Documentary

All Episodes of Talking Pictures

BBC Two

Browse all episodes of Talking Pictures

Documentary

All Episodes of Talking Pictures

BBC Two

Browse all episodes of Talking Pictures

A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.

Select Season:

Season 1

9.5/1063 votes
Bette Davis
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/5/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Bette Davis, capturing the milestones and highlights of her life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
6.5/1013 votes
John Mills
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/12/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the Osar-winning actor Sir John Mills, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
8.1/108 votes
David Niven
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/19/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the Ocsar-winning actor David Niven, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.5/1010 votes
Gene Kelly
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/2/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the legendary Hollywood actor and dancer Gene Kelly, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.3/1010 votes
John Wayne
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/16/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend John Wayne, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.4/107 votes
Tony Curtis
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/23/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Tony Curtis, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.7/107 votes
Dirk Bogarde
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 3/2/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Dirk Bogarde, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.6/105 votes
James Stewart
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 3/9/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar-winning actor James Stewart, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Lauren Bacall
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/29/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall, following the changes and highlights of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
6.9/1011 votes
Orson Welles
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 4/1/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the legendary Hollywood actor and director Orson Welles, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.6/105 votes
Ingrid Bergman
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 4/27/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Ingrid Bergman, capturing the milestones and highlights of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
8.0/1010 votes
Alec Guinness
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 5/11/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Alec Guinness, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.2/105 votes
Gregory Peck
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 7/6/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Gregory Peck, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
James Mason
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 8/3/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar nominated Hollywood star James Mason, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Charlton Heston
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 8/26/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar winning Hollywood actor Charlton Heston, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.6/108 votes
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 10/12/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by legendary Hollywood double act Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, capturing the milestones and highlights of their lives and careers.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.6/105 votes
Richard Burton
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 11/2/2013
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar nominated Hollywood icon Richard Burton, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
8.0/1011 votes
Alfred Hitchcock
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/1/2014
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by iconic Hollywood director Alfred Hitchcock, reflecting on the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.4/105 votes
Shirley Maclaine
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/8/2014
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by one of Hollywood's most outspoken stars, Shirley Maclaine, with interviews and clips capturing the milestones and highlights of her Oscar-winning career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Joan Fontaine
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/12/2014
A look at the life of Joan Fontaine, one of Britain's best-loved actresses, using rarely seen archive footage of her BBC appearances to tell the story of her Oscar-winning career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
6.8/105 votes
Richard Attenborough
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/3/2014
A look at the life and work of Richard Attenborough, with vintage interviews and classic archive clips illustrating a career that has made him one of British cinema's most popular and successful figures. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
6.9/107 votes
Deborah Kerr
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/10/2014
A look back at the career of British actress Deborah Kerr, with vintage television interviews and classic archive clips telling how she left Britain in the 1940s and became one of Hollywood's biggest stars.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.7/107 votes
Laurence Olivier
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/17/2014
Sylvia Syms looks back on the life of Laurence Olivier, perhaps Britain's greatest actor, using rare material from the BBC archives to tell the story of his extraordinarily distinguished career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Sophia Loren
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/24/2014
An examination of the life and career of one of cinema's most glamorous stars, Sophia Loren, with rarely seen archive material telling the story of her hugely successful career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.0/105 votes
Paul Newman
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 5/26/2014
An examination of the life of actor Paul Newman, using rarely seen interviews from the BBC archives to tell the story of a career that made him one of Hollywood's greatest superstars. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Robert Mitchum
Season 1 Episode 26 - Aired 5/31/2014
The life and career of one of Hollywood's original bad boys, Robert Mitchum, is examined using archive footage of his appearances on the BBC that illustrate why he was a favourite of film fans, and an interviewer's nightmare.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Peter O'Toole
Season 1 Episode 27 - Aired 7/19/2014
A look at the life of the Lawrence of Arabia star and legendary hell-raiser, Peter O'Toole, with rarely seen archive footage of his appearances on the BBC, exploring the story of his colourful career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Robert Redford
Season 1 Episode 28 - Aired 8/2/2014
The career of Robert Redford, one of the big screen's greatest heartthrobs, is examined in this exploration of the BBC archives, with rarely-seen interviews showing that he was always much more than just a pin-up. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
David Lean
Season 1 Episode 29 - Aired 8/23/2014
A compilation of rarely seen interviews and archive footage tells the story of movie-master David Lean, whose drive and genius made him one of Britain's greatest-ever film directors.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Judi Dench
Season 1 Episode 30 - Aired 9/13/2014
Sylvia Syms presents rarely seen footage from the BBC archives that explores the life and career of one of Britain's best-loved actors, Dame Judi Dench.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.3/109 votes
Maggie Smith
Season 1 Episode 31 - Aired 9/20/2014
Sylvia Syms narrates a look at the life of one of Britain's best and best-loved actresses, with classic archive footage of her appearances on the BBC demonstrating that when it comes to movie stardom, there really is nothing like a dame.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
N/A/100 votes
Julie Andrews
Season 1 Episode 32 - Aired 12/28/2014
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Mary Poppins and Sound of Music star Julie Andrews, with interviews from the archive and classic clips.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.5/1010 votes
Michael Caine
Season 1 Episode 33 - Aired 1/10/2015
A look at the life of acting legend Michael Caine, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of one Britain's most successful actors. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
7.2/108 votes
Sean Connery
Season 1 Episode 34 - Aired 1/17/2015
A look at the life of Sean Connery, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of his life and career.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown