About this season
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 (16)
1. Classic Tales
Aired 10 August 1988 • 25 min
Highlights from some of the best-known literary adaptations British cinema has produced, including extracts from The Importance Of Being Earnest, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, The Card and The History Of Mr. Polly.
2. Action Men
Aired 10 August 1988 • 25 min
Stars such as Oliver Reed, Stanley Baker, Howard Keel and Peter Finch feature in films highlighting thrills and action, including The Trap, Sea Fury, Floods of Fear and Robbery Under Arms.
3. All in the Game
Aired 2 September 1988 • 25 min
Among the films that feature sports are This Sporting Life with Richard Harris, Checkpoint with Stanley Baker, All For Mary starring David Tomlinson and The Lady Vanishes with cricket obsessives Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne.
4. Kids
Aired 7 September 1988 • 25 min
Celebrating young scene-stealers including John Howard Davies, Jon Whiteley, Vincent Winter, Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills in British movies such as Oliver Twist, Dangerous Exile, The Kidnappers, Tiger Bay and The History of Mr Polly.
5. Film Fun
Aired 14 September 1988 • 25 min
Comedy sequences from films such as The Early Bird, The Frozen Limits, The Intelligence Men, Band Waggon and Carry On Loving feature stars like Norman Wisdom, the Crazy Gang, Morecambe and Wise, Arthur Askey, and the Carry On team
6. Animal Antics
Aired 11 January 1989 • 25 min
Featuring some of the most famous non-human stars of British cinema, including Tarka the Otter, An Alligator Named Daisy, Tawny Pipit and The Belstone Fox.
7. Love Story
Aired 18 January 1989 • 25 min
8. All at Sea
Aired 25 January 1989 • 25 min
9. Doctors and Nurses
Aired 1 February 1989 • 25 min
10. Heaven and Earth
Aired 8 February 1989 • 25 min
11. New Frontiers
Aired 15 February 1989 • 25 min
12. Woman's Own
Aired 22 February 1989 • 25 min
13. English Gentlemen
Aired 1 March 1989 • 25 min
14. Reel Lives
Aired 8 March 1989 • 25 min
15. Going Places
Aired 15 March 1989 • 25 min
16. Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance
Aired 22 March 1989 • 25 min