Talking Pictures
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Last episode
46:00
46:00Talking Pictures
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by one of Hollywood's most outspoken stars, Shirley Maclaine. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
50:00A look at the life of acting legend Michael Caine, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of one Britain's most successful actors.
March 2024
30:00An examination of On the Waterfront, revealing how behind its success lies a story of betrayal and resentment, born from America's anti-communist fervour of the 1950s.
31:00Sylvia Syms looks back on the life of Laurence Olivier, perhaps Britain's greatest actor, using rare material from the BBC archives to tell the story of his distinguished career.
February 2024
29:00
29:00A look back at the life of the actor Omar Sharif, who died in July 2015 at the age of 83. Featuring archive interviews with the BBC and contributions from director David Lean.
45:00Sylvia Syms looks at the handsome heroes, gorgeous heroines, pin-ups and bombshells who came to be known as cinema's greatest sex symbols, hearing from the stars themselves.
January 2024 35:00
35:00Sylvia Syms presents rarely seen footage from the BBC archives that explores the life and career of one of Britain's best-loved actors, Dame Judi Dench.
Moments from interviews conducted on a range of BBC shows over the years help to tell the story of Dustin Hoffman, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and his films.
December 2023
Celia Imrie tells the story of Glenda Jackson, one of Britain’s greatest-ever acting talents, who famously turned her back on her hugely successful screen career to pursue a life in politics.
Celia Imrie unwraps a selection of the very best Christmas movies ever made and looks at why films are such an important part of the festive ritual.
Celia Imrie celebrates the cinema’s marvellous musicals, venturing back through the BBC’s archives to look at film’s most joyous and arguably enduring genre.
November 2023 38:00
38:00Sylvia Syms looks back on the great British comedy stars who over the years have had cinema audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter.
43:00A look back at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Bette Davis, capturing the milestones of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
40:00The career of Robert Redford is examined in this exploration of the BBC archives, which includes rarely seen interviews. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
40:00A look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar-winning actor Charlton Heston, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
42:00A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Orson Welles, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
September 2023
Sylvia Syms looks through the BBC archives to tell the story of one of Hollywood's greatest ever feuds - the rivalry between legendary actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
August 2023 40:00
40:00A look at the life and work of the late Richard Attenborough, with interviews and archive clips illustrating a career that has made him one of cinema's most popular figures.
A look back at some of cinema’s best-loved partnerships, from Fred and Ginger, Doris Day and Rock Hudson, to Newman and Redford, and even Nick Frost and Simon Pegg.