The Weekly Retro Movie Rundown 212
Wha wha wha whaaaat! Another retro movie weekend so soon? Well okay!
Like one of the most experienced and battle-hardened secret agents, we find ourselves getting geared up for another undercover mission in a far and strange land. As we pack only the very essential essentials, we'll begin to wonder who we will become and which new world we will be infiltrating to find out the biggest kept secrets. Perhaps we'll be a doctor? A potential investor or perhaps a waiter? Whoever we'll soon become, we will be leaving our current life and self behind in search of the facts, if only for a while.
Have a happy retro weekend!
SATURDAY 10th September
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Casablanca (1942) ITV3 11:50am-1:55pm
The American expat owner of a Moroccan nightclub is reunited with his old flame during the Second World War. Now married to a Czech freedom fighter, she needs his help to get them safely out of the country before they are captured by the Nazis - but the former lovers also have to wrestle the temptation to rekindle their simmering romance. Drama, with Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains and Paul Henreid.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) ITV2 5:20pm-7:10pm
Two dim-witted teenagers with dreams of rock stardom seem doomed to fail a school history project, unaware the future of the human race depends on their success. A time traveller is given the job of making sure they pass the test by sending them on a series of adventures in the past. Comedy, starring Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and George Carlin.
Willow (1988) 5STAR 5:25pm-8:00pm
A farmer with dreams of becoming a wizard finds an abandoned baby, who is destined to bring about the downfall of an evil queen. The wicked tyrant's minions have been sent to kill the child before she can fulfil the prophecy, and it falls to the would-be sorcerer to protect her, with the aid of a rogue warrior. Fantasy adventure, starring Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer.
Toy Story 2 (1999) BBC1 5:30pm-7:00pm (1 hour 30 minutes)
Cowboy doll Woody is stolen by an unscrupulous toy collector, who knows he is worth a fortune as a collectible, prompting fearless Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear to lead a daring across-town mission to rescue him. However, Woody is tempted to spend his life languishing in the safety of a museum rather than face the prospect of his owner growing up. Animated sequel, featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and Kelsey Grammer.
Clear and Present Danger (1994) Film4 6:15pm-9:00pm (2 hours 45 minutes)
A CIA analyst gets caught up in the Colombian drug trade while trying to track down terrorists responsible for the murder of a close friend of the US president - but his investigations point to illegal activity and corruption at the very top of government. Action thriller, based on Tom Clancy's novel, with Harrison Ford reprising his role from Patriot Games alongside Willem Dafoe, Anne Archer and James Earl Jones.
The Waterboy (1998) ITV2 7:10pm-9:00pm
An American football team's waterboy puts up with constant ridicule from the players. But one day his anger gets the better of him and he demonstrates an unexpected talent for tackling - so the coach gives him a chance to prove his worth on the pitch. However, he has to keep his blossoming sporting career a secret from his overprotective mother. Comedy, with Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler and Fairuza Balk.
The Specialist (1994) ITV4 9:00pm-11:15pm
An explosives expert is reluctantly persuaded out of retirement by the charms of a vengeful woman bent on destroying the gang that murdered her parents. He carries out a series of assassinations, but finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse when one of his targets hires a former colleague to track him down. Action thriller, starring Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, James Woods, Rod Steiger and Eric Roberts.
Fun Fact: Steven Seagal was offered the chance to star and direct this film but he wanted a cool $9 million for it. The studio didn't want to pay him that much and offered it to Sylvester Stallone instead. Job done!
SUNDAY 11th September
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Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) ITV3 4:50pm-7:00pm
An eccentric confectionery king announces that five children will be given a tour of his wondrous factory. The winners turn out to be a kind-hearted boy from a penniless family and four obnoxious brats, who face a terrible fate when they misbehave. Musical fantasy, based on Roald Dahl's classic book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring the late Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum and Roy Kinnear.
Wayne's World (1992) Comedy Central 6:00pm-8:00pm (2 hours)
Two heavy-metal fans broadcast an amateur TV programme from their basement. A slimy network executive offers them the chance to turn professional, but as they enjoy the perks of wealth and fame, they find their show being ruined by corporate interference. Comedy, starring Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere and Lara Flynn Boyle, with a cameo by Alice Cooper.
The Mummy (1999) ITV2 6:30pm-9:00pm
A soldier of fortune joins an academic and her conniving brother on an expedition to an ancient Egyptian lost city. The explorers accidentally cause the spirit of a vengeful priest with awe-inspiring supernatural powers to rise from his tomb, leading to a desperate battle for survival. Fantasy action adventure, starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo and Oded Fehr.
Fun Fact: A cloak lent by the British costume rental company Angels and worn by an extra in this film was discovered to have in fact been made for Alec Guinness when he played Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). Lucky extra!
Independence Day (1996) E4 7:00pm-9:50pm (2 hours 50 minutes)
A fleet of huge flying saucers launches a devastating and unprovoked attack on Earth. As survivors try to flee the seemingly unstoppable alien invaders, the courageous US president, an ace pilot and a computer genius come up with a plan to take the fight to the enemy and save the human race. Roland Emmerich's sci-fi adventure, starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia and Harry Connick Jr.
The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) Film4 9:00pm-10:55pm (1 hour 55 minutes)
Awkward teenagers Simon, Will, Jay and Neil plan a holiday to the Greek island of Crete after they finish their exams, hoping to experience drink, sex and debauchery beyond their wildest dreams. However, things do not quite work out as planned. Comedy based on the TV series, with Joe Thomas, Simon Bird, James Buckley and Blake Harrison.
Whatever you're up to this weekend,
xoxo