Talking Pictures

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Talking Pictures

A compilation of rarely seen interviews and archive footage tells the story of movie-master David Lean, one of Britain's greatest film directors.

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2026
The career of Robert Redford is examined in this exploration of the BBC archives, which includes rarely seen interviews. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.
Celia Imrie explores the story behind Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed Godfather series, featuring insights from cast members Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Coppola himself.
Celia Imrie dives into the BBC’s archives to tell the behind-the-scenes story of Steven Spielberg’s classic aquatic horror, Jaws.
Celia Imrie revisits one of cinema's greatest decades with a deeper dig into the BBC archives, uncovering more revealing interviews and magic movie moments from 1970s Hollywood.
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood director Alfred Hitchcock, capturing the highlights of his life and career.
Marilyn Monroe's story is told through the insights and anecdotes of friends, directors and fellow actors who spoke about her over the years on a selection of BBC programmes.
Sylvia 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.
A look back at the life of Oscar-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, featuring interviews conducted with the BBC over the course of his career.
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.
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by award-winning actor Albert Finney, with archive interviews and classic clips. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Celia Imrie tells the story behind one of the most groundbreaking and influential films of the sixties, 1967's Bonnie and Clyde, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.
A look at the life of Sean Connery, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Sylvia Syms looks back on the great British comedy stars who over the years have had cinema audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter.
A look at the life of acting legend Michael Caine, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of one of Britain's most successful actors.
Episodes 2025
As Kenneth Branagh prepares to unveil the latest version of Death on the Nile, Celia Imrie looks at how Agatha Christie's murder mysteries have been treated by film-makers over the years.
A 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.
Celia Imrie takes a journey in the BBC’s archives to tell the story of one of the most acclaimed films of all time, Alfred Hitchcock’s groundbreaking 1960 horror, Psycho.
The story of the Hollywood musical, featuring interviews with stars from the genre's golden age, as well as some of the directors and songwriters who helped create them.
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