Narrated by John Mills and Anthony Quayle, the series comprised five seasons and sixty seven episodes all originally broadcast on BBC1.
Designed as entertainment for a broad audience, the complete series encompasses a comprehensive view of British cinema from the 1930s to the 1980s by examining a different theme and or genre in each episode through the extensive use of film clips.
The series debuted on 22 April 1987.[2] The final episode was broadcast on 31 March 1994.[3]
The UK company Best Of British Films & Television was established due to the success of the series.
Produced during 1986, Season One comprised ten episodes and featured films produced and distributed by the Rank Organisation over a fifty-year period from the 1930s to the 1980s. Produced by Robert Sidaway for Best of British Films & Television and Charisma Films, all the programs were written by Robert Sidaway, Ashley Sidaway, Maurice Sellar and Lou Jones and narrated by John Mills.
Commencing Wednesday 22 April 1987, the episodes were broadcast on a weekly basis at 7:35 pm. Each episode was 25 minutes in length, apart from Things That Go Bump in the Night (Episode 1.07) which was edited down to 19 minutes by the BBC due to the intense nature of the content for the early evening timeslot.
Book
A book based on Season One and titled The Best of British: A Celebration of Rank Film Classics was written by Robert Sidaway, Ashley Sidaway, Maurice Sellar and Lou Jones and published by Sphere Books in April 1987 to coincide with the broadcast of the series.[5]
Wogan specials
Two specials of the television chat show Wogan were hosted by Terry Wogan to tie-in with the series and featured a number of British cinema stars, including John Mills, Stewart Granger, Peter Cushing, Kenneth Williams and Norman Wisdom. The first special was broadcast on Friday 22 May 1987[6] (duration 35 minutes) and the second special on Monday 25 May 1987[7] (duration 40 minutes).
Season 2
Season Two comprised sixteen episodes and continued the detailed look at films produced and distributed by the Rank Organisation. Produced by Robert Sidaway for Best of British Films & Television and Charisma Films, all the programs were written by Robert Sidaway, Ashley Sidaway, Maurice Sellar and Lou Jones and narrated by John Mills.
Production took place during late 1987 and 1988. During production of Season Two, the series theme music was recorded by the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Nicholas Raine arranged and conducted the sessions at CTS Studios in Wembley. The music was released by RCA in June 1987 with a Love Theme arrangement on the A side and the Main Theme on the B side.[8] The orchestral version of the music was used on Seasons Two to Five.
The first five episodes were initially broadcast commencing on 10 August 1988.[9]
Audiences have always taken to their hearts favourite performers whose appeal transcends international barriers. Featured are such names as Michael Caine, Henry Fonda and Meryl Streep in films including The Eagle Has Landed, On Golden Pond and Sophie's Choice.
A look at the portrayal of relationships between friends, lovers and families in films such as Brief Encounter, On Golden Pond and Voyage of the Damned.
The thrill and excitement of action movies highlighted by films such as Raise the Titanic, Hawk The Slayer and Escape to Athena with stars including Michael Caine, Gene Hackman and Elliot Gould.
From the Bible to Charles Dickens and Alexander Dumas, literature has been a rich source of cinematic entertainment. Featured productions include Great Expectations, The Man In The Iron Mask and Moses The Lawgiver, with stars such as Burt Lancaster and Richard Chamberlain.
A look at films showing the profits of crime and the wages of sin, including Return Of The Pink Panther, Love And Bullets and Madam Sin with stars like Peter Sellers, Charles Bronson and Bette Davis.
The downbeat doggedness of Philip Marlowe, the suave charm of Simon Templar, the comic ineptitude of Inspector Clouseau. Films featured include Farewell My Lovely and Return Of The Pink Panther, with stars such as Robert Mitchum and Peter Sellers.
From the sun-kissed sidewalks of California to the dingy streets of London, filmmakers reflect on modern society in films such as From A Far Country and Rising Damp with stars such as Peter Fonda, Sam Neill and Leonard Rossiter.
Highlighting the magic of special effects in films like Saturn 3. Raise the Titanic and Capricorn One with stars including Kirk Douglas, Omar Sharif and Telly Savalas.
