See You at the Pillar

A series celebrating the hobbies and leisure pursuits of the British during the last century. This episode looks at Britons getting away from it all.

A series celebrating the hobbies and leisure pursuits of the British during the last century. This episode looks at Britons enjoying their planes, trains and automobiles.

A series celebrating the hobbies and leisure pursuits of the British during the last century. This episode looks at Britons’ fun and games.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several revered sports: Stanley Matthews, Amelia Earhart, Bobby Jones, Juan Fangio, Donald Campbell, Charles Lindbergh.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several revered actresses: Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Brigitte Bardot, Sofia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several revered cultural icons: Dalí, Fontaine & Nureyev, Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Edward & Mrs Simpson, Yuri Gagarin, and Mary Quant.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several leaders: Emmeline Pankhurst, Ronald Reagan, Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Eisenhower, De Gaulle, Fidel Castro, Kennedy, Khrushchev.

In this episode, we see a collection of biographies of several revered actors and musicians: Chaplin, Elvis, Laurence Olivier, Louis Armstrong, Laurel and Hardy, Maurice Chevalier, John Lennon, Richard Burton, and Bob Hope.

This lovely film shows us the wonders of Northern Ireland in the 1960s, featuring great scenic shots and local characters.

Fabulous documentary made to educate American businessmen on the peculiar ways, customs, etiquette and traditions of the British as they were in 1974.

Filmed Lady Gregory play. Incredibly funny story about two grumpy men who live in an Irish workhouse.

This feature-length documentary, newly divided into two parts, is a unique collaboration between Soul Jazz Records and British Pathé, made up entirely of newsreel footage about the Caribbean filmed during the period 1922-1970.

This feature-length documentary, newly divided into two parts, is a unique collaboration between Soul Jazz Records and British Pathé, made up entirely of newsreel footage about the Caribbean filmed during the period 1922-1970.

By the late 1930s, Pathé had refined its way of filming performers by mixing in evocative filmed locations such as London, Port Talbot, Ireland, Scotland and even the Queen Mary. Pathé also filmed real workers who became professional singers and miners who trained to be a team of high-wire walkers! Sit back and enjoy this time capsule celebration of a long-lost classic era of British variety!

What makes Agatha Christie such a successful writer? On the 75th anniversary of the creation of her immortal character Miss Marple, this documentary introduces viewers to new fields of scientific inquiry using sophisticated computer analyses of Christie’s every written word, her sentence structure, story arcs, poisons used, red herrings, clues and more.

Documentary covering the 1955 Le Mans endurance race – the one with the terrible crash that influenced the future of motor racing.

The archetypal Marxist revolutionary, Che was also a physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist. We go to Dublin to meet Jim Fitzpatrick who met Che and designed the classic commercially-renowned image of the famous Argentine.

Actress, model and singer Marilyn Monroe was the original blonde bombshell who found international success in motion pictures during the 1950s. In this episode, we meet the photographer Elliot Erwitt, who took the classic “Seven Year Itch” image, and Magnum photographer Bruce Davidson who worked with Marilyn on “The Misfits”.

Anne Frank is one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Her wartime diary, “The Diary of a Young Girl”, has been the basis of several plays and films, and is an inspiration to young people. In this episode, we meet Eva Schloss, Anne Frank’s step-sister, and visit the Anne Frank museum.

Not only considered among the greatest heavyweights in boxing history but arguably the greatest sports personality of all time. We meet George Lois, the man behind the legendary Esquire cover, and Lawrence Lusting who photographed many of Ali’s fights.

For more than half a century, film and newsreel company British Pathé documented almost every aspect of British life, but it also captivated audiences with enthralling stories from overseas.

While the company was famous for its pioneering news reports, it also produced immensely popular “cinemagazines”, which entertained cinemagoers for decades.

For more than half a century, the film and newsreel company British Pathé documented almost every aspect of everyday life in Britain and around the world. Covering everything from major world events and exotic foreign locales to the pageantry of state occasions and gritty social issues, the company amassed a unique documentary record of 20th-century life.

The voice that was synonymous with Pathé, above all others, belonged to Bob Danvers-Walker. His son Michael and film historian Ian Christie recall the man who got Britain through the Blitz and beyond.

Musical and comic turns include The Beverley Sisters, Flanagan & Allen, Gracie Fields, Tommy Trinder, The Crazy Gang, Arthur Askey, Laurel & Hardy, Bob Hope, Richard Hearne (Mr Pastry), Max Miller, Anna Neagle, Richard Murdoch, Wilfred Pickles, Vera Lynn and many, many more. The 1940s American film star and comedian, Danny Kaye, is seen here in rehearsal for his 1948 Royal Command Performance.

A nostalgic celebration of a rich diversity of variety entertainers. There are balancing acts, jugglers, dance bands, jazz bands, organists, strongmen, comedians, musicians, dancers – modern and ballet, roller-skaters, actors, singers and even a Bird Circus.

A programme full of performances by the morale-boosting variety acts and singers of the Second World War. Artists who helped frontline troops and home front civilians alike to keep smiling through the dark days of war. Including Flanagan & Allen, Gracie Fields, Robb Wilton, Sydney Burchall, Tommy Trinder, Peter Sinclair, Vera Lynn, Cyril Fletcher, Tommy Handley and Mantovani, among many more!

This programme includes performances by The Peters Sisters, Leslie Henson, The Hillbillies, Douglas Byng, Issy Bonn, Lorenzi, The Four Aces, Sydney Burchall, Mr Penny, Eric Woodburn, Billie Hale, Ronald Frankau and many, many more. Come 1939, war with Germany was looming, but, as the famous phrase goes, “The show must go on!” – and it did!

We hear from the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Quentin Tarantino, Mike Leigh and many others about the festival as it is today. Cannes is the most prestigious film festival where all the world’s greatest directors want to show their films.

The French New Wave directors, including François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, cause massive controversy and manage to get the event cancelled in 1968. Sophia Loren becomes the new queen of the festival and the Golden Boys of American cinema, including Martin Scorsese and Robert Altman, become regular winners of the Palme d’Or.

The festival is established as a response to Mussolini’s control of the Venice Film Festival. It becomes an inspiration to a generation still recovering from the impact of WWII by attracting the biggest stars of the time including Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and director Orson Welles. Its reputation spreads worldwide alongside that of its most famous regular visitor, Brigitte Bardot.

Famous comedy travelogue produced by British Pathé in the 1960s to promote holidays in Great Britain. The shows were presented by much-loved ventriloquist Ray Alan and his celebrated companion Lord Charles and filmed in full colour.

Famous comedy travelogue produced by British Pathé in the 1960s to promote holidays in Great Britain. The shows were presented by much-loved ventriloquist Ray Alan and his celebrated companion Lord Charles and filmed in full colour.

Famous comedy travelogue produced by British Pathé in the 1960s to promote holidays in Great Britain. The shows were presented by much-loved ventriloquist Ray Alan and his celebrated companion Lord Charles and filmed in full colour.

Famous comedy travelogue produced by British Pathé in the 1960s to promote holidays in Great Britain. The shows were presented by much-loved ventriloquist Ray Alan and his celebrated companion Lord Charles and filmed in full colour.