Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Red Shoes | 20130923 | 20140721 (R3) | Continuing the Sound of Cinema season, ballerina, writer and broadcaster Deborah Bull gives a dancer's take on Powell and Pressburger's best-known film, the 1948 classic 'The Red Shoes', starring Moira Shearer, and based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, together known as The Archers, were one of the most influential and audacious film-makers of the 1930s and 40s. Their groundbreaking works include: 'The Red Shoes', 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp', 'A Matter of Life and Death' and 'Black Narcissus'. Writen and read by Deborah Bull. Bull joined The Royal Ballet in 1981 and became a Principal Ballerina in 1992. After her 20-year career in ballet, she went on to become Creative Director of the Royal Opera House, as well as an author and broadcaster. She is currently Director of Cultural Partnerships at King's College, London. Producer: Justine Willett. Deborah Bull on Powell and Pressburger's classic 1948 film The Red Shoes. |
| 02 | The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp | 20130924 | Continuing the Sound of Cinema season, Ian Christie on the 1943 Powell and Pressburger film The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, a film that has been called Britain's answer to Citizen Kane. Ian Christie knew Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger well, and was instrumental in bringing their films to a new audience in the 1980s. Here he looks at their unusual relationship through one of their greatest films. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, together known as The Archers, were one of the most influential and audacious film-makers of the 1930s and 40s. Their groundbreaking works include: 'The Red Shoes', 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp', 'A Matter of Life and Death' and 'Black Narcissus'. Ian Christie is an acclaimed film scholar, who has written several works on the films of Powell and Pressburger. Producer: Justine Willett. Ian Christie on The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, dubbed the 'British Citizen Kane'. | |
| 03 | A Matter Of Life And Death | 20130925 | 20140724 (R3) | Continuing the Sound of Cinema season, the Rev Richard Coles ponders heaven and hell in the classic 1946 Powell and Pressburger film A Matter of Life and Death, starring David Niven. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, together known as The Archers, were one of the most influential and audacious film-makers of the 1930s and 40s. Their groundbreaking works include: 'The Red Shoes', 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp', 'A Matter of Life and Death' and 'Black Narcissus'. The Rev Richard Coles is a cleric and broadcaster. Producer: Justine Willett. Richard Coles on the classic Powell and Pressburger film A Matter of Life and Death. |
| 04 | Black Narcissus | 20130926 | 20140725 (R3) | It is all done by suggestion, but eroticism is in every frame and image from beginning to end. It is a film full of wonderful performances and passion just below the surface, which finally, at the end of the film, erupts', Michael Powell Continuing the Sound of Cinema season, film critic Peter Bradshaw looks at Powell and Pressburger's sensuous 1947 melodrama, 'Black Narcissus'. Set in a convent in an isolated Himalayan valley, in which tensions are running high, Black Narcissus was based on the 1939 novel of the same name by Rumer Godden. It stars Deborah Kerr, Kathleen Byron and Jean Simmons, and was described by Michael Powell described as the most erotic film he ever made. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, together known as The Archers, were one of the most influential and audacious film-makers of the 1930s and 40s. Their groundbreaking works include: 'The Red Shoes', 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp', 'A Matter of Life and Death' and 'Black Narcissus'. Peter Bradshaw is the Guardian's film critic. Producer: Justine Willett. Film critic Peter Bradshaw on Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's film Black Narcissus |
| 05 | I Know Where I'm Going | 20130927 | Continuing the Sound of Cinema season, writer A L Kennedy contemplates the inconveniences of love in the 1945 Powell and Pressburger romance 'I Know Where I'm Going!', set on a remote Scottish island. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, together known as The Archers, were one of the most influential and audacious film-makers of the 1930s and 40s. Their groundbreaking works include: 'The Red Shoes', 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp', 'A Matter of Life and Death' and 'Black Narcissus'. A L Kennedy is an award-winning writer and stand-up comedian. Producer: Justine Willett. AL Kennedy discusses the 1945 Powell and Pressburger film I Know Where I'm Going. |