Explore every episode of the podcast Reel Britannia
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 156 - Hammer Britannia 015 - The Damned (1962) | 26 Aug 2024 | 01:06:45 | |
Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism
This week...more from the great Hammer studios as we continue our Hammer horror retrospective
The Damned (1962)
The brutality of modern society is fast encroaching on the picturesque seaside town of Weymouth. American tourist Simon Wells (Macdonald Carey) is looking for a relaxing holiday but he is mugged by the psychopatic King (Oliver Reed) and his gang of thugs. Wells escapes with King's sister, Joanie (Shirley Anne Field), and they stumble upon a sinister establishment where nine ice-cold children are being subjected to a horrifying experiment. The shadowy authorities in control of the base will stop at nothing to safeguard their secret, but it is the mysterious children who will doom them all...
"I'm strange, all right! I'll show you just how strange I am!"
You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts
Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod
email: reelbritannia@gmail.com
#podcast #britmovie #reelbritannia #hammerhorror
Thanks for listening
Scott, Steven and Mark | |||
| Episode 155 - The Small World of Sammy Lee (1963) | 18 Aug 2024 | 01:02:51 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British movies ...with just a hint of professionalism.
Back to the seedy side of sixties Soho this week featuring a powerful performance from Anthony Newley This week, Scott and Steven are joined by Anthony, the host of the Film Gold podcast
The Small World of Sammy Lee (1963)
The Small World of Sammy Lee is a 1963 British crime drama film directed by Ken Hughes. The story unfolds in the seedy underbelly of London's Soho district, focusing on the life of Sammy Lee, a strip club compere and hustler who finds himself in dire straits. Sammy Lee, played by Anthony Newley, is a charismatic but desperate man. He owes £300 to a local bookie named Connor and has only five hours to pay off his debt. If he fails, the consequences will be severe, as Connor's enforcers are known for their ruthless methods. The film begins with Sammy receiving a phone call informing him that his time is running out, setting off a frantic race against the clock. As Sammy scrambles to gather the money, the film provides a vivid portrayal of his world. Soho is depicted as a place filled with strip clubs, gambling dens, and shady characters. Sammy's interactions with the various inhabitants of this world reveal much about his character and the precarious life he leads. Throughout the day, Sammy employs a series of hustles to raise the funds. He borrows from friends, pleads with acquaintances, and even resorts to stealing. One of the significant characters he turns to is his brother Lou, who runs a delicatessen. Lou, portrayed by Warren Mitchell, is initially reluctant to help due to Sammy's repeated failures and irresponsible behavior. However, the bond of family eventually prevails, and Lou reluctantly provides some money, though it's not enough to cover the debt. Parallel to Sammy's frantic efforts, the film explores the impact of his lifestyle on others, particularly Patsy, a young woman who is infatuated with him. Patsy, played by Julia Foster, arrives in Soho from the countryside, naively hoping to start a new life with Sammy. Her innocence and genuine affection for Sammy contrast sharply with the gritty reality of his world. Sammy, though fond of her, is too entangled in his own troubles to reciprocate her feelings fully. As the deadline approaches, Sammy's situation becomes increasingly desperate. His attempts to hustle money from various sources lead to a series of tense and dramatic encounters. The film's climax occurs in the strip club where Sammy works. In a last-ditch effort, Sammy bets the money he has managed to gather on a high-stakes poker game, hoping to win enough to pay off his debt. However, luck is not on his side, and he loses the game, sealing his fate. The final scenes of the film are poignant and impactful. As the clock ticks down, Connor's enforcers arrive to collect the debt. Sammy's frantic energy gives way to a sense of resignation and defeat. The enforcers take Sammy away, leaving his fate ambiguous but undoubtedly grim. The Small World of Sammy Lee is a compelling character study and a vivid depiction of the darker side of 1960s London. The film's strength lies in its atmosphere, the complexity of its protagonist, and the tense, fast-paced narrative that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. Through Sammy Lee's story, the film explores themes of desperation, survival, and the human cost of a life lived on the margins of society. "Soho's not a place, it's a state of mind. It's where you end up when you've got nowhere else to go."
This and previous episodes can be found everywhere you download your podcasts
Glass Onion: On John Lennon https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/glass-onion-on-john-lennon/id1473867166 Life And Life Only https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/ Film Gold https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/film-gold/id1544641271
Scott and Steven | |||
| Episode 146 - Tiger Bay (1959) | 19 May 2024 | 01:06:23 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British movies ...with just a hint of professionalism. Back to 1959 this week and a classic starring Horst Buchholz and John and Hayley Mills Tiger Bay (1959)
Rough-and-tumble street urchin Gillie (Hayley Mills) witnesses the brutal killing of a young woman at the hands of visiting Polish sailor Korchinsky (Horst Buchholz). Instead of reporting the crime to the authorities, Gillie merely pockets a prize for herself -- Korchinsky's shiny black revolver -- and flees the scene. When Welsh Detective Graham (John Mills) discovers that Gillie has the murder weapon, the fiery young girl weaves a web of lies to throw him off course.
"It'll be all right, he says. A fat lot of good the police are. We've got one in the house and a murder's done right under his nose and now here's a child whose got hold of a gun and they don't even know where she is!"
You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod
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| Episode 056 - Please Sir (1971) | 05 Jan 2020 | 00:51:06 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Episode 056 – Please Sir (1971) This week Scott is joined by Steven and guest host Mark from The Good The Bad and The Odd podcast to take a look at the big screen version of British sitcom Please Sir from 1971 Movie spin-off from the popular TV sitcom in which teacher Bernard Hedges takes troublesome class 5C to a holiday camp with inevitably comic and disastrous results.
Release date: 1971 (United Kingdom) Music composed by: Mike Vickers Screenplay: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey
Apple Podcasts/Libsyn/Player FM facebook.com/groups/reelbritannia | |||
| Episode 055 - Scott of the Antarctic (1948) | 30 Dec 2019 | 01:02:51 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Episode 055 Scott of the Antarctic (1948) "Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. It seems a pity but I don't think I can write more. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale. For God's sake look after our people." This week Scott is joined by Steven for their review of the true story of the British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and his ill-fated expedition to try to be the first man to discover the South Pole – only to find that the murderously cold weather and a rival team of Norwegian explorers conspire against him Robert Falcon Scott (John Mills) is a determined explorer whose ambition is to be the first man to reach the South Pole. He starts off well, with three modes of transportation -- dogs, ponies and snow tractors -- but the extremely cold weather, as well as the conspiracy against him by a rival team of Norwegian explorers, proves to be too much for the man and his expedition. The film is based on the true story and inspired by footage shot on the actual journey. Apple Podcasts/Libsyn/Player FM facebook.com/groups/reelbritannia | |||
| Episode 054 - The Holly and the Ivy (1952) | 21 Dec 2019 | 00:45:57 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Episode 054 – The Holly and the Ivy (1952) "Cheer up, Mick old boy. In a hundred years we'll all be dead." This week Scott is joined by Steven for this year's Christmas movie review, The Holly and the Ivy starring Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton, John Gregson and Denholm Elliot. An English clergyman's neglect of his grown children, in his zeal to tend to his parishioners, comes to the surface at a Christmas family gathering. Apple Podcasts/Libsyn/Player FM facebook.com/groups/reelbritannia | |||
| Episode 053 - The Man Who Would Be King (1975) | 02 Dec 2019 | 00:42:57 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Episode 053 – The Man Who Would Be King (1975) "Danny's only a man. But he breaks wind at both ends simultaneous - which is more, I reckon, than any god can do."
This week Scott is joined by both Steven and Tony for their review of the John Huston movie The Man Who Would Be King. RUDYARD KIPLING'S EPIC OF SPLENDOUR, SPECTACLE AND HIGH ADVENTURE AT THE TOP OF A LEGENDARY WORLD. A robust adventure about two British adventurers who take over primitive Kafiristan as "godlike" rulers, meeting a tragic end through their desire for a native girl. Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling. | |||
| Episode 052 - The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) | 30 Oct 2019 | 00:55:40 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Episode 052 – The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1976) 'Why don't you come on up to the lab….and see what's on the slab?' This week, Mark from The Good, The Bad, And The Odd Podcast joins Scott and Steven for their Halloween review of the cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1976) Sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named 'Rocky'. | |||
| Episode 051 - The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) | 27 Oct 2019 | 00:53:51 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Episode 051 – The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) "Six inches is perfectly adequate. More is vulgar!'' Join Scott and Steven for their 50th movie review….. Jean Brodie (Maggie Smith) is a free-spirited teacher at a Scottish girls' school during the 1930s. She encourages her young pupils to embrace romantic ideals, educating them about love and art rather than hard facts. However, her controversial teaching philosophy draws the ire of the school's headmistress, Miss Mackey (Celia Johnson), and, as Miss Brodie becomes entangled in a love triangle, her behaviour towards her favourite students becomes increasingly manipulative. | |||
| Episode 050 - Time Bandits (1981) | 04 Oct 2019 | 01:00:08 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Episode 050 - Time Bandits (1981) 'Honestly, Trevor, if you were half a man you would've gone in there after the blender.' Join Scott and Steven for their review of the Terry Gilliam directed Time Bandits from 1981. Young history buff Kevin (Craig Warnock) can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson), they've purloined a map charting all of the holes in the fabric of time and are using it to steal treasures from different historical eras. Taking Kevin with them, they variously drop in on Napoleon (Ian Holm), Robin Hood (John Cleese) and King Agamemnon (Sean Connery) before the Supreme Being catches up with them. Apple Podcasts/Libsyn/Player FM facebook.com/groups/reelbritannia | |||
| Episode 049 - A Matter Of Life And Death (1946) | 16 Sep 2019 | 00:57:30 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Episode 049 - A Matter Of Life And Death (1946) 'You've got a good voice. You've got guts too. It's funny - I've known dozens of girls: I've been in love with some of them, but an American girl whom I've never seen and who I never shall see will hear my last words. That's funny. It's rather sweet.'
Join Scott and Steven for their review of A Matter Of Life And Death, the Powell and Pressburger classic starring David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey, Marius Goring and Raymond Massey Returning to England from a bombing run in May 1945, pilot Peter Carter's plane is damaged and his parachute ripped to shreds. He has his crew bail out safely, but figures it is curtains for himself. He gets on the radio, and talks to June, a young American woman working for the U.S. Army Air Forces, and they are quite moved by each other's voices. Then he jumps, preferring this to burning up with his plane. He wakes up in the surf. It was his time to die, but there was a mix-up in heaven. They couldn't find him in all that fog. By the time his "Conductor" catches up with him twenty hours later, Peter and June have met and fallen in love. This changes everything, and since it happened through no fault of his own, Peter figures that heaven owes him a second chance. Heaven agrees to a trial to decide his fate. Apple Podcasts/Libsyn/Player FM facebook.com/groups/reelbritannia | |||
| Episode 048 - A Man For All Seasons (1966) | 28 Aug 2019 | 00:44:18 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Join Scott and Steven for their review of a Man For All Seasons from 1966, featuring an Oscar winning performance from Paul Scofield with support from Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, Wendy Hiller, John Hurt and many more. When the highly respected British statesman Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) refuses to pressure the Pope into annulling the marriage of King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) and his Spanish-born wife, More's clashes with the monarch increase in intensity. A devout Catholic, More stands by his religious principles and moves to leave the royal court. Unfortunately, the King and his loyalists aren't appeased by this, and press forward with grave charges of treason, further testing More's resolve. This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 047 - Dance With A Stranger (1985) | 22 Aug 2019 | 00:47:18 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Join Scott and Steven for their review of Dance With A Stranger from 1985 starring Miranda Richardson, Rupert Everett, and Ian Holm. This tale of murderous revenge focuses on Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed by the state in England. Ellis (Miranda Richardson), a former prostitute and single mom, falls for David Blakely (Rupert Everett) when she meets him in a club. Although Blakely comes from an aristocratic background, compared with Ellis's hardscrabble upbringing, the two start a torrid affair. But when David starts to pull away, Ruth is overwhelmed by jealousy and turns to extreme measure to get him back. This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 145 - Hammer Britannia 012 - The Two Faces Of Dr Jeckyll (1960) | 23 Mar 2024 | 00:56:53 | |
Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism
This week...more from the great Hammer studios as we continue our Hammer horror retrospective
The Two Faces Of Dr Jeckyll (1960)
Dr. Henry Jekyll is a dull, bookish scientist who spends more time with his lab animals testing theories of alternate personalities than with his beautiful, young wife. Kitty Jekyll has given up trying to find any passion in her distant, preoccupied husband and is involved in an affair with one of Jekyll's old 'friends,' Paul Allen, a weak slacker and wastrel who relies on Jekyll to pay his numerous gambling debts. After experimenting on himself, the bearded, tweedy Jekyll transforms himself into the young, dynamic, and self-confidant Edward Hyde. In his new character he befriends Allen, who has no idea that this clean-cut, handsome playboy prone to outbursts of violence is really Jekyll. As Hyde, he encourages Allen to introduce him to the dark underbelly of London's night life including opium dens and sex clubs, where he begins an affair with the sensual courtesan Maria, an exotic dancer and snake charmer. When he tries to seduce Allen's mistress, in reality his own wife, he is frustrated to find she prefers her decadent lover to him.
"London and I are virgins to one another."
You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts
Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod
email: reelbritannia@gmail.com
#podcast #britmovie #reelbritannia #hammerhorror
Thanks for listening
Scott, Steven and Mark | |||
| Episode 046 - Little Voice (1998) | 08 Aug 2019 | 00:41:25 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Join Scott and Steven for their review of Little Voice from 1997, featuring stand out performances from Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine, Brenda Blethyn and Ewan Macgregor. The pathetically shy LV lives the life of a recluse listening to her late father's old records in her room and in the process driving her abusive, loud-mouthed mother, Mari Hoff, to distraction. At night, however, when her father's ghost visits, LV sings the songs of the great divas such as Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, and Dame Shirley Bassey. One evening, LV is overheard by one of her mother's loathsome boyfriends, the disastrous dead-end talent scout Ray Say, who recognizes her innate talent and realizes this is his last big chance for the glittering prizes. Gambling everything, Ray Say forces LV to appear at a local run-down, seedy nightclub run by Mr. Boo. As preparations for the big event proceed apace LV meets the equally shy Billy, a pigeon-racing telephone engineer and they form a tentative, gentle friendship. The big night finally arrives and everything is in readiness, the band, the club, and even a big agent from London, but what about LV? This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 045 - It Always Rains On Sunday (1947) | 29 Jul 2019 | 01:33:50 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Join Scott and Steven for their review of It Always Rains On Sunday from 1947, seen by many as the precursor to the kitchen sink movies of the late 50s and early 60s In a working class neighbourhood in London, a housewife named Rose (Googie Withers) finds herself in a serious bind when her old lover, Tommy Swann (John McCallum), escapes from prison and winds up in her backyard. Rose wants to escape the drudgery of her daily life and remembers the charming man Swann was before prison. But when Swann suspects that Rose is about to turn him in, he snaps, and threatens to destroy not only her fantasies about him but her family's security as well. This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn
Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 044 - Doctor In The House (1954) | 20 Jul 2019 | 00:58:51 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Join Scott and Tony for their review of Doctor In The House, the first in the classic series of British Comedies from 1954 starring Dirk Bogarde. Simon Sparrow (Dirk Bogarde) begins medical school in London at St. Swithin's Hospital, and moves into an apartment with roommates Richard Grimsdyke (Kenneth More), Tony Benskin (Donald Sinden) and Taffy Evans (Donald Houston), a huge fan of rugby. A series of challenges and shenanigans takes place during their next five years at medical school, including unsuccessful dates with women and run-ins with a tough-as-nails chief surgeon, Sir Lancelot Spratt (James Robertson Justice). This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 043 - Hope and Glory (1987) | 07 Jul 2019 | 00:58:42 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Join Scott and Steven for their review of Hope and Glory, John Boorman's semi-autobiographical account of wartime Britain through the eyes of a young boy. Director John Boorman drew from his own childhood experiences for this touching coming-of-age tale about a boy growing up in and around London during World War II. For young Billy Rowan (Sebastian Rice Edwards), the nightly bombings provide a frightening show, but they include opportunities to rummage through the rubble with friends in the mornings. As Billy plays, his family struggles to remain intact as they suffer through the anguish and losses of wartime. This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 042 - The Wicked Lady (1945) | 23 Jun 2019 | 01:02:38 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Join Scott and Steven as they review what turns out to be perhaps the most enjoyable movie reviewed so far on the podcast. The Wicked Lady (1945) starring Margaret Lockwood and James Mason. In 17th-century England, Barbara Worth (Margaret Lockwood) lives a privileged yet humdrum life as the wife of well-heeled landowner Sir Ralph Skelton (Griffith Jones). To stave off boredom, Barbara begins impersonating famed highway robber Capt. Jerry Jackson, stealing precious jewels and valuables from coach passengers. A chance encounter with the actual Jackson (James Mason) propels Barbara into a dangerous double life with potentially lethal consequences. This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 041 - Party Party (1983) | 07 Jun 2019 | 00:59:09 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. This week, Mark returns to join Scott as they reminisce about the 1980s and their memories of Party Party from 1983. Party Party is a 1983 British comedy film about three friends and their North West London crowd. This crowd includes workers, spivs and young police constables. A British entry into the teenage/youth house party genre typified by John Hughes' films and the late 1980s movies of Kid and Play. The movie was directed by Terry Winsor and written by Daniel Peacock and Winsor. It is notable for its soundtrack and as the early work of several of the cast members. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 040 - Ten Rillington Place (1971) | 31 May 2019 | 00:46:09 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. This week, Scott and Steven review the true life crime movie 'Ten Rillington Place' from 1971. With John Hurt, Judy Geeson, and a chilling performance from Richard Attenborough as notorious serial killer John Christie. A seemingly model citizen living in mid-century London, John Christie (Richard Attenborough) is actually a killer. Masquerading as a doctor, he convinces guileless women that he can cure whatever might ail them, and when they follow him to his home, he chokes them to death and buries them in a makeshift graveyard. Based on a series of real-life killings, the story follows John as he cons a pregnant bride (Judy Geeson) and wonders if he might have found a scapegoat in her husband (John Hurt). This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 039 - Georgy Girl (1966) | 27 May 2019 | 00:44:42 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Join Scott and Steven as they head back to swinging London for their review of Georgy Girl from 1966 starring Lynn Redgrave, James Mason, Alan Bates and Charlotte Rampling. Georgina (Lynn Redgrave) is a carefree and childlike 22-year-old who finds more joy in her relationships with children than with the adults in her life. Her parents' employer, James Leamington (James Mason), proposes marriage, but Georgy avoids giving him an answer, as the idea of romance confuses her. When Georgy finds herself the caretaker of a baby girl, she seeks to find a way to shoulder the new responsibility while maintaining her childlike innocence. This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 038 - Passport to Pimlico (1949) | 20 May 2019 | 00:39:58 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this timely episode, we invite you to take a break from all the chaos of Brexit and the upcoming EU elections, and join us as we travel back to 1949 and laugh along with the classic Ealing comedy, Passport to Pimlico. The accidental explosion of an undetonated German bomb left over from World War II unearths a long-buried cellar containing both fabulous riches and a previously unknown royal charter from King Edward IV that cedes the surrounding land to the last Duke of Burgundy. Since the charter has never been rescinded, the London district of Pimlico is now legally the long-lost Duchy of Burgundy, and therefore no longer subject to British law, including postwar rationing and pub closure hours. This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 037 - High Hopes (1988) | 12 May 2019 | 01:10:54 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, we take a look at an early movie from acclaimed British director, Mike Leigh – High Hopes from 1988 ''Slice-of-life look at a sweet working-class couple in London, Shirley and Cyril, his mother, who's aging quickly and becoming forgetful, mum's ghastly upper-middle-class neighbours, and Cyril's pretentious sister and philandering husband. Shirley wants a baby, but Cyril, who reads Marx and wants the world to be perfect, is reluctant. Cyril's mum locks herself out and must ask her snooty neighbours for help. Then Cyril's sister Valerie stages a surprise party for mum's 70th birthday, a disaster from start to finish. Shirley holds things together, and she and Cyril may put aside her Dutch cap after all.'' This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 144 - Local Hero (1983) | 16 Mar 2024 | 00:53:59 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British movies ...with just a hint of professionalism. Classic eighties comedy this week from the superb Bill Forsyth Local Hero (1983)
Up-and-coming Houston oil executive "Mac" MacIntyre (Peter Riegert) gets more than he bargained for when a seemingly simple business trip to Scotland changes his outlook on life. Sent by his colourful boss (Burt Lancaster) to the small village of Ferness, Mac is looking to quickly buy out the townspeople so his company can build a new refinery. But after a taste of country life Mac begins to question whether he is on the right side of this transaction.
"Keep watching the sky, MacIntyre."
You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod
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| Episode 035 - That'll Be The Day (1973) | 28 Apr 2019 | 01:05:29 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, we welcome back guest host, Mark from The Good, The Bad and The Odd podcast to review That'll Be The Day from 1973, starring David Essex and Ringo Starr. Abandoned by his father at an early age, Jim MacLaine seems to have inherited the old man's restlessness. Despite his apparent intelligence, Jim decides not to take the exams that would pave his way to university. He lives, for a time, a life consisting of dead-end jobs and meaningless sex, before returning home to work in his mother's shop. But still he can't settle down; he begins to think that the life of a pop musician might be the thing for him. This and all our other episodes can be found on: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Radio Libsyn Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 034 - Life of Brian (1979) | 20 Apr 2019 | 01:06:09 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, we celebrate Easter with that traditional biblical epic, Monty Python's Life of Brian from 1979. Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) is an average young Jewish man, but through a series of ridiculous events, he gains a reputation as the Messiah. When he's not dodging his followers or being scolded by his shrill mother (Terry Jones), the hapless Brian has to contend with the pompous Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin) and acronym-obsessed members of a separatist movement. Rife with Monty Python's signature absurdity, the tale finds Brian's life paralleling Biblical lore, albeit with many more laughs. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod | |||
| Episode 033 - Legend (2015) | 13 Apr 2019 | 01:11:04 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. It's episode 033 – two Tom Hardy's for the price of one as we review Legend from 2015 Suave, charming and volatile, Reggie Kray (Tom Hardy) and his unstable twin brother Ronnie start to leave their mark on the London underworld in the 1960s. Using violence to get what they want, the siblings orchestrate robberies and murders while running nightclubs and protection rackets. With police Detective Leonard "Nipper" Read hot on their heels, the brothers continue their rapid rise to power and achieve tabloid notoriety. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 032 - Heaven's Above (1963) | 05 Apr 2019 | 00:51:50 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. It's episode 032 – time for some Peter Sellers in the Boulting Brothers' classic 'Heaven's Above' from 1963. In a case of mistaken identity, John Smallwood (Peter Sellers), an idealistic vicar with socialist beliefs, is appointed to a village parish populated by elitist landed gentry. There his conscience and acts of charity quickly become unpopular with the parishioners, who reveal a selfish and un-Christian disdain for those less fortunate who the reverend welcomes to the parish. Things really go awry, however, when Smallwood's actions endanger the village's primary source of income. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 031 - Carry On Nurse (1959) | 28 Mar 2019 | 01:01:05 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, we continue our love for the Carry On movies with the second in the series, Carry On Nurse which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this month. Set in Haven Hospital where a certain men's ward is causing more havoc than the whole hospital put together. The formidable Matron's debut gives the patients a chill every time she walks past, with only Reckitt standing up to her. There's a major who is a constant nuisance, a bumbling nurse, a romance between Ted York and Nurse Denton and Bell who wants his bunion removed straight away. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod
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| Episode 030 - Howard's End (1992) | 23 Mar 2019 | 01:06:07 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, we take a look at the Merchant Ivory production, Howard's End from 1992, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. England, early-1900s. Margaret Schlegel befriends Ruth Wilcox, the sickly wife of Henry Wilcox, a man of significant wealth. On her deathbed Ruth bequests her house, Howards End, to Margaret but this is deemed non-binding by her family and Margaret doesn't hear of the inheritance. Meanwhile, Margaret's sister Helen has taken a philanthropic interest in Leonard Bast, a poor, working class man. When Henry Wilcox and Margaret get engaged, Helen sees her chance to help out Leonard. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
Facebook: facebook.com/rbritanniapod
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| Episode 029 - The Admirable Crichton (1957) | 17 Mar 2019 | 00:56:01 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, we go back to 1957 for our review of The Admirable Crichton, starring Kenneth More. In 1905, Lord Henry Loam, his family and his servants are shipwrecked on a deserted island where the survival of the fittest renders the rigid class system irrelevant. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 028 - The 39 Steps (1935) | 11 Mar 2019 | 00:55:07 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, we have selected The 39 Steps from 1935, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Robert Donat While on vacation in London, Canadian Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) becomes embroiled in an international spy ring related to the mysterious "39 steps." Then he meets agent Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim), who is soon killed in his apartment. He must elude the police, who are hunting him for murder, while he tries to stop Professor Jordan (Godfrey Tearle) from sending secrets out of the country. Hannay is assisted by Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), an unwilling accomplice who discovers the truth. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 027 - Educating Rita (1983) | 01 Mar 2019 | 00:43:29 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, Steven has selected Educating Rita from 1983 starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Rita (Julie Walters), a married hair stylist in her 20s, wants to go back to school. She begins studying with Dr. Bryant (Michael Caine), a professor using alcohol to cope with his divorce. Despite his personal problems, Dr. Bryant helps Rita realize her academic potential. In turn, her passion for learning revitalizes his love of teaching. However, when Rita's blue-collar spouse learns that his wife is more interested in education than homemaking, he becomes frustrated by her independence.
This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 143 - Villain (1971) | 24 Feb 2024 | 00:55:36 | |
Reel Britannia podcast - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism.
Scott and Steven are joined this week by Antony, host of Film Gold, Glass Onion : On John Lennon, and Life and Life Only to discuss something of a departure for Richard Burton.
Villain (1971)
Hailing from East London, Vic Dakin dotes on his aged and largely bedridden mother. He is also the leader of a criminal gang whose proceeds are largely from the regular collection of "protection money" from their victims. Vic often uses brutal violence against enemies as well as "friends" to prove a point, the violence in and of itself which he seems to relish. While not a regular means to money, Vic decides that his gang will work on a tip to rob a factory payroll, which, somewhat against his wants, will entail working with fellow criminal Frank Fletcher, who understands such a job better than Vic or anyone on his team. Making the job more complex at this time are: the police being after Vic for the vicious attack on one of Vic's associates who acted as a police snitch; and Vic's association with Wolfie Lissner, who procures sexual services for a number of people, including some fairly high profile ones, and who often acts as Vic's "on demand" sexual partner.
"Frank, Frank. We're the boys, aren't we? Aren't we the boys. Always have been, ever since we were kids. Hardly got off our mother's tit when we had 'em quaking down in Hackney." This and previous episodes can be found everywhere you download your podcasts
Glass Onion: On John Lennon https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/glass-onion-on-john-lennon/id1473867166 Life And Life Only https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/ Film Gold https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/film-gold/id1544641271
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| Episode 026 - Melody (1971) | 23 Feb 2019 | 01:43:49 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, we have selected Melody from 1971 starring Jack Wild, Mark Lester and Tracy Hyde. And joining Scott today to help review the movie is Mark from The Good The Bad and The Odd podcast (amongst others!) Grade schoolers Melody (Tracy Hyde) and Daniel (Mark Lester) are completely earnest in their desire to wed one another. Unfortunately, no one seems to understand the ardor of their loving bond. Their parents and teachers find the marriage proposition ridiculous, and Daniel's closest pal, Ornshaw (Jack Wild), doesn't want to lose his buddy to a girl. However, the mischievous Ornshaw eventually warms to the idea, and helps Daniel and Melody escape the cruel clutches of the adults.
This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 025 - The Dam Busters (1955) | 11 Feb 2019 | 01:02:28 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, the first to feature all three hosts together, Scott, Tony and Steven have selected one of the most British of British movies, The Dam Busters from 1955 starring Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave. After inventing the "bouncing bomb," which can skip across water until it encounters a dam to explode, Dr. Barnes Wallis (Michael Redgrave) struggles for years to develop his new device for use in World War II. Once the bombs are ready to be tested, Wing Commander Guy Gibson's (Richard Todd) squadron must be specially trained to drop the sensitive weapons on Germany's Ruhr Dams. Based on true events, this British film features a legendary grand finale of special effects. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 024 - Quadrophenia (1979) | 16 Jan 2019 | 01:10:54 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, Steven has selected Quadrophenia from 1979 An angst-ridden London youth, Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels) escapes the drudgery of his postal job as a member of the Mods, a sharply dressed gang constantly at odds with their rivals, the Rockers. When the Mods and Rockers clash in the coastal town of Brighton, England, it leads to both trouble and an encounter with the lovely Steph (Leslie Ash). Returning to London, Jimmy, who aspires to be like Mod leader Ace Face (Sting), becomes even more disillusioned and longs to return to Brighton. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 022 - Scrooge (1951) | 23 Dec 2018 | 00:35:48 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with just a hint of professionalism. This episode features one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time and a classic performance from the great Alastair Sim Scrooge (1951)
Crotchety Victorian businessman Ebenezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) has no use for festivity, even at Christmas. After resentfully allowing timid clerk Bob Cratchit (Mervyn Johns) to have the holiday to spend with his loving wife (Hermione Baddeley) and family, Scrooge is swept into a nightmare. The ghost of his late partner, Jacob Marley (Michael Hordern), appears, warning that Ebenezer will be visited by three more spirits who will show the coldhearted man the error of his parsimonious behaviour.lbritanni #reelbritannia #britmovie #scrooge #achristmascarol #alastairsim #podcast #movie #christmas
"Well, then, I'll just swallow this and be tortured by a legion of hobgoblins, all of my own creation! It's all HUMBUG, I tell you, HUMBUG!"
This and all our other episodes can be found wherever you download your podcasts
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| Episode 021 - Seven Days To Noon (1950) | 14 Dec 2018 | 00:35:22 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, Scott has selected Seven Days To Noon from 1950 When Professor Willingdon (Barry Jones) becomes wary of the nuclear weapons he is helping build, he steals a warhead and threatens to detonate it in London in seven days unless the government begins nuclear disarmament. As Willingdon goes into hiding, Detective Folland (Andre Morell) of Scotland Yard sets out to find him. Willingdon's daughter Ann (Sheila Manahan) also joins the cause, hoping she can talk sense into her father before he causes a catastrophe. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 020 - East Is East (1999) | 22 Nov 2018 | 00:42:53 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode episode, Steven has selected East is East from 1999 – starring Om Puri, Linda Bassett and Jimi Mistry George Khan, proud Pakistani and chip shop owner -- Ghengis to his kids -- rules his family with a rod of iron. He thinks he's raising his seven children to be respectable Pakistanis. But this is Salford in the North of England, in 1971. Much as George's English wife, Ella, loves and tries to honor her husband, she also wants her kids to be happy. The children, caught between bell-bottoms and arranged marriages, simply want to be citizens of the modern world. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 019 - Three Hats For Lisa (1965) | 15 Nov 2018 | 00:41:54 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode episode, Tony has selected Three Hats For Lisa from 1965 – starring Joe Brown, Sid James and Una Stubbs Three young Cockneys take a day off work to meet an Italian movie star at Heathrow airport. She travels with them and their taxi driver in search of some typically British hats. The rule of the game is to steal a hat from its wearer. Lisa wants a bobby's helmet, a businessman's bowler, and the bearskin cap off a palace guard. A musical chase ensues around Swinging Sixties London, evading press and police.
This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 018 - Theatre Of Blood (1973) | 30 Oct 2018 | 01:26:08 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. For our Halloween episode, Scott has selected Theatre of Blood from 1973 starring Vincent Price. Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) is incensed that his last season of performances in Shakespearean plays did not win him a prestigious acting award from critics. After an unsuccessful attempt at suicide, Lionheart is rescued by a group of drug-addicted bums. He then sets out to murder all of his critics, each with a different style of death taken from a Shakespeare play. When Lionheart faces head critic Peregrine Devlin (Ian Hendry), he offers Devlin a second chance to bestow the award. This and all our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 017 - Bedazzled (1967) | 18 Oct 2018 | 01:15:51 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. Steven joins Scott this week with his choice of movie, Stanley Donen's 'Bedazzled' from 1967 starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Stanley Moon (Dudley Moore) is a bumbling short-order cook, infatuated with Margaret (Eleanor Bron), the statuesque waitress he works with at Wimpy Burger in London. On the verge of suicide, he meets George Spiggott (Peter Cook), the devil, who, in return for his soul, grants him seven wishes to woo the challenging Margaret. Despite the wishes and the advice of the Seven Deadly Sins, including Lilian Lust (Raquel Welch), Stanley can't seem to win his love and shake the meddling Spiggott. This and all of our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
http://reelbritannia.libsyn.com/
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| Episode 142 - Absolute Beginners (1986) | 19 Feb 2024 | 00:57:39 | |
Reel Britannia - a very British podcast about very British movies...with just a hint of professionalism
This week, Scott and Steven are joined by Mark from The Good The Bad and The Odd podcast to chat about, not Hammer horror this time, but Julien Temple's musical from 1986 starring Patsy Kensit and David Bowie
Absolute Beginners (1986)
A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer Colin is hopelessly in love with model Crepe Suzette, but her relationships are strictly connected with her progress in the fashion world. So Colin gets involved with a pop promoter and tries to crack the big time. Meanwhile, racial tension is brewing in Colin's Notting Hill housing estate...
You can find this and all our previous episodes everywhere you download your podcasts
Follow us on Twitter @rbritanniapod
email: reelbritannia@gmail.com
#podcast #britmovie #reelbritannia #davidbowie
Thanks for listening
Scott, Steven and Mark
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| Episode 016 - In Which We Serve (1942) | 12 Oct 2018 | 00:36:34 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. At last, we welcome the return of Tony who joins Scott for a listener request episode. Huge thanks to Su who has selected In Which We Serve from 1942 for us to review this time around. Co-directors David Lean and Noel Coward (in his sole filmmaking effort) created this patriotic World War II drama under the auspices of Great Britain's Ministry of Information. After the sinking of the HMS Torrin during the Battle of Crete in 1941, the ship's survivors -- including Captain Kinross (Noel Coward), Chief Petty Officer Hardy (Bernard Miles) and Seaman Blake (John Mills) -- recall their tour of duty in flashback while awaiting rescue in lifeboats being strafed by German airplanes.
This and all of our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 015 - Kes (1969) | 30 Sep 2018 | 01:07:46 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, Scott is joined by Steven, and we review Ken Loach's movie from 1969, Kes. Ken Loach's acclaimed British drama focuses on Billy Casper (David Bradley), a tormented working-class boy who is subjected to abuse both at school and at home. The son of a single mother (Lynne Perrie), Billy's existence is mostly bleak until he takes up an interest in falconry and begins training a kestrel that he finds on a nearby farm. While Billy forms a close bond with the falcon, his hardscrabble life and harsh environment prove to be a challenge to the boy and his bird..
Also featuring this week, a look at some of the groundbreaking work from Ken Loach on tv and film from the sixties.
This and all of our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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| Episode 014 - Excalibur (1981) | 15 Sep 2018 | 01:11:32 | |
Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, Scott is joined by Stephen, who has selected the John Boorman directed 'Excalibur' from 1981…overblown mess or British movie classic? Listen to hear what we think. The magical sword of Excalibur starts off in the hands of British lord Uther Pendragon (Gabriel Byrne) and then, years later, finds its way to his bastard son, Arthur (Nigel Terry), the knave destined to become king. Aided by the sorcerer Merlin (Nicol Williamson), Arthur fulfills his fate by bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. However, this flawed monarch faces greater tests ahead in pursuit of love, the Holy Grail and his nation's survival.
Also featuring this week, a brief history of some of the other cinematic retellings of the Arthur legend throughout the years.
This and all of our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as: | |||
| Episode 013 - Hell Drivers (1957) | 25 Jun 2018 | 00:39:08 | |
Episode 013 of the new podcast from the Stinking Pause stable of podcasts featuring Scott and Tony. Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism.
In this episode, Scott has selected Hell Drivers from 1957 – directed by Cy Enfield and starring Stanley Baker. Joe 'Tom' Yateley is an ex-convict. Trying to leave his past behind, he decides to start working for the Hawlett Trucking company, which transports gravel. It's an aggressive company, where speed is everything. Doing too few runs in a day? You're out. Red is the most experienced trucker; he can do 18 runs in a day. Tom soon makes friends with Lucy, the secretary, and Gino, a driver. But the record of Red intrigues him and he wants to break it. Gino advises against it, but he helps Tom when he wants to go through with it. Soon trouble begins when Red and the other drivers form a united front against Tom. Just when Tom has enough and decides to pack his bags, Lucy tells him Gino had a terrible accident. She also tells about the corruption of Hawlett Trucking.
This and future episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
http://reelbritannia.libsyn.com/ | |||
| Episode 012 - Carry On Sergeant (1958) | 10 Jun 2018 | 00:46:24 | |
Episode 012 of the new podcast from the Stinking Pause stable of podcasts featuring Scott and Tony. Welcome to Reel Britannia-a very British podcast about very British films....with the occasional hint of professionalism. In this episode, Tony's choice is from 1958 and it kick starts our chronological reviews of all the Carry On films – Carry On Sergeant. Sergeant Grimshaw wants to retire in the flush of success by winning the Star Squad prize with his very last platoon of newly called-up National Servicemen. But what a motley bunch they turn out to be, and it's up to Grimshaw to put the no-hopers through their paces.
This and all of our other episodes can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio as well as:
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