BBC4's British B Movies weekend

We love a British cult classic, so we'll be in front of the box all weekend to catch BBC4's British B Movies weekend.

In truth, it's not as good as it could have been, although the 90-minute documentary - British B Movies: Truly, Madly, Cheaply - should be worth the effort, with plenty of interviews and clips packed in.

As for the films, well satanic Brit biker movie Psychomania gets its annual BBC airing, alongside The Last Journey (1936), Lazybones (1935) and perhaps more interestingly, Marilyn (1953), The Black Rider (1954) and Cover Girl Killer (1959). Set the DVD recorder.

Find out more at the BBC website

Fashion In Film Festival returns for a second year

Returning for a second year is the Fashion In Film Festival, mixing talks, exhibitions, newly-commissioned film works, but best of all, some rarely-seen cinema classics that show how fashion of the day was just as important as a good plot and scenery.

Some superb films on show this year too, with highlights (for me) including the visually stunning (see image above) 10th Victim (La Decima Vittima) from 1965 and Get Carter (1970) at the ICA, Mario Bava's Blood and Black Lace (1964) at the Horse Hospital, as well as a double bill of delinquency curated by fashion designer and former mod Roger K. Burton (The Violent Years from 1956 and The Boys from '62), Dario Argento's The Bird With Crystal Plumage (1970) at the BFI plus Plein Soleil (1960) and Fata Morgana (1965) Ciné lumiére.

Much more besides, including some rare silent flicks and classic US film noir. Check out the full programme at the website - the event runs from 10th - 31st May 2008.

Fashion In Film Festival website

Coming soon: Alfred Hitchcock: The British Years

You might be an expert on Alfred Hitchcock's later work, but are you familiar with the great man's earlier output? If not, you can soon get hold of it all in one convenient package - Alfred Hitchcock: The British Years.

Commercial successes at the time of release, Hitchcock's British output of the 1920s and 30s has been largely forgotten by all but hardened fans. But now the pick of that work is back, specifically The Pleasure Garden The Lodger, Downhill, The Man who Knew Too Much; The Thirty-Nine Steps; Secret Agent, Sabotage, Young & Innocent, The Lady Vanishes and Jamaica Inn.

Special features include digitally restored versions of The Lodger, Sabotage, Young and Innocent and Jamaica Inn, Cinema: Alfred Hitchcock (Mike Scott interviewing Hitchcock about his life and career, Aquarius (featuring Hitchcock on the set of Frenzy), analysis of the movies, location reports, trailers and booklets.

The box is available from 25th February 2008, with a recommended retail price of £59.99.

Christies Vintage Film Poster auction

Another Vintage Film Poster auction at Christies, with the usual mix of weird and wonderful movie artwork.

As you would expect, prices vary from the £100 mark right through to four figures, with much in-between, especially Bond and Breakfast At Tiffanys, so if you have any wants in that area, check out the listings. But I thought I'd highlight something a little less obvious - Peeping Tom - the controversial serial killer movie that more or less destroyed the career of director Michael Powell, but is now viewed as a 60s classic.

Posters, I imagine, are scarce. So at £400 - £600, this could be a shrewd investment, if expensive, investment.

See the full listings at the Christies website

Cult Clip: Mad Love (1935)

The great German character actor Peter Lorre appeared in a lot of terrific thrillers during his lifetime and one of the best films he made is Mad Love (1935; Karl Fruend). In this creepy classic Lorre plays a crazy surgeon named Dr. Gogol who is obsessed with a beautiful actress that happens to already be married to a concert pianist. When the woman's husband is terribly injured in a train accident that crushes his hands, she asks Dr. Gogol to help save him. Dr. Gogol replaces her husband's hands with those of a murderer and afterward tries to drive the man mad in order to have his wife all for himself.

Mad Love is currently available on NTSC Region-1 DVD as part of Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection and you can see Peter Lorre as the mad Dr. Gogol in this terrific clip:

- Kimberly Lindbergs