Sky Arts revisits a cornerstone of British New Wave cinema this Thursday with a deep dive into John Schlesinger’s Billy Liar. Airing at 8:00 PM GMT, the latest episode of Classic Movies: The Story of… (Season 3, Episode 6) turns its lens on the 1963 black comedy, exploring its enduring appeal through the eyes of film critic Ian Nathan.
Nathan leads the post-mortem on this kitchen-sink classic, breaking down the elements that have helped the film stand the test of time: its sharp social commentary, distinctive visual style, and the breakout performance of Tom Courtenay as the titular fantasist, Billy Fisher. The episode also spotlights Julie Christie, whose turn as Billy’s free-spirited girlfriend, Liz, helped cement her status as a rising star.
The Classic Movies series examines the DNA of iconic films, unpacking the stories behind their creation, from early drafts to lasting legacies. It’s an approach that works especially well with a film like Billy Liar, whose antihero and bleakly comic world still resonate decades later.
“Classic Movies: The Story of…” airs Thursday, 5 June at 8:00 PM GMT on Sky Arts.
