Movies

James Stewart was a titan of Golden Age Hollywood, starring in 80 films throughout his epic career.The Oscar-winning World War 2 veteran and Presidential Medal of Freedom holder was incredibly relatable for audiences with his everyman characters.Yet out of all his films, it turns out his favourite was probably his most famous: Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life.Reflecting on the Christmas classic, which is now considered one of the greatest movies ever made, he once said: “A friend told me recently that seeing a movie I made more than 40 years ago is a holiday tradition in his family. “That movie is It’s a Wonderful Life, and out of all the 80 films I’ve made, it’s my favourite. But it has an odd history.”Inspired by A Christmas Carol, Stewart starred as George Bailey, a selfless and d...

Almost 50 years after his death, Elvis Presley remains an enigma and is as popular as ever. As one of the most famous pop culture icons who ever lived, there have been numerous portrayals of him on stage and screen.Many actors have attempted to capture The King in varied performances across a variety of movies and shows. From straightforward biopics to whimsical horror movies and imagined scenarios, audiences still can't seem to get enough of Elvis.His mannerisms and voice are hugely distinctive and instantly recognisable, but each actor who has portrayed him also manages to bring a bit of themselves to the role. Although obviously no one looks exactly like him, clever hair and make-up have ensured that some have borne more than a passing resemblance to the legendary star.Some actors ha...

Back in 1942, John Wayne starred opposite Joan Blondell in Lady for a Night.The film follows a female casino steamboat owner who eventually owns a plantation and negotiates her marriage with the previous owner to enter the upper classes.But did you know that the movie’s Memphis Belle steamboat inspired the name of the World War 2 B-17 bomber?Marking the film’s 83rd anniversary this week, Wayne’s estate posted the fact on his official Instagram.The post reads: “From the deep romantic south comes another thrilling drama of love and intrigue. John Wayne is pictured in promotional stills for the film alongside costar Joan Blondell. The two stars are also pictured goofing around behind the scenes. This film inspired the name of one of the most famous World War II bombers, the B-17 Memphis Be...

There are a couple of new World War 2 films in the Netflix UK Top 10 this week. Alongside Norwegian resistance film, Number 24 is Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight.The new movie tells the inspiring true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which was predominantly comprised of US black women.The film’s synopsis reads: “An army captain leads her historic battalion of all-female soldiers as they face a mission unlike any other: to restore hope to WWII’s frontlines by delivering over 17 million backlogged letters. Witness their courage and determination in The Six Triple Eight.”The Netflix movie, which debuted on the platform just before Christmas, stars Kerry Washington and features Oprah Winfrey as civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune.As shared by Netflix: “The 68...

Downton Abbey 3 is set to arrive in cinemas this September but with a glaring absence.Dame Maggie Smith’s iconic Dowager, who co-starred in the award-winning period drama since the TV series began, was killed off at the end of the last film, Downton Abbey: A New Era.Tragically, the actress has died since then. Nevertheless, executive producer Gareth Neale has teased how the threequel will pay tribute to the witty Lady Violet Crawley.Speaking with TV Line, the Downton Abbey 3 producer shared: “The fact that Dame Maggie herself has now passed away since that time, I do think, has given a real added poignancy to a story that we would have planned anyway. The loss of the Dowager, it now feels far more significant that you see actors playing characters mourning the family matriarch. But I al...

Having regretted passing on 1971’s Dirty Harry, John Wayne took a turn in a gritty cop thriller a couple of years later as McQ.Intended for Steve McQueen, hence the title, the film’s script was heavily rewritten for the 65-year-old Duke.Like Dirty Harry, it was originally set in Seattle, but the location was changed to San Francisco despite the shoot taking place in Washington state.The production of McQ, which marks its 51st anniversary this week, almost included a tragedy when a stunt involving the titular character’s rare 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am 455 Super Duty car went wrong.The near miss occurred when the stunt driver was preparing to flip the vehicle without ramps.Stunt driver Hal Needham performed the very first car stunt with a black powder cannon charge. Yet during the se...

Now and then, a new and small World War 2 film comes out of the woodwork and enters the Netflix UK Top 10.This newly released film, currently at No 4 in the British chart, tells the amazing true story of Gunnar Sønsteby.A member of the Norwegian resistance during the German occupation of his country, he risked his life against the Nazis.Known as Agent No 24, the brave young man became Norway’s most decorated war hero and was the only person awarded the War Cross with three swords, the nation’s highest military honour.During the Second World War, he was involved in numerous sabotage operations, intelligence gatherings and informant assassinations.

Last night at the Golden Globes, the new post-World War II epic won three of the biggest awards of the night.In addition to taking home Best Motion Picture Drama, The Brutalist’s Adrien Body won Best Drama Actor, and its director Brady Corbet garnered Best Director.The critically-acclaimed almost 4 hour film comes 23 years after Brody played another Holocaust survivor in his Oscar-winning performance for The Pianist.Showered with 5-star reviews and hailed as a masterpiece on par with The Godfather, this time around, the star plays László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect. His character emigrates to the USA with his wife (Felicity Jones) at the end of World War II to experience the American dream.At first, the couple struggle in poverty before he scores a contract with a wealthy client ...

Phil Dunster, the 'Ted Lasso' star famed for his role as Jamie Tartt, has been "quite firmly" turned down for the role of James Bond. The actor disclosed that his agent had a conversation with Bond chief Barbara Broccoli about him taking over from Daniel Craig, but the door was firmly closed on that opportunity.As reported by The Sun on Sunday, Phil shared on a podcast: "There was a conversation one of my agents had but they quite firmly shut the door in their face."Meanwhile, Jennifer Salke, the global head of Amazon MGM Studios, is working with Eon Productions and producers Barbara and Michael G. Wilson to chart the future course for the iconic spy.Speaking to The Guardian, Salke revealed: "There are a lot of ideas [about potential actors] that have popped up that I thought are intere...

Clint Eastwood may be best known for his iconic Westerns, but the Hollywood star who turns 95 this year also starred in a couple of epic World War 2 films.Before directing Second World War companion films Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima in his later life, he played lead roles in Where Eagles Dare and Kelly’s Heroes.Both classics from the early New Hollywood period are on BBC Two this afternoon as part of a double-bill.Check out their plots and what time they’re broadcast below.First up is 1970’s Kelly’s Heroes at 12:30pm in a comedy heist that had Eastwood star opposite Telly Savalas, Don Rickles and Donald Sutherland. The plot follows a group of American soldiers who learn about Nazi gold hidden behind enemy lines from a drunk German. As a result, they head off on a miss...