What’s On

Today, Monday, 20^th May

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

• Today at 5.30am on Sky Cinema Action HD

An adventurer’s life with the Arabs, told in flashbacks after his accidental death in the thirties.

The Two-Headed Spy (1958)

• Today at 9.40am on Talking Pictures

A bogus Nazi worms his way into the Gestapo hierarchy.

Never the Twain (1984)

No Flame Like an Old Flame

• Today at 10am on Forces TV

• Tonight at 6.30pm on Forces TV

• Tonight at 11pm on Forces TV

The World at War (1973–74)

Nemesis

• Today at 10am on Yesterday

• Tonight at 6pm on Yesterday

1970s World War II documentary series, narrated by Laurence Olivier.

Sea of Sand (1958)

• Today at 12.55pm on Film4 HD

Just before Alamein an Eighth Army desert group plans to destroy one of Rommel’s last petrol dumps.

The First of the Few (1942)

• Today at 2.30pm on 5Spike

• Today at 3.30pm on 5Spike Plus 1

• Today at 3.35pm on 5Spike

• Today at 4.35pm on 5Spike Plus 1

The story of R J Mitchell who saw World War II coming and devised the Spitfire.

The Fallen Idol (1948)

• Today at 3.05pm on Talking Pictures

An ambassador’s small son nearly incriminates his friend the butler in the death of his shrewish wife.

Spartacus (1960)

• Today at 3.10pm on Sky Cinema Greats HD

The slaves of ancient Rome revolt and are quashed.

The Way to the Stars (1945)

• Today at 4.50pm on Film4 HD

World War II as seen by the guests at a small hotel near an airfield.

Discovering Film

Discovering: Vivien Leigh

• Today at 5pm on Sky Arts HD

Albert, RN (1953)

• Tonight at 6pm on Talking Pictures

Prisoners of war construct a lifelike dummy to cover the absence of escaping prisoners.

Van der Valk

The Professor

• Tonight at 9pm on Talking Pictures

The World at War (1973–74)

Occupation

• Tonight at 10pm on Yesterday

1970s World War II documentary series, narrated by Laurence Olivier.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, 21^st May

Marathon Man (1976)

• Tomorrow at 2.50am on Sky Cinema Greats HD

A vicious Nazi returns from Uruguay to New York in search of diamonds that had been kept for him by his now-dead brother, and is outwitted by the young brother of an American agent he has killed.

Hold the Dream

Discovering Film

Discovering: Vivien Leigh

• Tomorrow at 4am on Sky Arts HD

• Tomorrow at 11am on Sky Arts HD

The Blue Max (1966)

• Tomorrow at 4.45am on Sky Cinema Select HD

In Germany after World War I, an ambitious and skilful pilot causes the death of his comrades and steals the wife of his High Command superior, who eventually finds a means of revenge.

Chariots of Fire (1981)

• Tomorrow at 5am on Sky Cinema Drama HD

In the 1924 Paris Olympics, a Jew and a Scotsman run for Britain.

Three Silent Men (1940)

• Tomorrow at 6am on Talking Pictures

An Allied surgeon falls under suspicion when his enemy patient is later found dead.

The Flintstones (1994)

• Tomorrow at 9.25am on Sky Cinema Family HD

In the Stone Age town of Bedrock, quarry worker Fred Flintstone is promoted to vice-president so that he can be the fall-guy for his boss’s crooked schemes.

The World at War (1973–74)

Japan 1941-45

• Tomorrow at 10am on Yesterday

• Tomorrow at 6pm on Yesterday

1970s World War II documentary series, narrated by Laurence Olivier.

80,000 Suspects (1963)

Geordie (1955)

• Tomorrow at 3.05pm on Talking Pictures

A weakly Scottish boy takes a physical culture course and becomes an Olympic hammer-thrower.

The Ladykillers (1955)

• Tomorrow at 4.55pm on Film4 HD

An old lady takes in a sinister lodger, who with his four friends commits a robbery. When she finds out, they plot to kill her, but are hoist with their own petards.

What a Carve Up! (1961)

• Tomorrow at 7.10pm on Movies4Men

A madman fakes his own death in order to murder his relatives.

Van der Valk

In Hazard

• Tomorrow at 9pm on Talking Pictures

Wednesday, 22^nd May

A Severed Head (1971)

• Wednesday at 12am on Talking Pictures

A wine merchant has a long-standing affair that he thinks is secret, but is annoyed when his wife tries the same game.

Murder by Death (1976)

Hold the Dream

Night Song (1947)

• Wednesday at 6am on Movies4Men

A wealthy socialite falls for a blind pianist and pretends to be blind also, and poor to boot.

Hotel Reserve (1944)

• Wednesday at 8am on Movies4Men

An Austrian refugee in the south of France is asked by the police to track down a spy among his fellow guests.

The World at War (1973–74)

Pacific

• Wednesday at 10am on Yesterday

• Wednesday at 6pm on Yesterday

1970s World War II documentary series, narrated by Laurence Olivier.

Albert, RN (1953)

• Wednesday at 1.20pm on 5Spike

• Wednesday at 2.20pm on 5Spike Plus 1

• Wednesday at 2.25pm on 5Spike

• Wednesday at 3.25pm on 5Spike Plus 1

Prisoners of war construct a lifelike dummy to cover the absence of escaping prisoners.

Chariots of Fire (1981)

• Wednesday at 4pm on Sky Cinema Drama HD

In the 1924 Paris Olympics, a Jew and a Scotsman run for Britain.

Discovering Film

Discovering: David Niven

• Wednesday at 6pm on Sky Arts HD

The Four Feathers (1939)

• Wednesday at 6pm on Talking Pictures

During the Sudan campaign of the 1890s, a stay-at-home receives four white feathers as a symbol of cowardice; but he goes undercover, becomes a hero and rescues his best friend.

Van der Valk

Gold Plated Delinquents

• Wednesday at 9pm on Talking Pictures

No Trees in the Street (1959)

• Wednesday at 10pm on Talking Pictures

Problems of a London slum family in the thirties.

Thursday, 23^rd May

The Love Lottery (1954)

• Thursday at 3am on Talking Pictures

A British film star is persuaded to offer himself as first prize in a lottery.

Chariots of Fire (1981)

• Thursday at 3.25am on Sky Cinema Drama HD

In the 1924 Paris Olympics, a Jew and a Scotsman run for Britain.

A Fire Has Been Arranged (1935)

• Thursday at 4.40am on Talking Pictures

Ex-convicts find a building in the field where they buried the loot.

Discovering Film

Discovering: David Niven

• Thursday at 5am on Sky Arts HD

• Thursday at 12pm on Sky Arts HD

Angels One Five (1952)

• Thursday at 6.25am on BBC 2 HD

A slice of life in an RAF fighter station during the Battle of Britain.

Murder by Death (1976)

The Way to the Stars (1945)

• Thursday at 11am on Film4 HD

World War II as seen by the guests at a small hotel near an airfield.

Bean (1997)

• Thursday at 11.20am on Sky Cinema Comedy HD

• Thursday at 6.20pm on Sky Cinema Comedy HD

An accident-prone attendant at London’s Royal National Gallery accompanies Whistler’s Mother to America.

Who Goes There! (1952)

• Thursday at 11.35am on Talking Pictures

In a Grace and Favour house near St James’s Palace, a guardsman is involved in a trail of romantic intrigue.

The Man Upstairs (1958)

• Thursday at 2.45pm on London Live

A mild-mannered lodger becomes violent, injures a policeman, and barricades himself in his room.

A French Mistress (1960)

• Thursday at 6.55pm on Talking Pictures

An attractive new mistress causes havoc at a Boys’ school.

Van der Valk

Diane

• Thursday at 9pm on Talking Pictures

Friday, 24^th May

The Verdict (1982)

• Friday at 12.15am on Sky Cinema Greats HD

An ageing and failed attorney is unexpectedly handed a case of medical malpractice and successfully sues a hospital.

The Kiss of the Vampire (1963)

• Friday at 12.50am on horror channel

• Friday at 1.50am on horror channel Plus 1

In 1910, a Bavarian disciple of Dracula lures a British honeymoon couple.

Waterfront

The Desert Rats (1953)

• Friday at 4.45am on Sky Cinema Select HD

An English captain commands an Australian detachment in the siege of Tobruk, and survives an encounter with Rommel.

The Great Escape (1963)

• Friday at 4.55am on Sky Cinema Drama HD

Allied prisoners plan to escape from a German prison camp.

Carry on Admiral (1957)

• Friday at 6am on Talking Pictures

In a drunken moment, an MP changes clothes with a naval officer and is forced to adopt his friend’s identity aboard ship.

The World at War (1973–74)

Reckoning

• Friday at 10am on Yesterday

• Friday at 6pm on Yesterday

1970s World War II documentary series, narrated by Laurence Olivier.

Father Brown (1954)

[as The Detective]

• Friday at 12pm on Talking Pictures

A Catholic clergyman retrieves a priceless church cross from master thief Flambeau.

HMS Defiant (1962)

[as Damn the Defiant!]

• Friday at 2.55pm on 5Spike

• Friday at 3.55pm on 5Spike Plus 1

• Friday at 4pm on 5Spike

• Friday at 5pm on 5Spike Plus 1

Mutiny erupts on an 18th-century British sailing ship.

Make Mine Mink (1960)

• Friday at 3pm on London Live

Members of a high-class boarding establishment steal furs to give the proceeds to charity.

Don’t Panic Chaps (1959)

• Friday at 3.05pm on Talking Pictures

British and German units are sent to set up observation posts on the same Adriatic island, and agree to sit out the war in comfort.

Swallows and Amazons (1974)

• Friday at 3.45pm on BBC 2 HD

In the twenties, four children have adventures in the Lake District.

Murder, She Wrote (1987)

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall ’Part 1’

• Friday at 4pm on 5USA

Discovering Film

Discovering: James Mason

• Friday at 6pm on Sky Arts HD

North by Northwest (1959)

• Friday at 6.20pm on TCM HD

• Friday at 7.20pm on TCM Plus 1

A business man is mistaken for a spy, and enemy agents then try to kill him because he knows too much.

A Run for Your Money (1949)

• Friday at 6.30pm on Talking Pictures

Welsh Rugby supporters have various adventures on their one day in London.

Saturday, 25^th May

Discovering Film

Discovering: James Mason

• Saturday at 5am on Sky Arts HD

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Dickie Attenborough: A Life in Film

Burnt Evidence (1954)

• Saturday at 10.15am on Talking Pictures

A jealous husband accidentally shoots his wife’s lover and runs for the hills.

Aces High (1976)

• Saturday at 11.10am on itv4 HD

• Saturday at 12.10pm on itv4 Plus 1

• Saturday at 12.20pm on itv4 HD

• Saturday at 1.20pm on itv4 Plus 1

In the air force during World War I, young pilots are needlessly sacrificed.

Barnacle Bill

Convoy (1940)

• Saturday at 3pm on Talking Pictures

A German pocket battleship menaces a British convoy and a merchant ship sacrifices itself to prevent disaster.

Cage of Gold (1950)

• Saturday at 4.45pm on Talking Pictures

A girl’s philandering ex-husband comes back into her life and is murdered.

Battle of Britain (1969)

• Saturday at 6.25pm on Channel 5 HD

Summer 1940: England defends itself against aerial onslaught.

Georgy Girl (1966)

Sunday, 26^th May

Mary, Queen of Scots (1971)

• Sunday at 12.45am on more4 HD

The story of Mary Stuart’s opposition to Elizabeth I, her imprisonment and execution.

Derby Day

Dickie Attenborough: A Life in Film

Shadow of the Eagle (1950)

• Sunday at 3.40am on Talking Pictures

In 1770, a Russian envoy to Venice falls for the princess he is supposed to kidnap.

His Excellency (1952)

• Sunday at 7.30am on Talking Pictures

The Labour government sends a trade union officer to govern a Mediterranean colony.

Holiday Camp (1947)

• Sunday at 9.10am on Talking Pictures

At a summer holiday camp, a murderer on the prowl affects people’s enjoyment in various ways.

Just My Luck (1957)

• Sunday at 12.50pm on Talking Pictures

A jeweller’s assistant becomes involved in horse racing.

Make Mine Mink (1960)

• Sunday at 1.05pm on London Live

Members of a high-class boarding establishment steal furs to give the proceeds to charity.

Campbell’s Kingdom (1957)

• Sunday at 2.35pm on Talking Pictures

A young man who thinks he is dying arrives in the Canadian Rockies to take over his father’s oil valley, but a scheming contractor opposes him.

The Long Memory (1953)

• Sunday at 3.10pm on London Live

An ex-con , framed for a murder he did not commit, plots revenge but instead discovers a fresh crime.

The Card (1952)

For the Love of Ada (1970–71)

Wedding Plans

• Sunday at 6.30pm on Talking Pictures

Two old age pensioners find that as romance blossoms, so too does emotional turmoil.

Steaming

Monday, 27^th May

The Captive Heart (1946)

• 27^th May at 6.50am on TCM HD

• 27^th May at 7.50am on TCM Plus 1

Stories of life among British officers in a German POW camp, especially of a Czech who has stolen the papers of a dead Britisher.

Street Corner (1953)

• 27^th May at 8.25am on Talking Pictures

Days in the lives of the women police of Chelsea.

Zulu (1964)

• 27^th May at 10.50am on Sky Cinema Drama HD

In 1879 British soldiers stand fast against the Zulus at Rorke’s Drift.

Discovering Film

Discovering: James Mason

• 27^th May at 12pm on Sky Arts HD

Frieda (1947)

• 27^th May at 12pm on Talking Pictures

An RAF officer marries and takes home a girl who helped him escape from a POW camp.

Battle of Britain (1969)

• 27^th May at 2.15pm on Channel 5 HD

Summer 1940: England defends itself against aerial onslaught.

Murder, She Wrote (1987)

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall ’Part 2’

• 27^th May at 3pm on 5USA

The Great Escape (1963)

• 27^th May at 4.05pm on Sky Cinema Drama HD

Allied prisoners plan to escape from a German prison camp.

Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)

• 27^th May at 4.25pm on Film4 HD

Holmes and Watson meet as teenage students and trace mysterious murders to an eastern cult.

The Boys (1962)

• 27^th May at 6.30pm on Talking Pictures

Four boys are on trial for killing a garage attendant.

Triple Cross (1966)

• 27^th May at 6.30pm on Movies4Men

A small-time crook imprisoned on Jersey at the start of World War II offers to spy for the Nazis but reports to the English.

The Guv’nor (1935)

• 27^th May at 11pm on London Live

By chance, a tramp becomes a bank director.

Tuesday, 28^th May

Meet Mr Lucifer (1953)

• 28^th May at 3.30am on Talking Pictures

The Demon King in a tatty provincial pantomime dreams he is the devil preventing people from wasting time watching television.

Calling Paul Temple (1948)

• 28^th May at 6am on Talking Pictures

A detective is called in to catch the murderer of the patients of a doctor who specialises in nervous disorders.

The Fallen Idol (1948)

• 28^th May at 8.25am on Talking Pictures

An ambassador’s small son nearly incriminates his friend the butler in the death of his shrewish wife.

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Midnight Lace (1960)

• 28^th May at 11am on Film4 HD

The wife of a rich Londoner is terrorised by threatening phone calls and voices in the fog.

Emergency Call (1952)

• 28^th May at 12.15pm on Talking Pictures

Inspector Lane tracks down several people who share a rare blood group needed to save a life.

Rumpole of the Bailey

Rumpole and the Man of God

• 28^th May at 2pm on Talking Pictures

Cage of Gold (1950)

• 28^th May at 3.05pm on Talking Pictures

A girl’s philandering ex-husband comes back into her life and is murdered.

North by Northwest (1959)

• 28^th May at 4.05pm on TCM HD

• 28^th May at 5.05pm on TCM Plus 1

A business man is mistaken for a spy, and enemy agents then try to kill him because he knows too much.

Discovering Film

Discovering: Elizabeth Taylor

• 28^th May at 5pm on Sky Arts HD