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The Elephant Man
s06e04 · 2026-11-05 · 20:00
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Classic Movies: The Story of...
Sky Arts Documentary Next s06e05 · 2026-11-12 · 20:00
What it is
Classic Movies: The Story of... goes in search of the cinematically sublime. Those films that have transcended their era to enter the pantheon of greats.With each episode devoted to a single film, their story will be told with detail, affection, looking for the truth behind the myth, all the trials and triumphs that went into forging a classic. But this isn't simply history, the standard making of, it's about identifying those ingredients immortal scenes, performances, themes, luxuriant cinematography, art direction, special effects, music, even the power of a single line – that elevate a film to a new level.Hosted by Ian Nathan, guide us through the story from inception to legacy, supplemented with regular input along with special guest, with unique insight, historians who have devoted entire books, and visit to special location, where they shot or that served as a key inspiration, bringing each of these films to life with a dynamic presentation. We are on a journey to find out not what makes a film good, but what makes it classic.
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The Blue Angel
s06e05 · 2026-11-12 · 20:00
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Episode guide
6 this season · 34 totals03e01 The Ipcress Files 2025-05-01 19:00
The Ipcress Files
A celebration of cinematic masterpiece The Ipcress Files, a spy thriller from 1965, based on Len Deighton's novel published three years earlier. Directed by Sidney J Furie, it starred Michael Caine as an intelligence officer from the War Office investigating the disappearances of high-level scientists.
s03e02 Kind Hearts and Coronets 2025-05-08 19:00
Kind Hearts and Coronets
The 1949 British black comedy regarded as a cinematic masterpiece. A crime story, it sees Alec Guinness playing eight characters, alongside co-stars Dennis Price, Joan Greenwood and Valerie Hobson. The plot focuses on a vengeful man attempt to secure the family's dukedom by murdering the eight people ahead of him in the line of succession to the title.
s03e03 The Dam Busters 2025-05-15 19:00
The Dam Busters
The planning and making of the 1955 British docudrama war film starring Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave. Directed by Michael Anderson, the plot was based on the attempt by the RAF to destroy six dams in Germany during the Second World War
s03e04 Scott of Antarctic 2025-05-22 19:00
Scott of Antarctic
Ian Nathan looks at the 1948 British adventure film, which stars John Mills and tells the story of Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated attempt to be the first to reach the South Pole.
s03e05 Flash Gordon (1980) 2025-05-29 19:00
Flash Gordon (1980)
Ian Nathan looks at the 1980 sci-fi adventure, which starred Sam Jones in the title role as the American football player thrown into a battle to save the Earth.
s03e06 Billy Liar 2025-06-05 19:00
Billy Liar
Ian Nathan takes a look at John Schlesinger's 1963 British New Wave classic, starring Tom Courtenay as problematic protagonist Billy Fisher and Julie Christie as his free-spirited love interest Liz.