After breaking through on Broadway and earning early success with theatre, director Mike Nichols was looking to move to feature films. The second movie he made - and at one stage it was going to be the first - was The Graduate, and over 50 years later, it's enjoying a 4K remaster and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release. For this latest episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, regular host Simon Brew (of Film Stories) is joined by Little White Lies editor David Jenkins for a conversation about the film, its legacy, and how the casting could have been very, very different. Plus! David's double bill choice, and some added STUDIOCANAL news...
An absolutely packed episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents here, as we celebrate a birthday, and bring in a couple of bonus guests! The first order of business is Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, Ran, which is celebrating its 40th birthday. Regular host Simon Brew is joined by The Guardian film writer Andrew Pulver to talk about the film, and the influence of Kurosawa on modern Hollywood. And then! In come Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tom Hiddleston, two of the stars of Mike Flanagan's The Life Of Chuck, which heads to UK cinemas on 20th August. Quite the chat with these two here, rounding off an extra special episode...
A very special episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, as multi-Oscar-winning filmmaking legend Francis Ford Coppola spends some time with us. He's talking about the new restoration of Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, the newly-remastered documentary film charting the making of Apocalypse Now. Francis talks candidly about the film, and how Eleanor Coppola went about her work. Furthermore, co-director of the film Fax Bahr then also joins us, as he reflects on wading through all the material and fashioning it into a film. Plus, how he ended up making the movie in the first place.
Academy Award-winning director Michel Hazanavicius joins regular host Simon Brew for a special episode of the STUDIOCANAL Presents podcast. After winning Oscar for The Artist, Michel spent many years realising the extraordinary The Most Precious Of Cargoes. He tells Simon about the challenge of making the film, and what animation afforded him that live action wouldn't. That, and about the power of Alexandre Desplat's music. Plus, a special double bill as well, and the latest news from STUDIOCANAL...
A British war movie classic comes into focus in the latest episode of the STUDIOCANAL Presents podcast, as The Dam Busters celebrates its 70th birthday. Host Simon Brew is joined by Dr Matthew Sweet as the pair chat about the film, drawing parallels with work as far and wide as Apocalypse Now, Star Wars, Dunkirk and even a dab of Top Gun Maverick. Also, why a version of the film written by Roald Dahl and directed by Howard Hawks never came to be. Quite the bonus double bill in this episode, too!
Few filmmakers can ever match the output of the late Rainer Werner Fassbinder, a German filmmaker who died at the age of just 37, with several lifetimes of work to his name. He's in the spotlight in this episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, with two movies in particular - In A Year Of 13 Moons and Lola - going under our microscope. Regular host Simon Brew, of Film Stories, is joined by film writer and curator Sarah Cleary to examine the work of Fassinder. Plus, a fresh double bill, and the latest STUDIOCANAL news too...
Welcome to the brand new season of STUDIOCANAL Presents, kicking off in style as Paul Merton joins regular host Simon Brew to talk about comedy legend Tony Hancock. In particular, two films that Hancock made at a pivotal point in his career: 1961's The Rebel and 1963's The Punch & Judy Man, both arriving on STUDIOCANAL's Vintage Classics DVD and Blu-ray label. Wearing terrific socks, which might not come across in the audio, Paul Merton explains just what makes the two films special. Plus, a whole lot more in here too...
In the final episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents for 2024, regular host Simon Brew is joined by film historian and critic Henry K Miller. Between them, they're digging into some of the early work of Alfred Hitchcock. They pick out the highlights from a brand new Blu-ray boxset of Hitchcock films, not least the film that straddled the line between silent cinema and talkies. Plus, there's time too for a double bill recommendation, and the latest STUDIOCANAL news...
The work of the late screen legend Alain Delon is the focus of the latest episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents. Regular host Simon Brew is joined by broadcaster and journalist Christina Newland to chat about Delon's films, with Plein Soleil and Mr Klein in particular a focus of conversation. There's also time for more news from the world of STUDIOCANAL, and a fresh double bill recommendation too...
A real treat in this episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, as host Simon Brew gets to go behind the scenes of the eagerly-awaited Paddington In Peru! He heads to a top secret location in London where the film was having its final touches put to it. He also finds out more from producer Rosie Alison, and the film's director, Dougal Wilson. Just enough time too for a news round-up from STUDIOCANAL as well. Paddington In Peru arrives in UK cinemas from 8th November 2024.
The work of Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar moves into the limelight in this episode of the STUDIOCANAL Presents podcast - in particular, a pair of his earlier movies. Kayleigh Donaldson joins regular host Simon Brew, examining and discussing both Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown and Kika. There's also time for the latest STUDIOCANAL news, as well as a fresh double bill recommendation as well...
Founded back in 1999 by Tomm Moore, Paul Young and Nora Twomey, Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has earned a worldwide reputation off the back of films such as The Secret Of Kells, Song Of The Sea and The Breadwinner. In a very special episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, the trio join regular host Simon Brew to talk about the story of Cartoon Saloon, its films, and its birthday. It's quite the tale...
A real treat in this episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, as regular host Simon Brew is joined by Academy Award winner Walter Murch to talk about the 1974 classic The Conversation. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Conversation was the movie he made between the first two Godfather films, and for actor Gene Hackman, he called it one of his favourite roles. No wonder: a superb, paranoid thriller, The Conversation also marked Walter Murch's first credit as editor, and he was also the sound designer on the film. He has plenty of stories to tell. The Conversation has been remastered in 4K, and is back in UK cinemas, with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release too.
Creature features have been omnipresent in cinema since its early days, and in this episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, we're putting them firmly centre stage. Joining regular host Simon Brew is a man who's just directed a creature feature of his own: Kiah Roache-Turner. He's the man behind the newly-released rampaging spider film Sting. As you're about to discover, he's scared of spiders - but he does have a host of recommendations!
The spotlight falls upon the Oscar-nominated animated film Persepolis for this episode of the STUDIOCANAL Presents podcast. Regular host Simon Brew is joined by writer and critic Kambole Campbell, and the pair delve into a modern animated classic. They chat about the source comic book, the mix of dark and light in the film, and its distinctive animation style. That, and the telling of Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical story in such an effective way, Plus: Kambole brings along too his double bill pick from the STUDIOCANAL catalogue. And there’s just about time for a news update as well…
The rich history of Ealing Studios comes into the spotlight in this latest episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, and in particular two of its comedies that are amongst the finest films in British cinema history: Kind Hearts & Coronets, and The Lavender Hill Mob. Host Simon Brew is joined by Ealing expert and fan Dr Benedict Morrison, and the pair explore the history, importance and joy of the films – whilst namechecking a few others for the watchlist too! Plus, as always, the latest news from the world of STUDIOCANAL as well…
Now playing in cinemas, Wicked Little Letters brings together Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, and an awful lot of foul language! Shepherding it to the screen? That’d be director Thea Sharrock, who joins Simon for this episode of the STUDIOCANAL Podcast. They talk about the making of the film, the true story underpinning it, and getting the tone right. As much as the film is a comedy, it’s got a resonant true story at the heart of it, and Thea talks about getting the balance of the film, and the challenge of editing. Plus we’ve got more news from the world of STUDIOCANAL as well…
It may not have got the recognition it deserved on its original release, but Michael Powell's stunning 1960 film Peeping Tom is now rightly regarded as a flat-out classic. It's also the subject of the latest episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents. Regular host Simon Brew is joined by film critic Lillian Crawford to talk about the film, its legacy, and the impact it had on Michael Powell's career. Plus, there's time for one or two more recommendations from the STUDIOCANAL catalogue too...
Just in time for Christmas, our latest delve into the STUDIOCANAL catalogue salutes a festive treat from yesterday: The Holly & The Ivy. Often overlooked, it’s a film that’s a firm favour of Sir Christopher Frayling. He joins regular host Simon Brew to talk about the film, and also to dig into a few further treats from the catalogue. Some of which have more of a festive edge than others…
We’re deep in spooky season at the time of this latest episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents – and that was all the reason we needed to invite podcaster, musician, writer, actor, and huge movie fan Scroobius Pip to join us. Along with regular host Simon Brew, the focus of the chat this time is primarily on Joe Cornish’s modern favourite Attack The Block, and just why it continues to endure so well. Plus a few words too for Ana Lily Amirpour’s acclaimed 2014 vampire movie, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night. There’s even time to talk about a quick cuddle, too…