3 - 9 DEC 2022

With Christmas on the way, we remain resolute in avoiding Christmas films – for now – and suggest you take a look at the following: 
COW (2021) Sunday 4 December 10.30pm-12.05am BBC 2    P             
This week’s British film premiere is a unique, affecting and excellent documentary from Andrea Arnold (director of American Honey and 2011’s Wuthering Heights). It follows the daily life of dairy cow Luma (and her calf) – without a voiceover commentary.
ANATOMY OF A MURDER (1959) Wednesday 7 December 9.00pm-1215am Talking Pictures (Ch 82)
Anatomy is a superb, and groundbreaking, courtroom drama. James Stewart is the country lawyer for the defence; he, George C. Scott (as the prosecutor) and director Otto Preminger all did some of their very best work here – and that is saying something! It was revelatory because of its honesty in presenting openly the details of the case. Stewart surely used this portrayal to inform and augment his Hawkins on Murder TV movies in the 1970s, but they did not reach the heights of this film.
WINGS OF EAGLES (1957) Friday 9 December 1.45-4.00pm 5 Action (Ch 33)         
Wings of Eagles is the least typical, and almost certainly the least seen, of the John Ford-John Wayne collaborations. The Duke plays Hollywood scriptwriter Frank “Spig” Wead, the former aviator who suffered a serious spinal injury. The Fordian military camaraderie/slapstick, of which he was fond, does some harm here, but Wayne gives a moving and well-judged performance in his third partnership with Maureen O’Hara. Ward Bond is also great value as film director ‘John Dodge’, clearly having a ball as his mentor (and tormentor) Ford.