Talking Pictures

Top Cast

Sylvia Syms as Narrator
Peter O'Toole as Self (archive footage)
Robert Mitchum as Self (archive footage)
Paul Newman as Self (archive footage)
Sophia Loren as Self (archive footage)
Laurence Olivier as Self (archive footage)
Deborah Kerr as Self (archive footage)
Richard Attenborough as Self (archive footage)
Joan Fontaine as Self (archive footage)
Shirley MacLaine as Self (archive footage)

Seasons

Series 1 (2013) - (34 Episodes)

Series 2 (2015) - (35 Episodes)

Series 3 (2019) - (10 Episodes)

Series 4 (2022) - (3 Episodes)

Series 5 (2024) - (2 Episodes)

Series 6 (2025) - (3 Episodes)

Series 1 (2013)

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

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Bette Davis (2013-01-05)

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.
Ep. 2: John Mills (2013-01-12)

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.
Ep. 3: David Niven (2013-01-19)

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.
Ep. 4: Gene Kelly (2013-02-02)

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.
Ep. 5: John Wayne (2013-02-16)

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.
Ep. 6: Tony Curtis (2013-02-23)

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.
Ep. 7: Dirk Bogarde (2013-03-02)

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.
Ep. 8: James Stewart (2013-03-09)

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.
Ep. 9: Lauren Bacall (2013-03-29)

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.
Ep. 10: Orson Welles (2013-04-01)

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.
Ep. 11: Ingrid Bergman (2013-04-27)

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.
Ep. 12: Alec Guinness (2013-05-11)

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.
Ep. 13: Gregory Peck (2013-07-06)

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.
Ep. 14: James Mason (2013-08-03)

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.
Ep. 15: Charlton Heston (2013-08-26)

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.
Ep. 16: Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers (2013-10-12)

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.
Ep. 17: Richard Burton (2013-11-02)

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.
Ep. 18: Alfred Hitchcock (2014-03-01)

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.
Ep. 19: Shirley Maclaine (2014-03-08)

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.
Ep. 20: Joan Fontaine (2014-04-12)

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.
Ep. 21: Richard Attenborough (2014-05-03)

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.
Ep. 22: Deborah Kerr (2014-05-10)

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.
Ep. 23: Laurence Olivier (2014-05-17)

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.
Ep. 24: Sophia Loren (2014-05-24)

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.
Ep. 25: Paul Newman (2014-05-26)

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.
Ep. 26: Robert Mitchum (2014-05-31)

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.
Ep. 27: Peter O'Toole (2014-07-19)

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.
Ep. 28: Robert Redford (2014-08-02)

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.
Ep. 29: David Lean (2014-08-23)

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.
Ep. 30: Judi Dench (2014-09-13)

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.
Ep. 31: Maggie Smith (2014-09-20)

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.
Ep. 32: Julie Andrews (2014-12-28)

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.
Ep. 33: Michael Caine (2015-01-10)

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.
Ep. 34: Sean Connery (2015-01-17)

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.