History in Technicolour

Ridley Scott's long awaited latest epic; a 'character study' of one of the most influential figures of European history, who reshaped a continent. It has been accompanied by furious debate, criticism, praise and confusion. Henry, Wolf and David rushed to see it, and to chat about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher Nolan's biography of J Robert Oppenheimer is visually stunning, rich, ambitious...also quite long. Did it engage you, was it thought provoking, present a convincing view of it's subject? We talk about that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Released in 1863 The Great Escape has got to be one of the definitive tales of derring-do, the ultimate escapism, in the 'film is fun' genre. What role would you have had if you had been there? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I remember back in 1981 this film was a sensation; we were all running around on beaches in slo-mo. Has it stood the test of time, though, and is it any more than a bit of fluff? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane Campion's Bright Star was released in 2009 and featured on the lives of Fanny Browne and John Keats in the last years of Keat's life. Abbie Cornish and Ben Wishaw do a brilliant job of recreating their lives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ridley Scott's classic - is it, and were you entertained or did it unleash hell? Has it stood the test of time? And how well does the revenge format work? This and much more - and a discussion of the ubiquitous agricultural yield ratios.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lost King follows the remarkable story of Ricardian Phillipa Langley, whose steely determination and persistence led to the discovery of the body of Richard III and paints the academic community as determined to write her out of the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The evil British oppressor Captain Russell - twiddly 'tache and all - forces the poor hapless (and stonkingly rich) Raja to impose the traditional tax, Lagaan threefold on the villagers unless they beat the English overlord at their weird game - Cricket (pre IPL days, obs). Find out what happens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1967 film noir adaptation of Truman Capote's famous book, In Cold Blood tells of the gruesome story of the murders of the Clutter family. It used a quasi document style, and is not only strikingly filmed, but makes you ask why these people died. It won multiple nominations for Academy Awards.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This 2018 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos is a glorious tragi-comedy about the lives of three women - Queen Anne, Sarah Churchill and Abigail Hill. It travels the full spectrum from barking mad to genuinely moving. It is a blast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Roy is a 1995 film telling a story of a Highland clan chief Rob Roy McGregor played by Liam Neeson; Jessica :Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Brian Cox are superb. The best film about scotland in 1995 for sure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cromwell was a 1970 film starring Richard Harris as the eponymous, and Alec Guiness as Charles I. Massive in scale and ambition, in its attempt to present Oliver as a democratic hero of the people. Does it manage it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie Antoinette is the 2006 film directed by Sophia Coppola. It took a highly stylised and sumptuous approach, with modern music – though nailing the cake thing. Reception was quite hostile – but maybe has improved? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Duellists is Ridley Scott’s first feature film, in 1977. It describes a vicious feud of honour between two officers over the course of the Napoleonic wars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1964 Epic Zulu, first major role for Michael Caine was super popular - I saw it in my youth for sure. So how well has it worn? Is it a great drama, and in the light of changing attitudes to colonialism and Empire does it still stir the blood, in a good way? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ridley Scott's 2005 historical epic came soon after the massive success of Gladiator, and consciously aimed to repeat it's success. It didn't manage it, but the Director's Cut was better received, and the film has very strong themes about religious fanaticism; and is a visual treat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monty Python produced two deeply researched dramas analysing the reign of the great British Hero King Arthur, and the religious leader, Brian. How accurate are they, and are we still a Python worshiping country? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1995 film about the Spanish Civil war, directed by Ken Loach and heavily influenced by Orwell's Homage to Catalonia. The film sees the war through the eyes of an English communist who goes to fight for the POUM militia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A 1941 Powell and Pressburger film designed to persuade the American people of the need to join the war against the Nazis. "Goebbels considered himself an expert on propaganda, but I thought I'd show him a thing or two" said Pressburger. Did the film work? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The massacre at St Peters Field in 1819 was a key date in the story of the development of democracy in Britain. Mike Lee's film sets out to restore that sense of outrage in loving and angry detail. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The stunning 2013 Japanese animated historical drama by the master, Hayao Miyazaki. The Wind Rises is a biographical film of Jiro Horikoshi (1903–1982), designer of the Mitsubishi A5M fighter aircraft and its successor, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, used by the Empire of Japan during World War II. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2013 film directed by Amma Asante tells the story of the daughter of an enslaved African woman and Captain Lindsey, against the background of the Zhong slave ship court case.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1933 classic from Alexander Korda which certainly convinced my mother that Henry VIII threw chicken bones around. It was a major international success, in particular for Charles Laughton, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2013 film about the 'Godfather of Punk' Terri Hooley set against the Troubles of the 1970 in Northern Ireland. And described by Mark Kermode as the best film of 2018 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1992 film staring Daniel Day Lewis in the adaptation of James Cooper's novel, set in early colonial America Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.