
Celia Imrie takes us on a journey through the BBC’s archives for an in-depth look at the continuing power and importance of war films. It’s an exploration which takes in the two World Wars, America’s conflict in Vietnam and the ongoing ‘War on Terror’, featuring films ranging from modern-day epics 1917 and Dunkirk to Apocalypse Now and Born on the Fourth of July, and even popular action adventures like The Great Escape, The Dirty Dozen and Where Eagles Dare.\n\nThrough interviews with the directors who made them and the actors who starred in them, Celia explores how cinema helps us to understand the events of the past and how these films ensure that tales of heroism, comradeship and sacrifice are never forgotten.
Source: BBC 2
33. Michael Caine
A look at the life of acting legend Michael Caine, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of one Britain's most successful actors. N ...
04-01-2026
BBC 2
Jaws
Celia Imrie dives into the BBC’s archives to tell the behind-the-scenes story of Steven Spielberg’s classic aquatic horror, Jaws.\n\nIt had arrived in cinemas with t ...
31-12-2025
BBC 2
18. Alfred Hitchcock
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by iconic Hollywood director Alfred Hitchcock, reflecting on the milestones and highlights of his life and car ...
30-12-2025
BBC 2
Agatha Christie
As Kenneth Branagh prepares to unveil the latest version of Death on the Nile, Celia Imrie looks at how the classic murder mysteries of the great Agatha Christie have been treat ...
25-12-2025
BBC 2
Psycho
Celia Imrie takes a journey in the BBC’s archives to tell the story of one of the most acclaimed films of all time, Alfred Hitchcock’s groundbreaking 1960 horror, Ps ...
11-12-2025
BBC 2
Westerns
Once upon a time in the cinema, about one fifth of all Hollywood releases were cowboy films, and the Western dominated so much that it seemed that every major star would pull on ...
22-11-2025
BBC 2
John Mills
A look back at television appearances made over the years by the Oscar-winning actor Sir John Mills, capturing the milestones of his life and career.
13-11-2025
BBC 2
Tony Curtis
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Tony Curtis, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
30-10-2021
BBC 2
34. Sean Connery
A look at the life of Sean Connery, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
21-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 1: 14. James Mason
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar-nominated Hollywood star James Mason, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. ...
16-05-2015
BBC 2
Robert Redford
The career of Robert Redford is examined in this exploration of the BBC archives, which includes rarely-seen interviews. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
09-10-2025
BBC 2
Maggie Smith
Sylvia Syms presents rarely seen footage from the BBC archives that explores the life and career of one of Britain's best-loved actresses, Maggie Smith.
28-09-2024
BBC 2
Series 2: 4. Albert Finney
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by award-winning actor Albert Finney, with interviews from the archive and classic clips capturing the milesto ...
29-08-2021
BBC 2
David Niven
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar-winning actor David Niven, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
17-12-2020
BBC 2
Series 2: 2. Shelley Winters
A look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar-winning actress Shelley Winters, with interviews from the archive and classic clips capturing the milestones and hi ...
06-02-2020
BBC 2