Tue, Jan 7, 1992
Barry Norman talks to Michelle Pfeiffer. In an industry noted for its lack of good women's roles, Michelle Pfeiffer has carved a niche for herself to rival Meryl Streep and Glenn Close. In recent years starring roles in films like The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Russia House, and Dangerous Liaisons have displayed the versatility of her acting. In her latest film Frankie and Johnny she plays a dowdy waitress in a New York coffee shop who falls in love with an aging cook, played by Al Pacino. She is a very private person, avoiding the celebrity circuit and the partying of the LA scene. Talking about her looks, she once compared herself to a duck. The interview was recorded in Los Angeles, where she is filming her role as Catwoman in the Batman sequel.
Tue, Jan 14, 1992
The first programme in a new season offering a critical look at the week's cinema releases. Previewed tonight: Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer in Frankie and Johnny, Dustin Hoffman in Billy Bathgate, and Jodie Foster making her directorial debut with Little Man Tate. Joel and Ethan Coen, whose Barton Fink won three awards, including best film, at Cannes last May, join Barry Norman in the studio to talk about their unique and decidedly quirky style of film-making. How are their ideas formulated, and who takes the ultimate creative decision? Plus a look at forthcoming attractions in 1992.
Tue, Jan 21, 1992
A critical look at the week's cinema releases. Oliver Stone's JFK is a political thriller which tries to explain the mystery surrounding the assassination in 1963 of President John F Kennedy. Blame It on the Bellboy stars Dudley Moore in a comedy farce of mistaken identity. And Bette Midler and James Caan talk about their latest film, For the Boys, a musical comedy about a wartime song and dance team.
Tue, Jan 28, 1992
A critical look at the week's cinema releases. Black Robe, directed by Bruce Beresford, explores the attempts by a Jesuit missionary to save the "savages", an isolated tribe of Indians in the backwoods of Quebec. The Pleasure Principle marks the directing debut of David Cohen, who also wrote this tale of London in the 90s. And on location - we talk to Peter O'Toole, whose latest film, Rebecca's Daughters, is based on a little-known screenplay by Dylan Thomas.
Tue, Feb 4, 1992
A critical look at the week's cinema releases. Barton Fink won an unprecedented three awards at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, who also directed Blood Simple, Raising Arizona and Miller's Crossing, have a decidedly quirky style of film making. Fink is a writer, seduced by an attractive Hollywood film offer, who has to come to terms with writer's block in a most bizarre hotel. It stars John Turturro (who also won the award for best actor at Cannes) and John Goodman. For the Boys stars Bette Midler and James Caan , who also recently starred in the Oscar-winning film Misery, as a war-time entertainment act in a comedy drama of survival and sheer nostalgia. Plus an Australian film, Death in Brunswick, by the award-winning director John Ruane. Sam Neill plays the part of a cook in a sleazy Melbourne rock 'n' roll club.
Tue, Feb 18, 1992
The Prince of Tides was directed by Barbra Streisand. She co-stars with Nick Nolte, who recently won a Golden Globe award playing a Southern man trying to rectify his troubled family's history. Father of the Bride is a remake of the 1950 classic which starred Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. Steve Martin is the father who must adapt to the shock of the wedding. Diane Keaton plays his wife. Plus, James Ferman on his role as Britain's official censor.
Tue, Mar 3, 1992
An exclusive interview in New York with American director Martin Scorsese. He has received much critical acclaim for his films Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and above all, Raging Bull, considered by some critics to have been the film of the 80s. He is intrigued by the manipulative effect and power of moving images; violence is a recurring trend in many of his films. Scorsese's passion for film is well known, together with his work to preserve and restore old classics. His latest movie, Cape Fear, is a remake of the 1962 classic, updated for the 90s, in which Robert De Niro plays a psychopath, imprisoned for 14 years and set on revenge.
Tue, Mar 10, 1992
Hear My Song is Peter Chelsom's acclaimed first film which has won an American distribution. When an impresario books the Irish tenor Josef Locke, who had absconded 25 years earlier on tax charges, the police wait to see if the great man will appear. Fried Green Tomatoes stars Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy in a tale of friendship, love and murder. And director Mike Leigh explains his passion for a particular French film.
Tue, Mar 17, 1992
Tonight's reviews include Bugsy, Barry Levinson 's Oscar-nominated film, starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening in a dramatic tale of the life of gangster Bugsy Siegel, and Shining Through, a wartime spy thriller starring Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith. Plus a report on just how difficult it can be for small independent films to secure a distribution deal.
Tue, Mar 24, 1992
Tonight's reviews include High Heels, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's tale of life, love and murder between mother and daughter. Freejack stars Emilio Estevez, Mick Jagger and Anthony Hopkins in a futuristic thriller, in which a racing driver awakens 20 years into the future pursued by bounty hunters. And Michael Douglas talks about his controversial new film, Basic Instinct.
Tue, Apr 14, 1992
"The Inner Circle", starring Tom Hulce and Bob Hoskins, tells the story of a loyal Soviet citizen promoted to be Stalin's personal projectionist. Andrei Konchalovsky directs. "Voyager" stars Sam Shepherd in director Volker Schlöndorff's story of one man's journey through life.
Tue, Apr 21, 1992
Tonight's programme looks at "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle", the story of a psychopathic nanny starring Rebecca de Mornay and Annabella Sciorra, "Rebecca's Daughters", starring Peter O'Toole and based on a little-known Dylan Thomas screenplay, and the adaptation of "The Naked Lunch", William Burroughs 's cult novel, directed by David Cronenberg.
Tue, Apr 28, 1992
"Howard's End", the Merchant/Ivory film based on E.M. Forster's classic novel, stars Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham-Carter and Emma Thompson. In "Grand Canyon", Kevin Kline, Danny Glover and Steve Martin find their lives changed when they all meet in a disintegrating Los Angeles. Lawrence Kasdan writes and directs. And Terence Davies ("Distant Voices Still Lives") talks about his latest film.
Tue, May 5, 1992
"Basic Instinct" is a murder mystery, which has already caused an outcry from gay rights activists. Michael Douglas is the policeman on the trail of writer Sharon Stone, whose plot lines have a nasty habit of being re-enacted with murderous consequences. "Lost in Siberia" is an Anglo-Soviet production starring Anthony Andrews as an innocent archaeologist, imprisoned on suspicion of spying. And a report on the trials and tribulations of film students. How easy is it to make the leap from film school to the real world of commercial film-making?
Tue, May 12, 1992
Europa Europa is a remarkable true story about a 13-year-old Jewish boy and his amazing escape from the Holocaust. He manages to pass himself off as an Aryan, changes his name and becomes a revered member of the Hitler Youth. Plus a look at how Hollywood has gone "green": a wave of pictures with environmental themes is set for release, and there are many "eco pics" already in the pipeline.
Wed, May 20, 1992
Barry Norman reports from the Cannes Film Festival, the annual orgy of film watching and film hyping. "I do enjoy Cannes but, believe it or not, it's hard work," says Norman. "Last year Madonna brought back the showbiz razzmatazz. This year - who knows? I'll be playing it on the hoof, and I hope to speak to Michael Douglas and director Robert Altman about their new films." It is easy to forget that there is a competition running alongside the festivities. A front runner for an award is Robert Altman's The Player, a wicked satire on Hollywood. Britain's hopes rest with Terence Davies's The Long Day Closes, an autobiographical film about his Liverpool childhood, and Merchant/Ivory compete with the E M Forster classic Howard's End. Among the famous faces expected on the Croisette are Anthony Hopkins, Alan Rickman, Melanie Griffith, Joe Pesci and Michael Douglas, the star of Paul Verhoeven's controversial new thriller Basic Instinct, which opens the event.
Tue, May 26, 1992
Medicine Man stars Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco who find romance in the Amazonian rainforest, where Connery believes he has found the cure for cancer. Ruby is the story of Jack Ruby (played by Danny Aiello) who shot dead Lee Harvey Oswald, accused of killing President Kennedy. And Albert Finney joins Barry Norman in the studio to talk about his latest film The Playboys, which was filmed in Ireland.
Tue, Jun 2, 1992
The Playboys stars Albert Finney, Aidan Quinn and Robin Wright in an Irish love story. The Lawn mower Man is a British film featuring state of the art technology and special effects, which has taken America by storm. Another British offering is Double X, a low budget film marking the return of Norman Wisdom to the big screen.
Tue, Jun 9, 1992
Straight Talk stars Dolly Parton as Shirlee, a small-time dancing instructor who heads for the Big City and finds that James Woods and a radio station provide the excitement she craves. Brad Pitt plays Johnny Suede, a young musician obsessed with suede and 50s pop idol Ricky Nelson. Plus a report from the set of Carry On Columbus, the first Carry On for 14 years.
Tue, Jun 16, 1992
In the last programme of the current series, Barry Norman travels to Los Angeles to preview the summer in the cinema. Lethal Weapon 3 stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover; Batman Returns finds Michael Keaton in the company of Michelle Pfieffer (Catwoman) and Danny DeVito (Penguin); and in Far and Away Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman portray a couple of Irish emigrants fleeing to a new life. Sigourney Weaver reprises her role for Alien 3, and Tom Brook goes behind the scenes at the famous special effects house, Industrial Light and Magic. Plus a look at how the film community is reacting to the recent troubles in LA.
Mon, Sep 7, 1992
Barry Norman casts a critical eye over the new cinema releases. Films under review are Christopher Columbus: the Discovery, which features Marlon Brando in a cameo role; Housesitter starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn; and Bob Roberts, a biting satire on American electioneering, written and directed by, and starring Tim Robbins, recently seen in The Player. Plus a preview of this autumn's new films.
Mon, Sep 14, 1992
Barry Norman casts a critical eye over the new cinema releases. Films reviewed tonight include Clint Eastwood in the western Unforgiven; Tom Hanks stars with Geena Davis and Madonna in the baseball film A League of Their Own, and talks to Barry Norman about the film and about working with director Penny Marshall; and The Hours and the Times, a prize-winning film that captures the troubled relationship between John Lennon and Brian Epstein.
Mon, Sep 21, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases including Patriot Games (1992), the sequel to The Hunt for Red October, in which Harrison Ford portrays a CIA agent caught up in a deadly game of international terrorism. Just Like a Woman (1992) stars Julie Walters as a landlady who falls in love with her new lodger, only to discover he likes to dress up as a woman. And Casablanca (1942), 50 years old, receives a fresh outing on video, accompanied by a behind-the-scenes documentary.
Mon, Sep 28, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases including: Carry On Columbus, a comedy in which former Carry On members Bernard Cribbins and Jim Dale are joined by Julian Clary and Rik Mayall. Roland Joffe's City of Joy, starring Patrick Swayze and Pauline Collins. And Bitter Moon, Roman Polanski 's film about sexual obsession. Plus a location report from Peter's Friends, Kenneth Branagh's third film as director, about a reunion of former college friends.
Mon, Oct 5, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases including: Boomerang, the new Eddie Murphy film in which the love of his life (Robin Givens) rejects him in favour of her career; Beauty and the Beast, the acclaimed Disney cartoon; and As You Like It, Christine Edzard's version of the Shakespeare play. Plus, to celebrate 21 years of the programme, Barry Norman selects his all-time favourites.
Mon, Oct 12, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases including: Strictly Ballroom, an Australian film which takes an affectionate look at the world of competitive ballroom dancing. Wuthering Heights is a re-working of the Emily Bronte classic starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. Also, the full story of how Fatal Attraction originally ended, or would have ended, but for the intervention of the studio bosses. Adrian Lyne talks through the development of some of the key scenes from the film, to coincide with its video release.
Mon, Oct 19, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases, including: 1492 - Conquest of Paradise, starring Gerard Depardieu. Ridley Scott's film is the third on the exploits of the intrepid explorer, Christopher Columbus, to be made this year. How does it compare? Husbands and Wives, Woody Allen 's latest work. Allen has been in the news over revelations about his personal life. Is his new film a case of life imitating art, and is he back on form? Plus, on location, Sir Richard Attenborough talks about his new film Charlie, based on the life of Charlie Chaplin.
Mon, Oct 26, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases, including: Glengarry Glen Ross, the film of David Mamet's award-winning play starring Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin and Jack Lemmon; Unlawful Entry, featuring Kurt Russell and Ray Liotta; and Gerard Depardieu's film Mon Père Ce Héros, a romantic: comedy about a father and daughter on holiday.
Mon, Nov 16, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases, including: Sister Act, the surprise hit of the American summer, starring Whoopi Goldberg as a nightclub singer seeking refuge from the Mob in a convent; Single White Female, featuring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh - when a woman advertises for a flatmate her worst fears become a nightmare; Twin Peaks - Fire Walk with Me, David Lynch's big screen "prequel" to his cult TV series. And a report on location with Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in Death Becomes Her.
Mon, Nov 23, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new ' cinema releases, including: Of Mice and Men starring John Malkovich in an adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel; and The Waterdance featuring Eric Stolz and Wesley Snipes in a tale of relationships, recovery and dignity in a hospital ward. And there are reports on the release of the "director's cut" of Blade Runner, how films and merchandising spin-offs are big business, and initial reaction in America to Spike Lee's new film Malcolm X.
Mon, Nov 30, 1992
An interview with Meryl Streep. Acclaimed as one of the top actresses of the last decade, she has in recent years veered away from serious roles; her latest film, Death Becomes Her, is a black comedy in which she plays an actress desperately trying to hold back the years. Streep is vociferous on the inequality of fees paid to female stars, and still deplores the lack of good roles for women.
Mon, Dec 7, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases, including: Home Alone 2 - Lost In New York, with Macaulay Culkin reprising his role as the boy who is always left behind; and Into the West, a modern fable about two young boys from a travelling family, filmed in the west of Ireland. Plus a report on how films and merchandising spin offs are big business.
Mon, Dec 14, 1992
Barry Norman reviews the new cinema releases, including: Chaplin - Sir Richard Attenborough's film interpretation of the life of the Little Tramp in which Robert Downey jr gives a remarkable portrayal of the comic genius; The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - starring Michael Caine as well as Kermit and Miss Piggy. And Rob Reiner talks about directing his latest film A Few Good Men, and what it was like working with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.
Mon, Dec 21, 1992
What sort of a year has it been in the cinema? Husbands and Wives brought Woody Allen notoriety and a return to top form as a film-maker. Clint Eastwood proved the western is still alive and kicking in Unforgiven. And the Walt Disney studio delighted young and old alike with Beauty and the Beast. Cape Fear shocked, Strictly Ballroom delighted, with its frenzied blend of dance, drama and romance and A League of Their Own scored a round of laughs. Will these, or JFK, make it into the final selection - and what of Howards End, The Last of the Mohicans, 1492 and Chaplin? Barry Norman chooses his 1992 favourites, and looks at the facts, figures and new developments of the year. Also, a report from America on the film scene there.