8 - 14 APRIL 2023

As predicted last week, the Easter weekend has a very familiar look to it: Ben-Hur (1959), two full days of Carry On films on ITV 3, The Ten Commandments (1956) and the classic musicals Easter Parade and The Sound of Music. Three alternatives to these are listed below.
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) Saturday 8 April 2.40-4.30pm BBC 2    
Apart from The Magnificent Seven (1960), this is the best western to watch if you do not care for westerns, with Paul Newman and Robert Redford making a perfect team. A clear bonus was Burt Bacharach’s score and there are tribute shows dedicated to the composer later in the evening. 
GILDA (1946) Saturday 8 April 9.30-11.45pm TP (Ch 82)         
Just think – Rita Hayworth removing a glove was one of the most sensuous scenes put on film – and it still is in 2023! Gilda is a splendid film noir set in a seedy casino somewhere in South America. The subtexts, particularly the one involving Glenn Ford and George Macready, remain equally fascinating.
ETERNAL BEAUTY (2019) Sunday 9 April 10.00-11.30pm BBC 2    P       
Members’ favourite Sally Hawkins is very good in this comedy drama. She plays a 40-something woman who has come to terms with her mental illness after being jilted at her wedding some years before.