Discover Movies

First broadcast on Channel 4 in 1985, Lakeland Rock is a classic of climbing. Presented by Sir Chris Bonington, this 1990 documentary comprises four films that retrace five iconic routes, each representing a major milestone in a sport that reflects the social transformations of Great Britain. From the 1940s, when working-class people began climbing mountains, to the 1980s, marked by technological advancements, the rise of female climbers, and the soaring difficulty of sport climbing with its near-Olympic levels of physical preparation. In three of the films, the climbers recreate their first ascents, with a tribute to their deceased climbing partners, Don Whillans and Bill Peascod. Also included is the first filmed ascent of "Incantations" on Gable Crag by Pete Whillance and Dave Armstrong, which, rated E6 6b, was considered at the time to be the most difficult route in the Lake District.

Period drama Black Velvet Band takes us back to Victorian times when a gang of petty crooks find themselves sentenced to transportation to Australia, their ship, however, docks in South Africa and the gang manage to make their escape. The film starred Nick Berry, Chris McHallem and Todd Carty, who had all previously appeared in EastEnders together. The initial idea came from McHallem, whilst Nick Berry, thanks to being the darling of ITV at the time because of his hit show Heartbeat, had the clout to get it made.

A dissatisfied teen disappears from his small town, leaving friends to wonder about his whereabouts.

A young man struggling to cope with the death of his daughter has a strange encounter with a priest.

The Singing Kettle 3 serves up another helping of songs, stories and musical fun with Cilla Fisher, Artie Trezise and Gary Coupland. Bursting with colourful props, cheerful performances and plenty of join-in moments, this lively third outing keeps the kettle bubbling with catchy tunes, laughter and family-friendly entertainment.

Julie Walters stars in new sketches by four accomplished writers who helped make her famous.

Documentary of the 1993 gala in Muirhouse, Edinburgh.

Before they reached success, comedy team The League of Gentlemen made this home made comedy horror; Three horror stories all set in a flat in Highgate.

By mid-1940, Hitler had conquered all of Northern Europe and now Britain was under seige by air and U-boat; something had to be done or defeat was inevitable. Winston Churchill established an eccentric group of codebreakers at Betchley Park comprised of British and American mathematicians, chess and crossword fanatics and even students to unlock the secrets of the Nazi's encryption device, the Enigma. Written by M. Gosse

Based on the novels by Jack Higgins, Sean Dillon is a maverick British agent who uncovers a plot to take over the presidency of the United States. The Windsor Protocol is a list created by Adolf Hitler that will help revive the Nazi party; Dillon must find it before it falls into the wrong hands.

A collaborative improvisational guitar and dance set featuring backing from crickets and cicadas.

The Parafotos crew travels to the island of Formentera for the second time. Featuring underwater swimming and naked waterskiing.

In a Scottish fishing village squeezed between sea and bluffs, a single mum named Mhairi has accepted an offer from her boyfriend Black to move to the city to live with him: more opportunities for her and for her son Billy.

This fictionalized story, based on the family life of writer James Jones, is an emotional slice-of-life story. Jones is portrayed here as Bill Willis, a former war hero turned author who combats alcoholism and is starting to experience health problems. Living in France with his wife, daughter, and an adopted son, the family travels an unconventional road which casts them as outsiders to others. Preaching a sexual freedom, his daughter's sexual discovery begins at an early age and betrays her when the family moves to Hanover in America. Her overt sexuality clashes with the values of her teenage American peers and gives her a problematic reputation. Meanwhile, her brooding brother copes with his own interior pain regarding his past, only comfortable communicating within the domestic space.

This was an official documentary shown on television featuring George Martin taking us through the album tracks and Paul, George and Ringo giving us their memories of the sessions. The Making Of Sgt. Pepper was transmitted in the UK on ITV on 14th June 1992 and featured separate interviews with Paul (filmed on 9th April 1992), George (12th April) and Ringo (19th April). The show also features George Martin playing some unreleased Sgt. Pepper's recordings directly off the original studio 4-track master tapes.

When British Intelligence Officer Tracy Barnes attacks visiting German politician Dieter Krause, solicitor's clerk Joshua Mantle is called to help unravel the events which led to the assault.

Based on a true story, set in the late 19th century: Lord Tichborne, the ninth richest nobleman in England, disappears after a South American shipwreck. Some years later his erudite Afro-English valet, Bogle, is sent to investigate rumors that Tichborne survived and settled in Australia. An alcoholic ruffian answer's Bogle's inquiries claiming to be the lost heir. Bogle suspects fraud, but conspires with the claimant to split the inheritance should the latter succesfully pass himself off to friends, family and the courts. As the claimant returns to England to continue his charade, enough people confirm his identity to make both the claimant and Bogle believe that he just might be the rightful heir after all.

A documentary about the life and work of sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay, with appearances by Ricky Jay, David Mamet and Steve Martin.

When the very moralistic college ethics instructor Jack Lambert finds himself living next door to an accused German death camp commander, he takes it upon himself to rid the world of this man.

Former IRA agent Sean Dillon comes to the rescue when a woman discovers a briefcase containing plans that could destroy all of Europe. Dillon's assignment is to protect her until the plans can be properly destroyed.

Upon her father's death, a woman comes into emotional and psychological conflict with her young lover, her overbearing sister and her alcoholic stepmother.

Cameron, a 13-year-old boy whose heart is failing. The only possible solution is an experimental transplant operation in which he's given a pig's heart. His father is determined to try anything to keep him alive, but his mother is not so sure.

Documentary about naturism by Don Boyd.

Explores the nature of man, not only with feet of clay, but with a face of clay as well. Within a colourless city of walls, corridors, and small rooms, a man makes his way from home to work, then to a bar, and then, by a stroke of luck, into an outdoors of space, fresh air, and colour. Along the way, he changes his face to fit his surroundings, interacts with his dog, argues with co-workers, and gossips at a bar. His altering of his visage suggests a two-faced nature, and his stepping into the outdoors provides the ultimate test of his real identity.

Documentary about nudism in New Zealand.

Based on the life of a classic french cineast Jean Vigo, the story follows his daily struggle with sanity, normal life and uncompromising filmmaking. Story also focuses on his relationship with his supporting wife whom he met in sanatorium.

Based on real events from 1983; DC Peter Finch is awarded a medal for the courage he showed in arresting a dangerous criminal. Meanwhile transvestite David Martin is released once again from prison - he's provocative and aggressive and, when he's caught again during a burglary, he shoots one of the police officers, leading to a nation wide manhunt. Innocent filmmaker Steven Waldorf is subsequently shot as a suspect by Finch, provoking a national scandal that rocks the police force.

The only son of wealthy widow Violet Venable dies while on vacation with his cousin Catherine. What the girl saw was so horrible that she went insane; now Mrs. Venable wants Catherine lobotomized to cover up the truth.

A father and son rescue the sole survivor of a train crash.

Dead Bolt Dead takes a twisted look at the dark underworld of organised crime, with its assassins, its bosses, its drivers and its sharply suited thugs. Set in two locations in and outside London, it charts the night after a bold attempt to take out a rival gang fails.

Paddy Chayefsky's 1954 play set in the Bronx tells the story of a recently widowed 66-year-old woman who seeks a job after 40 years of being a homemaker.

An atmospheric new jazz film capturing the frustration of a talented young Scottish trumpeter. Paul is playing another lousy gig in Dundee when a sudden confrontation brings his dreams of escape within his grasp.

Raymond Gold, a 40-year-old Walter Mitty character from Philadelphia, is recruited to pass secrets of the atom bomb to the Russians in the 1940s. His girlfriend Danica discovers that he is a fantasist while the FBI suspect him of spying. His world falls apart, with tragicomic results.

The film confession of a man born during World War 2, who grew up under Stalin and reached maturity during the Brezhnev stagnation period. An exploration of the problems of man's inner freedom.

This film looks at the tough training regime undertaken by London's black cab drivers as they prepare for one of the hardest examinations they will ever take. It takes years to get to grips with the intricate road network and tangle of streets that weave their way through the heart of the capital and 70 per cent of applicants fail to finish. With repeat appearances at the Public Carriage Office to take the examination, it's a bumpy road to the coveted green badge.

1970's Dublin. Cowboy mad Evie, 11, has to decide whether she can forgive her father when he leaves home and is taken to hospital because of his drinking.

Michael Cockerell reports on the work of political lobbyists

A woman and her daughter are stranded in a rambling old house deep in the countryside of County Tyrone. Their economic circumstances are hopeless, but it is friends and former business associates who pose the greatest threat to their happiness.

A profile and history of film director Akira Kurosawa.

Erica is being haunted by nightmares nearly every night. She dreams of ritual sacrifice, black magic and a mysterious red-headed woman. When the dreams start to invade her during the day she is persuaded to visit a hypnotherapist, Dr. Charles Bucher. Bucher's specialty is age regression and he soon discovers that Erica was a vampire in a past life and the red-headed woman is Selena the vampire's servant.

Tracey, a hyperactive, inarticulate bicycle courier who unsuccessfully woos his girlfriend, watches Star Trek videos and delivers packages for a women's erotic magazine, "Bad and Beautiful". As the female staff produce their new issue, they are watched by builders restoring their crumbling office block - each of them with an interest in the women within.

Gerald is a smart, young, high-flying American banker. Everything is great until his wife finds another woman's underwear in their bedroom and subsequently throws him out. He finds lodgings with Monica, a recently divorced 50-year old housewife, who is smitten with Gerald. But after their first night of love, Gerald avoids her. Monica feels used and betrayed until Gerald confesses he likes to dress up as a woman. Monica learns to accept and eventually support Geraldine, Gerald's alter ego.

Few wartime prisoners have attempted escape quite as many times as bumbling RAF Officer James Forrester. Though Officer Forrester has twenty-three escape attempts to his name, each successive attempt he makes to break free somehow seems to go worse than the last. But this time there's a difference, because Officer Forrester isn't just plotting his own escape, but the escape of all 327 of his fellow prisoners as well - and all at once. In fact even the Germans want to escape!

The story takes place in a bedroom where, following an embarrassing sexual encounter, it shows a naked man’s disaffection with his own tongue. Tongue being the articulator of the man’s voice, has been his lifetime proxy. But it is beginning to brazenly assert itself and fly in the face of its owner. The man can tolerate this no more and a power struggle ensues during which we learn something of the tongues dubious nature.

To his surprise, a street-wise biker is seduced by a beautiful woman in a sports-car.

"Conspiracy of Silence" is a powerful, disturbing documentary revealing a nationwide child abuse and pedophilia ring that leads to the highest levels of government. Featuring intrepid investigator John DeCamp, a highly decorated Vietnam war veteran and 16-year Nebraska state senator, "Conspiracy of Silence" reveals how rogue elements at all levels of government have been involved in systematic child abuse and pedophilia to feed the base desires of key politicians

"The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends", episode 2. Tom Kitten and his sisters spoil the tea party of their mother Tabitha, while Jemina Puddle-Duck meets the most peculiar foxy gentleman.

At a family funeral, Trevor Orwin meets Jenny, the sister he never knew he had. The relationship that develops between them has a dramatic and violent effect.

Rockumentary spoof starring Eddie Izzard.

In this latest adventure, Tom sneaks his monster pals in his suitcase and takes them on the family holiday. Meanwhile Moggie McNab, whose partner in crime is the infamous Count, steals "The Moping Marjory", a famous painting from the local art gallery. Can Tom and the monsters solve the crime and return the paintings to their rightful owner?

Tom is a young man with AIDS living in London with his lover Ira. The disease has exaggerated Toms nervous energy and in his manic state he suddenly decides to go to Glasgow to visit the family he hasn't seen in ten years. His brother Ian is thoroughly disgusted by his lifestyle and only his mother shows any compassion for him. The visit soon develops into a nightmare as dementia sets in and Tom's health rapidly declines. Finally, events come to a head and Ira has no choice but to force Tom back to London, where he expects him to die at any time. After treatment, Tom gets a brief reprieve, having discovered that his real family is his adopted one in London.

"The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends", episode 3. While hiding from his mother Tabitha, Tom Kitten got caught by two rats who wants to turn him into a nice pudding.

Bernard Bottle, a mild mannered art buyer, is fired by his greedy boss, abandoned by his girlfriend and discovers a genie in an old bottle. The genie immediately embraces the modern world and helps Bernard on the side.

A CIA agent infiltrates the research team of a scientist who seeks to capture the essence of a dying leukemia patient.

Rising from the ashes of the legendary British post-punk unit Joy Division, the enigmatic New Order triumphed over tragedy to emerge as one of the most influential and acclaimed bands of the 1980's, embracing the electronic textures and disco rhythms of the underground club culture many years in advance of its contempraries. "New Order Story" is the definitive documentary on the band and traces their history all the way back to its origin with Joy Division. This extended version includes additional interviews and live footage, over 2 hours of great New Order footage. A longform video chronicling the band's history and music with interviews by Bono, Neil Tennant, Quincy Jones and others.

Filmed during their sell-out 1997 tour, Bottom Live 3: Hooligan's Island features Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson at their comedic finest. This time around Richie Richard (Mayall) and Eddie Hitler (Edmondson) are marooned on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific.

A group of South Asian women try but cannot escape their problems on a day trip to a British beach resort.

Charles Dickens' bleak, passionate novel about the challenges of life in 19th-century London comes to life with an outstanding cast and brilliant cinematography.

We follow Marcel Ophuls' two journeys to Sarajevo in 1993. He is starting a documentary about war correspondants. But this also becomes a reflexion about truth and life. The form consists in many interviews of mostly French and American journalists and reporters of television or newspapers.

A drama set in 1900s Prague about a bored arrogant playboy who spends time seducing other men's wives and dueling. He begins an affair with his friend's wife, but falls in love with her.