Tue, Sep 10, 1991
A critical look at this week's new cinema releases, including Regarding Henry (1991) starring Harrison Ford. Plus on location in Paris for David Puttnam's Meeting Venus (1991), starring Glenn Close and directed by Istvan Szabo; a report on British/European film co-operation - is it the way for the future; and a look at the summer in the cinema - how did Arnold Schwarzenegger measure up in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and did Kevin Costner hit the target as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).
Fri, Dec 27, 1991
Barry Norman chooses his favourite ten films of 1991. It's cosmopolitan choice: France, Germany, Ireland and the United States; there's even a British comedy in there. Will the much hyped but hugely popular The Silence of the Lambs (1991) be among them? Will Arnold Schwarzenegger retain his position as the no 1 male star of the year with Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) or will Kevin Costner's Oscar-laden Dances with Wolves (1990) and the tremendous success of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) pip him to the post? There's a report on whether the recession has hit the hallowed grounds of the American movie industry and a look back over the events of the year that made the news. Has the caring-sharing 90s found its way onto the silver screen and are women's roles in films matching those of the men's?
Tue, Jan 7, 1992
Barry Norman talks to Michelle Pfeiffer. In an industry noted for its lack of good women's roles, Michelle Pfeiffer has carved a niche for herself to rival Meryl Streep and Glenn Close. In recent years starring roles in films like The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Russia House, and Dangerous Liaisons have displayed the versatility of her acting. In her latest film Frankie and Johnny she plays a dowdy waitress in a New York coffee shop who falls in love with an aging cook, played by Al Pacino. She is a very private person, avoiding the celebrity circuit and the partying of the LA scene. Talking about her looks, she once compared herself to a duck. The interview was recorded in Los Angeles, where she is filming her role as Catwoman in the Batman sequel.
Tue, Jan 14, 1992
The first programme in a new season offering a critical look at the week's cinema releases. Previewed tonight: Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer in Frankie and Johnny, Dustin Hoffman in Billy Bathgate, and Jodie Foster making her directorial debut with Little Man Tate. Joel and Ethan Coen, whose Barton Fink won three awards, including best film, at Cannes last May, join Barry Norman in the studio to talk about their unique and decidedly quirky style of film-making. How are their ideas formulated, and who takes the ultimate creative decision? Plus a look at forthcoming attractions in 1992.
Tue, Jan 21, 1992
A critical look at the week's cinema releases. Oliver Stone's JFK is a political thriller which tries to explain the mystery surrounding the assassination in 1963 of President John F Kennedy. Blame It on the Bellboy stars Dudley Moore in a comedy farce of mistaken identity. And Bette Midler and James Caan talk about their latest film, For the Boys, a musical comedy about a wartime song and dance team.
Tue, Jan 28, 1992
A critical look at the week's cinema releases. Black Robe, directed by Bruce Beresford, explores the attempts by a Jesuit missionary to save the "savages", an isolated tribe of Indians in the backwoods of Quebec. The Pleasure Principle marks the directing debut of David Cohen, who also wrote this tale of London in the 90s. And on location - we talk to Peter O'Toole, whose latest film, Rebecca's Daughters, is based on a little-known screenplay by Dylan Thomas.
Tue, Feb 4, 1992
A critical look at the week's cinema releases. Barton Fink won an unprecedented three awards at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, who also directed Blood Simple, Raising Arizona and Miller's Crossing, have a decidedly quirky style of film making. Fink is a writer, seduced by an attractive Hollywood film offer, who has to come to terms with writer's block in a most bizarre hotel. It stars John Turturro (who also won the award for best actor at Cannes) and John Goodman. For the Boys stars Bette Midler and James Caan , who also recently starred in the Oscar-winning film Misery, as a war-time entertainment act in a comedy drama of survival and sheer nostalgia. Plus an Australian film, Death in Brunswick, by the award-winning director John Ruane. Sam Neill plays the part of a cook in a sleazy Melbourne rock 'n' roll club.
Tue, Feb 18, 1992
The Prince of Tides was directed by Barbra Streisand. She co-stars with Nick Nolte, who recently won a Golden Globe award playing a Southern man trying to rectify his troubled family's history. Father of the Bride is a remake of the 1950 classic which starred Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. Steve Martin is the father who must adapt to the shock of the wedding. Diane Keaton plays his wife. Plus, James Ferman on his role as Britain's official censor.
Tue, Mar 3, 1992
An exclusive interview in New York with American director Martin Scorsese. He has received much critical acclaim for his films Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and above all, Raging Bull, considered by some critics to have been the film of the 80s. He is intrigued by the manipulative effect and power of moving images; violence is a recurring trend in many of his films. Scorsese's passion for film is well known, together with his work to preserve and restore old classics. His latest movie, Cape Fear, is a remake of the 1962 classic, updated for the 90s, in which Robert De Niro plays a psychopath, imprisoned for 14 years and set on revenge.
Tue, Mar 10, 1992
Hear My Song is Peter Chelsom's acclaimed first film which has won an American distribution. When an impresario books the Irish tenor Josef Locke, who had absconded 25 years earlier on tax charges, the police wait to see if the great man will appear. Fried Green Tomatoes stars Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy in a tale of friendship, love and murder. And director Mike Leigh explains his passion for a particular French film.
Tue, Mar 17, 1992
Tonight's reviews include Bugsy, Barry Levinson 's Oscar-nominated film, starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening in a dramatic tale of the life of gangster Bugsy Siegel, and Shining Through, a wartime spy thriller starring Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith. Plus a report on just how difficult it can be for small independent films to secure a distribution deal.
Tue, Mar 24, 1992
Tonight's reviews include High Heels, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's tale of life, love and murder between mother and daughter. Freejack stars Emilio Estevez, Mick Jagger and Anthony Hopkins in a futuristic thriller, in which a racing driver awakens 20 years into the future pursued by bounty hunters. And Michael Douglas talks about his controversial new film, Basic Instinct.
Tue, Apr 14, 1992
"The Inner Circle", starring Tom Hulce and Bob Hoskins, tells the story of a loyal Soviet citizen promoted to be Stalin's personal projectionist. Andrei Konchalovsky directs. "Voyager" stars Sam Shepherd in director Volker Schlöndorff's story of one man's journey through life.
Tue, Apr 21, 1992
Tonight's programme looks at "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle", the story of a psychopathic nanny starring Rebecca de Mornay and Annabella Sciorra, "Rebecca's Daughters", starring Peter O'Toole and based on a little-known Dylan Thomas screenplay, and the adaptation of "The Naked Lunch", William Burroughs 's cult novel, directed by David Cronenberg.
Tue, Apr 28, 1992
"Howard's End", the Merchant/Ivory film based on E.M. Forster's classic novel, stars Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham-Carter and Emma Thompson. In "Grand Canyon", Kevin Kline, Danny Glover and Steve Martin find their lives changed when they all meet in a disintegrating Los Angeles. Lawrence Kasdan writes and directs. And Terence Davies ("Distant Voices Still Lives") talks about his latest film.
Tue, May 5, 1992
"Basic Instinct" is a murder mystery, which has already caused an outcry from gay rights activists. Michael Douglas is the policeman on the trail of writer Sharon Stone, whose plot lines have a nasty habit of being re-enacted with murderous consequences. "Lost in Siberia" is an Anglo-Soviet production starring Anthony Andrews as an innocent archaeologist, imprisoned on suspicion of spying. And a report on the trials and tribulations of film students. How easy is it to make the leap from film school to the real world of commercial film-making?
Tue, May 12, 1992
Europa Europa is a remarkable true story about a 13-year-old Jewish boy and his amazing escape from the Holocaust. He manages to pass himself off as an Aryan, changes his name and becomes a revered member of the Hitler Youth. Plus a look at how Hollywood has gone "green": a wave of pictures with environmental themes is set for release, and there are many "eco pics" already in the pipeline.
Wed, May 20, 1992
Barry Norman reports from the Cannes Film Festival, the annual orgy of film watching and film hyping. "I do enjoy Cannes but, believe it or not, it's hard work," says Norman. "Last year Madonna brought back the showbiz razzmatazz. This year - who knows? I'll be playing it on the hoof, and I hope to speak to Michael Douglas and director Robert Altman about their new films." It is easy to forget that there is a competition running alongside the festivities. A front runner for an award is Robert Altman's The Player, a wicked satire on Hollywood. Britain's hopes rest with Terence Davies's The Long Day Closes, an autobiographical film about his Liverpool childhood, and Merchant/Ivory compete with the E M Forster classic Howard's End. Among the famous faces expected on the Croisette are Anthony Hopkins, Alan Rickman, Melanie Griffith, Joe Pesci and Michael Douglas, the star of Paul Verhoeven's controversial new thriller Basic Instinct, which opens the event.
Tue, May 26, 1992
Medicine Man stars Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco who find romance in the Amazonian rainforest, where Connery believes he has found the cure for cancer. Ruby is the story of Jack Ruby (played by Danny Aiello) who shot dead Lee Harvey Oswald, accused of killing President Kennedy. And Albert Finney joins Barry Norman in the studio to talk about his latest film The Playboys, which was filmed in Ireland.
Tue, Jun 2, 1992
The Playboys stars Albert Finney, Aidan Quinn and Robin Wright in an Irish love story. The Lawn mower Man is a British film featuring state of the art technology and special effects, which has taken America by storm. Another British offering is Double X, a low budget film marking the return of Norman Wisdom to the big screen.
Tue, Jun 9, 1992
Straight Talk stars Dolly Parton as Shirlee, a small-time dancing instructor who heads for the Big City and finds that James Woods and a radio station provide the excitement she craves. Brad Pitt plays Johnny Suede, a young musician obsessed with suede and 50s pop idol Ricky Nelson. Plus a report from the set of Carry On Columbus, the first Carry On for 14 years.
Tue, Jun 16, 1992
In the last programme of the current series, Barry Norman travels to Los Angeles to preview the summer in the cinema. Lethal Weapon 3 stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover; Batman Returns finds Michael Keaton in the company of Michelle Pfieffer (Catwoman) and Danny DeVito (Penguin); and in Far and Away Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman portray a couple of Irish emigrants fleeing to a new life. Sigourney Weaver reprises her role for Alien 3, and Tom Brook goes behind the scenes at the famous special effects house, Industrial Light and Magic. Plus a look at how the film community is reacting to the recent troubles in LA.