In 1933, at the age of eighteen, Patrick Leigh Fermor set off on foot from England to walk to Constantinople. He is arguably the outstanding travel writer of our time. This film explores his life and work. Interviewed at his home in the Peloponnese, Fermor talks about his travels and relates the story of his heroic wartime exploits in German-occupied Crete, immortalised in the Dirk Bogarde film III Met by Moonlight. He also reads from his work.
An Illustrated Guide to Caricature
The three-dimensional style of caricature originated by Roger Law and Peter Fluck, creators of the Spitting Image puppets, is unique but, in essence, it is part of a British tradition stretching back to the eighteenth Century. In this programme, Fluck and Law consider the work of famous caricaturists, including Gillray, Daumier, Grosz and Dix.
Art from the South Sea Islands
This film looks at some of the most beautiful specimens of Oceanic art housed in the world’s museums. The leading French ethnographer Jean Guiart conjures up vistas of the Pacific islands as he tells the story of magnificent and colourful exhibits, explaining something of their creation, their relationship to the spiritual beliefs of those who fashioned them and how they express the cultural identity of their origins.
Vienna 1900
At the turn of the nineteenth century Vienna appeared to be one of Europe’s most affluent and cultured capitals but, behind its elegant façade, a young generation of artists, musicians, writers and thinkers was struggling to escape the strait-jacket of the old Austrian Empire and its frivolous trappings. This film looks at the traumatic re-birth of Vienna and at the pioneers of a new age – Klimt, Schiele, Loos, Zweig, Kraus, Schoenberg, Hofmannsthal and Freud, among them.
Sergeant Early’s Dream
British, Irish and American folk tunes inspired choreographer Christopher Bruce to create this exuberant, yet poignant, ballet which takes as its theme the migration of people to the ‘New World’ in America. In this studio recording, a series of dances recalls the lives, loves and hardships left behind in the old world and expresses the sadness of tearing up roots to re-plant them in a land that will inevitably develop a culture of its own.
Sir Alec Guinness
Despite the towering success of his long career as a stage, film and television actor, Sir Alec Guinness remains intensely modest about his achievements and has seldom consented to talk about his life and career. In this rare television interview, he shares his thoughts and feelings about his profession and talks about many aspects of his work – from his first performances in the theatre, to his many film appearances. Guinness is seen in action in a variety of film clips.
Paul Delvaux
When Paul Delvaux died in 1994, he was the last surviving member of the first generation of surrealist painters. This definitive portrait of the Belgian artist was made when he was in his nineties. He reminisces about his family and his art, and Charts his career from his Student days in Brüssels up to the time when failing eyesight forced him to give up painting. His memories of childhood and women play key roles in his visual ideas and the film explores both these aspects of his work.
Domenico Scarlatti
The Italian composer and harpsichordist wrote over five hundred compositions for his pupil and patron Maria Barbara of Braganza, daughter of King John V of Portugal, who became Queen of Spain. The celebrated keyboard player George Malcolm talks in interview about this self-effacing man and demonstrates the power and originality of his work at the harpsichord. He also gives a performance of Scarlatti’s Salve Regina with the English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jennifer Smith.
Siobhan Davies
Siobhan Davies is one of Britain’s most notable contemporary choreographers. This film follows her through the process of creating a piece for the highly individual dancers of the Second Stride company. The result is Silent Partners, an intensely dramatic and passionate work, which is seen both in rehearsal and in performance.
Karole Armitage
Acclaimed as one of the most exciting and accomplished dancers and choreographers of her generation, Karole Armitage presents this programme surveying her career. It features lengthy excerpts from her works plus location footage from Rhode Island, where she is seen rehearsing her ballet Romance for an American television recording. The programme also includes rare black and white archive material showing Balanchine and Merce Cunningham in rehearsal.