When Dustin Hoffman first told his family he wanted to act, the response was: 'You can’t, you’re not good-looking enough.' Despite that initial response, Hoffman went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and here we look back on a career that started with the huge 1967 hit The Graduate and saw him winning Oscars for Kramer vs Kramer and Rain Man. \n\nMoments from interviews conducted on a range of BBC shows over the years help to tell the story of Dustin Hoffman and his films and to build a picture of the man who a director once described as 'one of a kind and he's not one character. There is no Dustin Hoffman. He is many, many people'.
Source: BBC 2
Bette Davis
A look back at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Bette Davis, capturing the milestones of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
03-08-2025
BBC 2
Dustin Hoffman
When Dustin Hoffman first told his family he wanted to act, the response was: 'You can’t, you’re not good-looking enough.' Despite that initial response, Hoffman wen ...
31-07-2025
BBC 2
Spartacus
Celia Imrie tells the story of the 1960 epic Spartacus, starring Kirk Douglas, revealing how the film, which was then the most expensive of all time, made it onto the big screen ...
07-06-2025
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.
11-05-2025
BBC 2
Marvellous Musicals
Celia Imrie celebrates the cinema’s marvellous musicals, venturing back through the BBC’s archives to look at film’s most joyous and arguably enduring genre.\n ...
08-04-2025
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 ...
15-03-2025
BBC 2
Series 2: 1. Jack Lemmon
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Some Like It Hot and Days of Wine and Roses star Jack Lemmon, with interviews from the archive and classic ...
06-02-2025
BBC 2
Paul Newman
An examination of the life of actor Paul Newman, using rarely seen interviews from the BBC archives to tell the story of a career that made him one of Hollywood's greatest stars.
23-01-2025
BBC 2
Marvellous Musicals
Celia Imrie celebrates the cinema’s marvellous musicals, venturing back through the BBC’s archives to look at film’s most joyous and arguably enduring genre.\n ...
08-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 2: 1. Jack Lemmon
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Some Like It Hot and Days of Wine and Roses star Jack Lemmon, with interviews from the archive and classic ...
06-02-2025
BBC 2
Bing Crosby
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by American actor Bing Crosby, with interviews from the archive and classic clips capturing the milestones and ...
01-04-2023
BBC 2
Perfect Partners
A look back at some of cinema’s best-loved partnerships, from Fred and Ginger, Doris Day and Rock Hudson, to Newman and Redford, and even Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. With i ...
29-06-2024
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.
16-11-2023
BBC 2
Bette And Joan
Sylvia Syms looks through the BBC archives to tell the story of one of Hollywood's greatest ever feuds - the rivalry between legendary actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. I ...
14-09-2023
BBC 2
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
A look at television appearances made over the years by legendary Hollywood double act Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
05-08-2022
BBC 2
Robert Mitchum
The life and career of Robert Mitchum is examined using footage of his appearances on the BBC, illustrating why he was a favourite of film fans and an interviewer's nightmare.
14-12-2021
BBC 2
Series 2: 6. Kenneth More
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by BAFTA-winning actor Kenneth More, with interviews from the archive and classic clips capturing the mileston ...
01-11-2020
BBC 2
War Stories
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 take ...
03-01-2022
BBC 2