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Welcome to Renown Films
Dear Supporters of Film and TV History,
Well, it really has been ‘Life in the Past Lane’ this last few weeks. No sooner had I landed back on these shores after travelling with a lovely group of film fans to Malta, than it was off to Whitstable to celebrate the legendary Peter Cushing. My companion on both of these adventures was our wonderful Cellar Club hostess, Caroline Munro. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend a working holiday with. (Except possibly my elder brother Mike Read, of course!)
I hope you have been enjoying the films and series from The Danziger Archive. There are plenty more of these lost classics to come. A selection of their iconic series is available on our website, including The Vise: Mark Saber. To order, click HERE
The TPTV Catchphrase Tea Towel How about this as a gift or memento of entertainment in the ‘good old days’? 2 Comic Catchphrase Tea Towels for just £15! Get those dishes done “just like that”! Drying up will never be a chore with this high quality, bespoke tea towel, which features famous comic catchphrases. The typographic tea towel features nostalgic quotations from well-remembered and much-loved films and TV, displayed in retro typefaces, including: “Nice to see you, to see you, nice!” “Hello folks, and what about the workers?” “Just like that!” “You lucky people!” “Ooh you are awful, but I like you!” “Shut that door!” … and many more! For more details, click HERE
Volume II of Jonathan Kydd’s autobiographical series about his father Sam has been published, and it’s a great read. Entitled: SAM KYDD The Unpublished Memoirs: Never Mind the Acting, Just Say the Words, Volume 2 cover the period from 1953-58. The films he made during this era included Cockleshell Heroes, The 39 Steps, Up the Creek, The Ladykillers, Yangtze Incident, Devil on Horseback, Tiger in the Smoke, The Hideout, and, in one notable week, he appeared in three films: Reach for the Sky, Ramsbottom Rides Again and A Town Like Alice. He also had a big part in They Who Dare, starring Dirk Bogarde, who became Jonathan’s godfather. This is both a funny and serious read about a period when there were only two TV channels and you could be in an episode of Armchair Theatre on ITV with 13 million people watching. The copies on our website have all been exclusively signed by Jonathan Kydd and include 14 pages of black & white photos. For more details, click HERE
It was lovely to meet so many of you at the sell-out weekend in Whitstable. It was a really unique celebration of a great man. Our next event, An Afternoon with Hayley Mills on 15th June has also sold out. We will see if we can get Hayley back later in the year, as we were really sorry to disappoint so many people.
In the meantime, come and join Dame Maureen Lipman in conversation with Thelma Ruby on Sunday 28th September 2025. Thelma Ruby, a “Yorkshire lass, born and grew up in Leeds” – turned 100 in March this year! She has enjoyed a long and distinguished stage, film and TV career, including appearances in British film Live Now, Pay Later in 1962, playing the role of Golde in Fiddler on the Roof alongside Topol in 1984, and she was in Coronation Street on ITV in 1996. She’ll be interviewed by the great Dame Maureen Lipman, with a few surprises along the way! This exclusive event takes place at The Phoenix Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PP, only a 2 minute walk from Oxford Circus Tube and only 10 minutes from Euston, in the secret basement cabaret theatre. You can also separately book lunch beforehand, then relax and enjoy the show. For more details, click HERE
The next Talking Pictures TV excursion is somewhat nearer to home, where we’ll be joined by one of our favourite actors. Our dear friend, Robert Powell, will be the star guest at the Talking Pictures Festival of Film at the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth on 19th and 20th July. Robert is a fantastic raconteur, and you don’t want to miss him, especially if you are a fan of Doomwatch. There is still a handful of tickets left for this fabulous event, which also features Leigh Lawson, Bernie Clifton, Karen Kay, Basil Brush, Caroline Munro, Julian Dutton, Neil Brand, James Tomlinson & Miles Jupp, Mark Porter, Mansel David, Mark Shortland, Lola Lamour, Steve Chibnall and the Llantrisant Male Voice Choir. Plus, some fantastic films and shorts for you to enjoy on the big screen! Call us on 0808 178 8212 to book NOW or click HERE
If you’ve still got the travel bug, why not join Mike Read and me, The Footage Detectives, on a couple of fascinating and informative trips this coming autumn. From 6th to 11th September, we’ll be travelling to the cities of Secret Army and Van der Valk, Brussels and Amsterdam. These are two of Europe’s most beautiful capitals. In Brussels we will visit the location for the Candide, the legendary café from Secret Army, as well as the museum dedicated to Hergé, creator of Tintin. In Amsterdam, we’ll be staying at the legendary Hotel American, as featured in Van der Valk. We’ll follow in the footsteps of Barry Foster’s Commissaris at locations across the city. The highlight is a gala dinner where we’ll be joined by a VIP connected to the series. What an amazing few days it will be. To book, call 03330 602237 or click HERE
From 25th to 28th October, we travel to the Southwest coast, and back in time, as we celebrate the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. Our base will be Torquay’s stunning Imperial Hotel. We’ll visit Agatha’s country house, and beautiful Burgh Island, which inspired the settings for two of her novels. It will be a ‘murderously’ great few days. To book, call 03330 602237 or click HERE
Footage Detectives fans mustn’t worry, as, in amongst all our travels, Mike and I always find time to get into the studio and record episodes of your favourite series. Devotees of The Goon Show won’t want to miss our upcoming episode on 15th June. We’ll be showing very rare footage of the chaps at work and will be joined in the studio by an expert from the Goon Preservation Society. Make a date for that.
As you know, our mission is always to bring you the very best in classic film and television. Doing that is not without its challenges, as you may have read in a recent article in The Sunday Telegraph (4th May). Sarah talked to the newspaper about what goes on behind the scenes to ensure that all our programming meets modern day audience expectations. It really gives an indication of the problems we face when broadcasting classic film and TV. Also, thanks to all those who tuned in recently when we were guests on the BBC Breakfast Show.
Well, I’d better unpack my suitcase and shake the sand of Malta from my shoes. Then I’ll settle down with a nice cup of tea and this edition of our magazine, Intermission. If you would like to subscribe, please click HERE
Thanks, as ever, for all your support. Please keep spreading the word about Talking Pictures TV, and I look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon.
My best wishes, Noel
Noel Cronin BEM
TPTV Encore on Freeview
Talking Pictures TV is thrilled to announce that our catch up service Encore is now on Freeview. If your Freeview television or set top box is connected to the internet then you will see the Encore logo top right of your screen. When you see the Encore logo simply press the red button on your remote control to be transported to your own private cinema, where you’ll find 100s of films and TV series. All available to watch for free – no TV licence required – and catch up on at any time!
