Harold Pinter's debut as a film director sees Alan Bates reprise his role as Ben Butley, a university don, as he struggles to stay on top of his increasingly chaotic career. The film portrays Butley's anxieties as a teacher no longer convinced that his role in life is worthwhile, with his passion for the profession falling victim to cynicism and a moral malaise. The film's strength lies in its dialogue, with the vicious banter between warring academics showing their intelligence, and the frustra find out more...

The beautiful Venice waterfront scenery and frustated emotions abound in this cinema classic from Thomas Mann's novel. Dirk Bogarde is an ageing gay man who fantasises whistfully about a young boy who is in the same hotel on the Lido. A revealing tale as much about old age grieving for lost youth as it is about obsession and homosexuality. find out more...

Based on a Tennessee Williams play and touching on all manner of depraved horrors. Taylor plays the girl driven to madness by what she's witnessed and Clift is the shrink being pressured to lobotomise her, but Hepburn steals the show as the unnervingly genteel aunt trying to sweep everything under the carpet. find out more...