Superbly gothic version of Charlotte Bronte's archetypal romantic novel. Orson Welles is admirably dark as Rochester to Joan Fontaine's winsome Jane. The mysterious aspects of the story and the ensuing romance are all played out against a tremendously atmospheric backdrop. Great production, and yes, Aldous Huxley really did write the screen play.

find out more...

This is the fabulous BBC version of the great and tragic last novel by Thomas Hardy. Robert Powell is the stone mason who dreams of a decent education, but seems to be getting no nearer his goal despite escaping his marriage. find out more...

It is 1795 and an impassioned Coleridge is extoling the virtues of liberty, democracy, and free speech at a political rally. Wordsworth, watching from the crowd wastes little time befriending Coleridge and as their friendship grows the idea for their great opus, the 'Lyrical Ballads', is born; but as Wordsworth searches for the elusive spark of invention he becomes increasingly envious of his friend who burns with the uncontrollable fire of his own creativity. Bold, brash, visually stunning, sup find out more...

Two of the most popular stars in screen history are brought together for the first time in the follow up to True Grit. The film returns John Wayne to the role of the rapscallion, eye-patched, whiskey-guzzling Deputy Marshall that won him an Academy Award. Katharine Hepburn is prim Eula Goodnight, a Bible thumping missionary who teams up with the gun fighter to avenge the death of her father. While in pursuit of the outlaws, a warm rapport develops between the rough'n' tumble lawman and the flirt find out more...

It's the off-season at the lonely Beauregard Hotel in Bournemoth, and only the long-term tenants are still in residence. Life is stirred up, however, when the beautiful Ann Shankland arrives to see her alcoholic ex-husband, John Malcolm, who is secretly engaged to Pat Cooper, the woman who runs the hotel. Meanwhile, snobbish Mrs Railton-Bell discovers that the kindly if rather doddering Major Pollock, played by David Niven, who won an Oscar for his performance, a retired officer who likes to find out more...

The first of the classic series of adaptations following the investigations of Sherlock Holmes. A malevolent curse is blamed for the death of an aristocrat and Holmes is called in to investigate, using his scientific method and dry Victorian wit. Superb nuanced performances from Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as the pudgy Watson. Cracking stuff. find out more...

Tim Burton brings Stephen Sondheim's musical prodigy to the big screen and as you'd expect he does a beautiful and atmospheric job of it. Both Depp and Carter revel in the opportunity given to them and the tale has a gloriously dark, gruesomely humourous tone, which brings me on to my own personal issues… the modern musical; much of the the of dialogue in Sweeney Todd is sung and there is just so much lilting 'mockney' cockney I can take. I can accept this is hugely entertaining film, it's just find out more...

Sumptuous adaptation of Edith Wharton's period drama set in the NY high society of the 1880s. Day Lewis plays the gentleman set to be married to May in the wedding of the year, but increasingly fascinated by the beautiful Countess Olenska. Decor reflects and oppresses characters, posture, gesture, glance and witty ironic narration convey not only individual psychology but the ideals of an entire etiquette-obsessed elite. Tragedy awaits. Awesome; one of the best period adaptations ever made, both find out more...

Luchino Visconti's masterpiece of a society in transition follows the declining fortunes of the family of Prince Salina, a wealthy Sicilian landowner, during the war of unification in the 1860s. Superbly photographed, evocatively scored and wonderfully performed, the new transfer, with restored sound and picture, allows 'The Leopard' to be experienced in all its original, uncut glory. A true classic. find out more...

One of the finest of the genre, this classic western follows two men whose initial contempt for each other's methods, one a hard man rancher, the other a naively honest lawyer, develops into respect when faced with the the town's local hoodlum. Tense, absorbing and not without wit. Superb. find out more...