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COLLECTION · Series · 2013

Talking Pictures

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Source: TMDB
* 6.2 (6)DocumentaryUnited Kingdom
Countries
United Kingdom
Studios
BBC Four · BBC Two · BBC
Release
05/01/2013
Score
6.2 / 10 (6)
Where to watch
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Seasons and episodes
Series 1
34 episodes · 2013

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Bette Davis
Episode 1. Bette Davis
2013-01-05 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Bette Davis, capturing the milestones and highlights of her life and career.

John Mills
Episode 2. John Mills
2013-01-12 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the Osar-winning actor Sir John Mills, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

David Niven
Episode 3. David Niven
2013-01-19 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the Ocsar-winning actor David Niven, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

Gene Kelly
Episode 4. Gene Kelly
2013-02-02 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the legendary Hollywood actor and dancer Gene Kelly, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

John Wayne
Episode 5. John Wayne
2013-02-16 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend John Wayne, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

Tony Curtis
Episode 6. Tony Curtis
2013-02-23 · 45 min

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.

Dirk Bogarde
Episode 7. Dirk Bogarde
2013-03-02 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Dirk Bogarde, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

James Stewart
Episode 8. James Stewart
2013-03-09 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar-winning actor James Stewart, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Lauren Bacall
Episode 9. Lauren Bacall
2013-03-29 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall, following the changes and highlights of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Orson Welles
Episode 10. Orson Welles
2013-04-01 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the legendary Hollywood actor and director Orson Welles, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Ingrid Bergman
Episode 11. Ingrid Bergman
2013-04-27 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Ingrid Bergman, capturing the milestones and highlights of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Alec Guinness
Episode 12. Alec Guinness
2013-05-11 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Alec Guinness, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Gregory Peck
Episode 13. Gregory Peck
2013-07-06 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Gregory Peck, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

James Mason
Episode 14. James Mason
2013-08-03 · 45 min

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. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Charlton Heston
Episode 15. Charlton Heston
2013-08-26 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar winning Hollywood actor Charlton Heston, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
Episode 16. Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
2013-10-12 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by legendary Hollywood double act Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, capturing the milestones and highlights of their lives and careers.

Richard Burton
Episode 17. Richard Burton
2013-11-02 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar nominated Hollywood icon Richard Burton, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Alfred Hitchcock
Episode 18. Alfred Hitchcock
2014-03-01 · 45 min

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 career.

Shirley Maclaine
Episode 19. Shirley Maclaine
2014-03-08 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by one of Hollywood's most outspoken stars, Shirley Maclaine, with interviews and clips capturing the milestones and highlights of her Oscar-winning career. Narrated by…

Joan Fontaine
Episode 20. Joan Fontaine
2014-04-12 · 45 min

A look at the life of Joan Fontaine, one of Britain's best-loved actresses, using rarely seen archive footage of her BBC appearances to tell the story of her Oscar-winning career.

Richard Attenborough
Episode 21. Richard Attenborough
2014-05-03 · 45 min

A look at the life and work of Richard Attenborough, with vintage interviews and classic archive clips illustrating a career that has made him one of British cinema's most popular and successful figures. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Deborah Kerr
Episode 22. Deborah Kerr
2014-05-10 · 45 min

A look back at the career of British actress Deborah Kerr, with vintage television interviews and classic archive clips telling how she left Britain in the 1940s and became one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Laurence Olivier
Episode 23. Laurence Olivier
2014-05-17 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms looks back on the life of Laurence Olivier, perhaps Britain's greatest actor, using rare material from the BBC archives to tell the story of his extraordinarily distinguished career.

Sophia Loren
Episode 24. Sophia Loren
2014-05-24 · 45 min

An examination of the life and career of one of cinema's most glamorous stars, Sophia Loren, with rarely seen archive material telling the story of her hugely successful career.

Paul Newman
Episode 25. Paul Newman
2014-05-26 · 45 min

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 superstars. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Robert Mitchum
Episode 26. Robert Mitchum
2014-05-31 · 45 min

The life and career of one of Hollywood's original bad boys, Robert Mitchum, is examined using archive footage of his appearances on the BBC that illustrate why he was a favourite of film fans, and an interviewer's nightmare.

Peter O'Toole
Episode 27. Peter O'Toole
2014-07-19 · 45 min

A look at the life of the Lawrence of Arabia star and legendary hell-raiser, Peter O'Toole, with rarely seen archive footage of his appearances on the BBC, exploring the story of his colourful career.

Robert Redford
Episode 28. Robert Redford
2014-08-02 · 45 min

The career of Robert Redford, one of the big screen's greatest heartthrobs, is examined in this exploration of the BBC archives, with rarely-seen interviews showing that he was always much more than just a pin-up. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

David Lean
Episode 29. David Lean
2014-08-23 · 45 min

A compilation of rarely seen interviews and archive footage tells the story of movie-master David Lean, whose drive and genius made him one of Britain's greatest-ever film directors.

Judi Dench
Episode 30. Judi Dench
2014-09-13 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms presents rarely seen footage from the BBC archives that explores the life and career of one of Britain's best-loved actors, Dame Judi Dench.

Maggie Smith
Episode 31. Maggie Smith
2014-09-20 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms narrates a look at the life of one of Britain's best and best-loved actresses, with classic archive footage of her appearances on the BBC demonstrating that when it comes to movie stardom, there really is nothing like a dame.

Julie Andrews
Episode 32. Julie Andrews
2014-12-28 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Mary Poppins and Sound of Music star Julie Andrews, with interviews from the archive and classic clips.

Michael Caine
Episode 33. Michael Caine
2015-01-10 · 45 min

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. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Sean Connery
Episode 34. Sean Connery
2015-01-17 · 45 min

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.

Series 2
35 episodes · 2015

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Jack Lemmon
Episode 1. Jack Lemmon
2015-02-07 · 45 min

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 clips capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and…

Shelley Winters
Episode 2. Shelley Winters
2015-02-14 · 45 min

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 highlights of her life and career.

On the Waterfront
Episode 3. On the Waterfront
2015-02-21 · 45 min

Sixty years after its original release, Talking Pictures examines On the Waterfront, one of the greatest films in US cinema history. Archive interviews with the director, writer and cast members, including Marlon Brando, reveal how behind…

Albert Finney
Episode 4. Albert Finney
2015-02-28 · 45 min

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 milestones and highlights of his life and career.

Noel Coward
Episode 5. Noel Coward
2015-03-07 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by award-winning actor Noel Coward, with interviews from the archive and classic clips capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

Kenneth More
Episode 6. Kenneth More
2015-03-14 · 45 min

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 milestones and highlights of his life and career.

Hollywood's Great Directors
Episode 7. Hollywood's Great Directors
2015-04-04 · 45 min

A retrospective look at the careers of some of the greatest and most successful directors in movie history, talking about their favourite films, the stars they worked with and their sometimes difficult relationships with Hollywood's…

Richard Harris
Episode 8. Richard Harris
2015-04-25 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Richard Harris, with interviews from the archive and classic clips capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

Hitchcock's Leading Actors
Episode 9. Hitchcock's Leading Actors
2015-05-09 · 45 min

To this day, Alfred Hitchcock is looked on as one of cinema's best and most influential directors. But how did the stars of his films finding working with the great man? To some he was 'the master', to others 'the manipulator'. Talking…

Christopher Lee
Episode 10. Christopher Lee
2015-07-11 · 45 min

A look back at the life and career of one of the greats of British cinema - Sir Christopher Lee. In BBC interviews conducted over six decades, Lee discusses his position as a legendary screen villain and talks about his major roles, from…

Omar Sharif
Episode 11. Omar Sharif
2015-08-15 · 45 min

A look back at the life of the actor Omar Sharif, who died in July 2015 at the age of 83. Using archive from his interviews with the BBC and featuring contributions from director David Lean, this episode explores Sharif's dramatic…

Musicals
Episode 12. Musicals
2015-08-29 · 45 min

In this episode, Talking Pictures tells the story of the Hollywood musical, using interviews with stars from the genre's golden age, as well as some of the directors and songwriters who helped create them. Among the big names remembering…

Anthony Hopkins
Episode 13. Anthony Hopkins
2015-08-31 · 45 min

A look back at the life of Oscar-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins and featuring interviews conducted with the BBC over the course of his career.

John Huston
Episode 14. John Huston
2015-10-17 · 45 min

A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by actor and director John Huston, with interviews from the archive and classic clips capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia…

Hollywood Actresses
Episode 15. Hollywood Actresses
2015-10-24 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms looks back on the legendary leading ladies of Hollywood - the glamorous and often powerful stars who helped define what it was to be a woman in cinema's golden age. Featuring Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Natalie…

Great British Comedies
Episode 16. Great British Comedies
2015-10-31 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms looks back on the great British comedy stars who over the years have had cinema audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter. Featuring rarely-seen interviews from the BBC's archives, the programme starts with the great…

Child Stars
Episode 17. Child Stars
2015-11-21 · 45 min

With classic interviews and rarely seen archive footage, Sylvia Syms examines the world of the big screen's smallest stars - the child actors. Featuring Shirley Temple, Hayley Mills, Jack Wild, Macaulay Culkin, Christian Bale, Jodie…

Sex Symbols
Episode 18. Sex Symbols
2016-01-02 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms looks at the handsome heroes, gorgeous heroines, pin-ups and bombshells who came to be known as cinema's greatest sex symbols, hearing from the stars themselves.

War Films
Episode 19. War Films
2016-03-26 · 45 min

A look back at the great British war films that boosted the nation's morale in the postwar years and launched the careers of some of our best-loved actors and directors.

Bing Crosby
Episode 20. Bing Crosby
2016-08-27 · 45 min

A look at TV appearances made over the years by Bing Crosby, with interviews from the archive and classic clips capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

The Black Stars of Film
Episode 21. The Black Stars of Film
2016-11-12 · 45 min

A retrospective look at some of the best-loved and most popular black stars to have graced cinema screens over the past seven decades, from Gone With the Wind right up to 12 Years a Slave. The programme examines how black actors'…

Alan Rickman
Episode 22. Alan Rickman
2017-01-01 · 45 min

A look back at the life and work of Alan Rickman, one of Britain's best-loved actors, who died in January 2016. We hear from the man himself, talking at different key stages of his career in several rarely seen interviews. The…

Debbie Reynolds
Episode 23. Debbie Reynolds
2017-01-21 · 45 min

A look back at the life of the actress Debbie Reynolds - one of the best-loved stars of Hollywood's golden age, who died in December 2016. In a selection of rarely-seen interviews, we find Debbie discussing her favourite film roles,…

John Hurt
Episode 24. John Hurt
2017-02-18 · 45 min

A look back at the life and work of Sir John Hurt - one of Britain's acting greats, who died last month aged 77 after a career that spanned six decades and took in over 100 films. In a selection of rarely seen interviews, we find John…

60s Icons
Episode 25. 60s Icons
2017-04-29 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms explores the BBC's archives and chooses a selection of rarely seen interviews that tell the story of the acting stars who made 60s Britain swing.

Harry Potter
Episode 26. Harry Potter
2017-10-28 · 45 min

Actor Warwick Davis - AKA Professor Flitwick and Griphook - explores the BBC archives and conjures up the story of the Harry Potter films - a tale that starts with the casting of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, and ends…

Roger Moore
Episode 27. Roger Moore
2017-12-16 · 45 min

A look back at the life and career of one of Britain's best-loved actors, Sir Roger Moore, who died in 2017, just months before his 90th birthday.

Jane Fonda
Episode 28. Jane Fonda
2017-12-17 · 45 min

As double-Oscar winner Jane Fonda approaches her 80th birthday, a look back at the life of one of Hollywood's most successful and controversial actresses.

Bette and Joan
Episode 29. Bette and Joan
2017-12-23 · 45 min

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.

Barry Norman
Episode 30. Barry Norman
2017-12-30 · 45 min

Rory Bremner explores the BBC archives for an affectionate look back at the career of Barry Norman, who hosted the BBC's Film Review show for 26 years.

Epics
Episode 31. Epics
2018-03-30 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms looks through the BBC archive to discover what makes an epic. The programme looks at the history of epics, which featured lavish budgets and huge sets, from the Ten Commandments and Ben Hur through to Titanic and Gladiator.…

Westerns
Episode 32. Westerns
2019-09-15 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms looks back through the BBC’s archives to tell the story of what is perhaps cinema’s most enduring and most visual genre.

Episode 33. Rom Coms
2020-02-15 · 45 min

Celia Imrie explores one of the best-loved movie genres - the romantic comedy. With classic interviews from cinematic couples like Doris Day and Rock Hudson and Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

Episode 34. 70s Legends
2020-04-04 · 45 min

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Episode 35. Joan Collins
2020-05-23 · 45 min

A look back at legendary television appearances by Joan Collins.

Series 3
10 episodes · 2019

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Episode 1. Westerns
2019-09-15 · 45 min

Sylvia Syms looks back through the BBC’s archives to tell the story of what is perhaps cinema’s most enduring and most visual genre.

Episode 2. Rom Coms
2019-09-15 · 45 min

Celia Imrie explores one of the best-loved movie genres - the romantic comedy. With classic interviews from cinematic couples like Doris Day and Rock Hudson and Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

Episode 3. 70s Legends
2020-04-04 · 45 min

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers

Episode 4. Joan Collins
2020-05-23 · 45 min

A look back at legendary television appearances by Joan Collins.

Episode 5. Christmas Classics
2020-12-06 · 45 min

Celia Imrie unwraps a selection of the very best Christmas movies ever made and looks at why films are such an important part of the festive ritual.

Episode 6. Agatha Christie
2020-12-28 · 45 min

As Kenneth Branagh prepares to unveil the latest version of Death on the Nile, Celia Imrie looks at how Agatha Christie's murder mysteries have been treated by film-makers over the years.

Episode 7. Dames
2021-01-01 · 45 min

Celia Imrie takes a look at some of the leading ladies who’ve proved time and again, year after year, that they are amongst the very best of British talent.

Episode 8. War Stories
2021-05-30 · 45 min

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.

Episode 9. Marvellous Musicals
2021-06-12 · 45 min

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.

Episode 10. Film's Family Favourites
2021-09-04 · 43 min

Join Celia Imrie as we go bobbing along through the beautiful, briny BBC archives for a look at the enduring movie classics that have earned the status of family favourites.

Series 4
3 episodes · 2022

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Episode 1. Perfect Partners
2022-04-02 · 44 min

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.

Episode 2. Meryl Streep
2022-05-07 · 29 min

A celebration of Meryl Streep, perhaps the greatest actress of modern times, using decades’ worth of interviews and appearances on the BBC to tell the story of her life and incredible career.

Episode 3. Meryl Streep
2022-05-07 · 29 min

A celebration of Meryl Streep, perhaps the greatest actress of modern times, using decades’ worth of interviews and appearances on the BBC to tell the story of her life and incredible career.

Series 5
2 episodes · 2024

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Episode 1. Glenda Jackson
2024-01-06 · 43 min

Celia Imrie tells the story of Glenda Jackson, one of Britain's greatest-ever acting talents, who famously turned her back on her hugely successful screen career to pursue a life in politics.

Episode 2. Dustin Hoffman
2024-01-04 · 43 min

Moments from interviews conducted on a range of BBC shows over the years help to tell the story of Dustin Hoffman, one of Hollywood's biggest stars, and his films.

Series 6
6 episodes · 2025

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Spartacus
Episode 1. Spartacus
2025-06-05 · 43 min

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.

The Silence of the Lambs
Episode 2. The Silence of the Lambs
2025-08-21 · 43 min

Celia Imrie takes a trip through the BBC archives on a forensic examination of one of cinema’s most frightening franchises, The Silence of the Lambs.

The Godfather Trilogy
Episode 3. The Godfather Trilogy
2025-08-28 · 44 min

Celia Imrie explores the story behind Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed Godfather series, featuring insights from cast members Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Coppola himself.

Psycho
Episode 4. Psycho
2025-12-11 · 38 min

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, Psycho.

Jaws
Episode 5. Jaws
2025-12-31 · 43 min

Celia Imrie dives into the BBC’s archives to tell the behind-the-scenes story of Steven Spielberg’s classic aquatic horror, Jaws. It had arrived in cinemas with the warning slogan 'Don’t go in the water', but the team from the BBC’s Film…

Bonnie And Clyde
Episode 6. Bonnie And Clyde
2026-02-19 · 28 min

Celia Imrie tells the story behind one of the most groundbreaking and influential films of the sixties, 1967's Bonnie And Clyde.

Cast by season
Sylvia Syms
Sylvia Syms
Narrator
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