Long running weekly look at the latest film releases growing out of an earlier series called Film Night that had been presented by Tony Bilbow.
The title of the show has changed every year starting with Film 71 then Film 72 etc.
Initially the show wasn’t fully networked, premiering in the South East on 16 November 1971 before going fully networked in 1972. Irma Kurtz was original host and other early hosts included Joan Bakewell, Frederic Raphael, Iain Johnstone and Barry Norman (who by 1972 had become the permanent host).
Norman presented until 1998 before leaving to work for Sky TV. Jonathan Ross took over from 1999 and hosted until 2010 (he also left the BBC to go and host his ITV chat show). Claudia Winkleman hosted from 2010-2016. The format during the Winkleman years was slightly different too with co-presenters and various film critic contributors. Following Winkleman’s departure in 2016 there was a whole series of rotating presenters, including Zoe Ball, Edith Bowman, Al Murray and Charlie Brooker, until the show was cancelled in 2018.
Barry Norman also presented the following series on movies and movie stars.
1. THE HOLLYWOOD GREATS (BBC1 / 5x50m-e / 3 – 13 August1978)
2. THE BRITISH GREATS (BBC1 / 5x50m-e / 30 July – 31 August 1980)
3. TALKING PICTURES (BBC1 / 10x50m-e / 25 January – 28 March 1988)
production details
UK / BBC One / x30 minute episodes / Broadcast 16 November 1971 – 28 March 2018
Theme Music: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free by Billy Taylor and Richard Lamb
