New Francis Durbridge: A Man Called Harry Brent; Sir David Lean in The Directors; Stanley Baker's Robinson Crusoe (the full version this time)
The full-length version of our next special was hidden deep in the BBC vaults for many years, but we’re delighted to show THE FULL VERSION! Play of the Month: Robinson Crusoe (1974) here on TPTV on Saturday 30th May at 4.35pm. Starring Stanley Baker, this adaptation of Defoe’s novel follows the story of Robinson Crusoe who struggles to survive after being shipwrecked on a desert island. Ram John Holder stars as Friday and Jerome Willis, the Captain. Directed by James MacTaggart and filmed in the West Indies, the visuals are stunning. And while you watch and feel the heat radiating through the screen – it was apparently 38 degrees plus while filming – think of the amazing Stanley Baker doing his own stunts! What a guy!
Dear Supporters of Film and TV history,
Hoping you are all well. Phil from The Cinema Museum popped in this week, we've discovered a lost film of Penelope Keith, a reel of John Cleese as you’ve never seen him before and beautiful forage of 1940s school life! All coming to a Footage Detectives screen to you all soon. And a massive thank you to viewer Alan Jelly who recently donated over 100 cans of REAL film to TPTV which we will start to investigate soon 😊
A big thank you to all of you who joined Noel and Caroline Munro on their TPTV Trip to Malta – An Island Of Film - what a wonderful time you all had! Can't wait for the next planned trip – our very popular Third Man Tour in December (for more info' and to book click HERE). Small, bespoke groups and hosted by Mike and Noel! What could possibly go wrong?...
Lovely to see so many of you in Whitstable for our Peter Cushing Celebration, and for those of you all sitting at home comfortably in your own cinema - we see you all too! All of you do your bit to keep us on the air, so thank you!
We were discussing films that sparked controversy over the years and were reminded that even silent films could divide opinion across the nation. One particularly notorious example was Five Nights, released during the Great War. The film - which followed the escapades of a young artist with too much money and too much time on his hands - caused considerable outrage and ultimately led to a landmark legal case. The remarkable story behind this film is explored in David Hewitt’s book, VIOLET, BLACK, CRIMSON, WHITE and offers insight not only into the controversy itself but also into the social and cultural climate of the period. If you’d like to discover more, we’re offering the book at the special price of £10, which includes UK postage and packaging. Please click HERE to order – you won’t regret it.
Now onto all the gems we’ve got coming up this week!
Following the success of The Quatermass Xperiment, which we showed last week on TPTV, Hammer Films reunited audiences with our dear Professor Bernard Quatermass in Quatermass 2 - which airs on TPTV on Thursday 28th May at 9:20pm. Directed by Val Guest, this sequel is regarded by many as, not only an improvement on its predecessor, but also as one of the finest British sci-fi horror films of the 1950s. Set against the uneasy backdrop of post-war Britain where nuclear weapons are never far from people’s minds and a sense of paranoia prevails, the professor seeks support for his lunar colonisation project. His investigations, however, lead him to a secret government colony and to believe that something deeply unsettling is taking place on British soil. Brian Donlevy, John Longden and Sid James head an excellent cast, while the cinematography and music score help make this a true classic. Enjoy!
Director Val Guest’s work continues on Saturday 30th May at 1:35pm with the 1957 Hammer Films horror The Abominable Snowman. Set in the Himalayas, and shot partially in the French Pyrenees, the film follows a group of scientists on an expedition in search of the legendary Yeti. Peter Cushing stars as British botanist Dr John Rollason, who alongside his wife Helen (Maureen Connell), encounters a group of American adventurers led by Dr Tom Friend (Forrest Tucker), who are eager to track down the mysterious creature. Like all the best horror films, The Abominable Snowman is atmospheric and eerie at points – with its snowbound, icy setting creating a sense of isolation and unease. Prepare to hide behind the sofa!
Lovers of sixties mysteries and masterclasses of misdirection, this one is for you! Premiering on Wednesday 27th May at 8pm (and every Wednesday at 8pm thereafter), is our new mini-series, Francis Dubridge’s: A Man Called Harry Brent. This brilliant small-town whodunnit is jam-packed with Durbridge’s great writing, signature blind alleys, and a fantastic cast! Gerald Harper steals the show as DI Alan Milton and is ably supported by the charismatic Edward Brayshaw, Judy Parfitt, Jennifer Daniel and Bernard Brown amongst others. Tune in from the beginning to follow the story – but we’re pretty sure you won’t get to the bottom of it all until the very last episode!
For many, few artists shine more brightly than singer Celine Dion, who is the subject of this week’s documentary screening on Tuesday 26th May at 4pm. Celine Dion: A Star is Born. The film traces the star’s remarkable journey from her childhood in Quebec, through representing Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest, to becoming an international star. The film explores the star’s extraordinary career and her relationship with René Angélil, who was both her manager and her one true love – revealing a woman who may seem familiar yet is far more complex than many realise.
FULL SCHEDULE
For a printable schedule for the week ahead click HERE
To see more HIGHLIGHTS, click HERE
For those of you who would like to see a full list of this week’s programming WITH SUBTITLES AVAILABLE click HERE
For FOUR WEEKS of advance schedules click HERE.
For those of you who like to plan your TV viewing and find out what new films and series are coming to TPTV, we have the schedules for the next few weeks up on our website. On the schedule page, click on the dates for your chosen week. The first week will be the current one, and you can select the next week on the tab.
OTHER PREMIERES SELECTED BY THE USHERETTE
The Racing Game - Tuesday 26th May 9:05pm
Odds Against. 1979. Stars Mike Gwilym, Mick Ford & James Maxwell. Champion steeplechase jockey Sid Halley investigates some strange accidents of Seabury racecourse and soon uncovers an inside man. Every Tuesday at 9:05pm
(NEW) Film Noir - Wednesday 27th May 5:30pm
Classic Noir. 2022. The 1940s and 50s were the heyday of Film Noir. This new style which had developed from the days of silent film and German Expressionism was now reaching its peak in Hollywood.
(NEW) Railway Murders - Thursday 28th May 5:20pm
The Body in the Tunnel. 2021. Stars Nicholas Day, Matthew Green & Alan Moss. Frederick Gold, a 64-year-old coin dealer, fell victim to 22-year-old Percy LeFroy Mapleton in June 1881.
(NEW) Mark Saber - Thursday 28th May 8pm
The Sucker Game. 1958. Stars Donald Grey, Diana Decker & Colin Tapley. Some valuable treasures for the British Museum are stolen and Mark Saber's help in recovering them is enlisted.
(NEW) The Lucy Show - Friday 29th May 11am
Lucy and the French Movie Star. 1968. Stars Lucille Ball, Gale Gordon & Jacques Bergerac. A company fronted by a French actor comes to Los Angeles and Lucy gets a taste for French champagne.
(NEW) Z-Cars - Friday 29th May 7pm
Police Work. 1963. Stars Brian Blessed, Sidonie Bond & Joseph Brady. Martin Davis fails to turn up for his father's inquest. PC's Smith and Weir investigate and find him with a shotgun.
(NEW) Whiplash - Saturday 30th May 4pm
Fire Rock. 1961. Stars Peter Graves, Anthony Wickert & Delia Williams. Chris Cobb discovers one of his depot managers has gone missing. He was last seen in an area known for strange happenings.
(NEW) Duchess of Duke Street - Saturday 30th May 8pm
No Letters, No Lawyers. 1976. Stars Gemma Jones, James Laurenson & Thorley Walters. A journalist poses as a porter to gather information on Louisa that may ruin her personal & professional life.
(NEW) Fortean TV - Saturday 30th May 11:10pm
1997. Hosted by Reverend Lionel Fanthorpe. Tonight we meet the man who has perfected the art of mummification, see some sinister snails and meet a sacred two headed snake.
(NEW) The Man from U.N.C.L.E - Sunday 31st May 4pm
The Brain-Killer Affair. 1965. Stars Robert Vaughn, David McCallum & Leo G. Carroll. Thrush poisons Waverly, with plans to subject him to a procedure that affects the brain.
(NEW) The Directors - Sunday 31st May 6pm
Sir David Lean, the British two-time Academy Award winning director is best known for his extraordinary cinematic epics like The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962).
(NEW) That’s My Boy - Sunday 31st May 7pm
The Big Night Out. 1984. Stars Mollie Sugden, Christopher Blake & Jennifer Lonsdale. Ida is infuriated when consultant Charles Barber invites Mrs Price to a dinner.
(NEW) The Vise - Sunday 31st May 7:30pm
Death Walks by Night. 1955. Stars Ron Randell, Nanette Newman & Michael Ashwin. A scream leads to the body of a murdered girl and one of the witnesses is murdered while telephoning the police.
(NEW) Sergeant Cork - Sunday 31st May 8pm
The Case of the Hooded Students. 1966. Stars John Barrie, William Gaunt & Charles Morgan. The head teacher of a private boys school is bound, tied, and put on trial by a hooded court.
SHORT FILMS, Glimpses and Look at Life
(THESE MAY NOT BE LISTED IN TV GUIDES)
These lovely little films are often missed out in the listings so be sure to make a note in your diaries – or set your recorder – so as you catch them!
Tuesday 26th May
4:10am - A Lifetime Ago with BAIM: York
1972. Valentine Dyall tells us about York, an ancient city steeped in history. Whilst its outlook is to the next century, it retains the atmosphere of its heritage.
2:55pm - Cinebox Memories: Ah Dis Donc by Colette Renaud
1964. Enjoy this jukebox film of the wonderful Colette Renaud with her performance of the song Ah Dis Donc!
Wednesday 27th May
3:25am - Cinebox Memories: Colette Magny - Basin St Blue
Take a trip to the 60s as Colette Magny performs the song Basin St Blues.
6am - Cinebox Memories: Bobby Rydell - Bellazza
1966. Enjoy this video of Bobby Rydell as he performs his wonderful song Bellazza.
Thursday 28th May
3:40am - A Lifetime Ago with BAIM: Enchanted Cities
Enchanted Cities. 1957. Narrated by Kenneth Macleod. A tour of the beautiful Italian cities of Florence and Venice.
(NEW) 2:50pm - Pilot Radio Factory 1949
1949. Situated in London, skilled hands produce radio and television receivers at the pilot radio factories. Enjoy watching the intricate process carried out to produce these fascinating products.
4:55pm - Pete Murray Takes You to Nottingham
1983. Travel to Nottingham with Pete Murray, a city which in medieval times was enclosed by walls. See the beautiful River Trent, the towering Trent Polytechnic and so much more. Repeats: Sunday 31st May at 12:40pm
Friday 29th May
1:10am - Look at Life: High, Wide and Faster
1963. A captivating look at the plans for closer co-ordination between our roads, railways and coastal shipping.
3:50am - Look at Life: Testing Time
1963. A look into all the different things that need to be tested in Britain today.
6am - Cinebox Memories: Up on the Roof by Bobby Breen
A spectacular performance of Up On The Roof in this wonderful musical video from the 60s.
(NEW) 4:20pm - Sydney Travelogue 1931
A fascinating travelogue showing the beautiful scenes of Sydney, Australia. Learn about the popular destinations and activities of Sydney in 1931.
9:05pm - Look at Life: Brains Unlimited
1963. A look into an examination of the education system, not only in Britain, but also in the Commonwealth.
Saturday 30th May
3:55am - Cinebox Memories: Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya by The Fortunes
It's time to get into the groove with Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya performed by the internationally acclaimed harmony band - The Fortunes.
3:20pm - Cinebox Memories: Gotta See Baby Tonight by Mr Acker Bilk
Mr Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band perform the fantastic 1962 song Gotta See Baby Tonight.
(NEW) 6:40pm - All That Glitters
1957. This documentary covers the production of Aluminium Foil, its uses in everyday life and in modern technology and how dependent we have now become on this metal for our convenience.
As part of An Afternoon With Talking Pictures TV on Friday 5th June, Dad will introduce one of his favourite films from the Danzinger archive – A Taste of Money - and then will be in conversation with the Festival’s Director Paul Cotgrove, BEM.
For more information and to book tickets, please click HERE. We look forward to seeing you there!
TPTV PODCAST
Please tune in to the popular podcast for news, views and reviews of upcoming films and shows on your favourite channel. Click below to listen, or search for us in your favourite podcast app.
https://talkingpicturestvpodcast.libsyn.com/
QUIZ
Given we’re still at our Peter Cushing Weekend in Kent and the great man is in The Abominable Snowman showing on Saturday 30th May at 1:35pm, we want to know, what was the name of the character he played in Star Wars 1977?
There's a small prize for the winner so please send your answer to theprojectionist@talkingpicturestv.co.uk with QUIZ 24/5 in the subject line and don’t forget to include your postal address in case you win.
Finally, please raise your glasses (or mugs) on Tuesday to us here at TPTV as it’s our 11th Birthday! Hip, hip, hurray! We can’t believe it’s been over a decade since we embarked on the journey to share with you all the great films and series that had been stuck in the archives for decades but deserved another airing.
And if it wasn’t for all of you tuning in, telling your friends and family about us, and staying in touch, we wouldn’t be here – so thank YOU! You keep us going and we appreciate it – so please raise another glass/mug to you! Cheers!
Have a fantastic week and we’ll see you next Sunday.
Best Wishes
Sarah, Noel and Neill
