whitehouse. |