Name: From 'Metropolis' to 'Close Encounters'
Released: 1978-04-23

From 'Metropolis' to 'Close Encounters'

Barry Norman

Film 78 Special

Episode 15

Barry Norman returns with a round-up of news, reviews and interviews from the movie world. New York, New York: Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro star in Martin Scorsese's latest film set in the post-war big band era. Exorcist II - The Heretic: Linda Blair and Max Von Sydow repeat their roles in a sequel to The Exorcist directed by John Boorman. The Medusa Touch: Star Richard Burton and director Jack Gold talk at Pinewood Studios about their latest venture into telekinesis.

The Medusa Touch

Barry Norman presents a round-up of news, reviews and interviews from the movie world. Slap Shot: Paul Newman plays a professional ice hockey player in director George Roy HilFs latest comedy-drama. Valentino: Rudolf Nureyev makes his screen acting debut in Ken Russell's film about the legendary silent screen star. March or Die: Gene Hackman, Terence Hill and director Dick Richards are interviewed in Spain during the making of their Foreign Legion film.

Episode 2

Barry Norman presents a round-up of news, reviews and interviews from the movie world. Equus: Richard Burton and Peter Firth star in director Sidney Lumet's film version of Peter Shaffer 's successful stage play. Demon Seed: Julie Christie is attacked by a rebellious computer in a fantasy-horror movie set in the not-too-distant future. Alex and the Gypsy Jack Lemmon in Hollywood talks to Barbra Paskin about his latest role as a bail bondsman who befriends a gypsy.

Episode 3

Welcome to L.A. (1976): Sissy Spacek, Keith Carradine and Sally Kellerman star in a Robert Altman production which opens London's new cinema, Screen on the Hill. Voyage of the Damned (1976): The story of 937 German Jewish refugees who sailed in May 1939 in a bid for freedom, features Faye Dunaway, Malcolm McDowell, Max Von Sydow and Orson Welles. Prey (1977): This location report shows how a group of film technicians banded together to make their own sci-fi horror movie.

Episode 4

Barry Norman presents a round-up of news, reviews and interviews from the movie world. The Amsterdam Kill: Robert Mitchum plays a discredited US cop who tries to break up an international drugs ring. Chinese Roulette (1976): the prolific German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder's latest film which charts the emotional entanglements of a group resident in a castle over a long weekend, is premiered tomorrow at the 21st London Film Festival. The Last Remake of Beau Geste: Marty Feldman, on location in Madrid, talks about his first film as director, writer and star with comments from his co-stars Michael York, Ann-Margret and Peter Ustinov.

Episode 5

Barry Norman presents a roundup of news, reviews and interviews from the movie world. Dominique (1979): Cliff Robertson, Flora Robson, Simon Ward, Jenny Agutter and director Michael Anderson talk about a new film now being made at Shepperton Studios. Golden Rendezvous (1977): Richard Harris and David Janssen star in Alistair Maclean's latest adventure about drug smuggling in South Africa. The Black Panther (1977): Donald Sumpter plays the title role in Ian Merrick's film dramatisation of the notorious 1975 kidnapping case.

Episode 6

Barry Norman presents a round-up of films and film books for Christmas. The Gauntlet - Clint Eastwood, star and director, talks in New York about his latest film in which he plays a loner cop who is framed by a corrupt superior. Star Wars - Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing and Alec Guinness star in director George Lucas 's space fantasy which has already become the world's biggest box-office attraction. Rollercoaster - George Segal plays a safety inspector turned detective, Henry Fonda his boss and Richard Wid mark a special agent in the latest disaster sensurround movie set in an American amusement park. The Deep - Jacqueline Bissett, Robert Shaw and Nick Nolte star in a film version of Peter (Jaws) Benchley's book about a search for treasure in the waters off Bermuda. The Entertainers - Hirschfeld's book of drawings features such stars as Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen, Mae West and Elvis Presley.

Episode 7

Films of the Year: 1977

Barry Norman presents a New Year round-up of news, reviews and interviews. International Velvet: Child star Tatum O'Neal and director Bryan Forbes talk about the sequel to the 1944 MGM classic, National Velvet, which they are making at Pinewood Studios. The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training: The famous kids' baseball team goes to Texas and recruits William Devane as coach for a big game. The Glenn Miller Story: James Stewart and June Allyson star in the 1954 biography of the famous band leader which opens London's new Plaza 4 cinema, devoted to re-issues of famous Paramount movies.

Episode 9

Episode 10

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: Frankie Howerd, making his first film in Hollywood, talks about his unusual role in this pop/rock film. Candleshoe: Jodie Foster, David Niven and Helen Hayes star in the latest Disney suspense comedy set in England. International Velvet: child star Tatum O'Neal and director Bryan Forbes talk about the sequel to the 1944 MGM classic, National Velvet, which they are making at Pinewood Studios.

Episode 11

Silver Bears: Cybill Shepherd, Michael Caine and Stephane Audran star in director Ivan Passer's comedy involving a 'friendly' Swiss bank. The Four Feathers: Beau Bridges, Robert Powell, Simon Ward and Richard Johnson star in a remake of this classic romantic adventure. The Swarm: Henry Fonda, Richard Chamberlain, Michael Caine and producer-director Irwin Allen comment in Hollywood on their disaster movie about killer bees.

Episode 12

Episode 13

Episode 14

Episode 18

Who's That with Adela?

The BBC's flagship cinema review TV program featuring reviews of new releases, news items and interviews. The title of the program changes each year to incorporate the year of broadcast.

From 'Metropolis' to 'Close Encounters'

Seasons25

Season 7 Episodes19

Cast1

Discussion

Episode Summary