Armchair Cinema: Feature Films on British Television - Dr Sheldon Hall

Thousands of films made originally for the big screen are shown on British television each year.  They assumed particular importance in the 1970s and 1980s, when cinema blockbusters became major TV events and boundaries for sex, violence and language were pushed back.  This event explores new research by SHU Emeritus Fellow, Dr Sheldon Hall, utilising extracts from rare archival sources never previously published and the complex, competitive, often volatile historical relationships between the film industry and broadcasting networks.

Join us in Sheffield Hallam University’s state-of-the-art film theatre The Void for a rare chance to see an original 35mm transmission print projected on the big screen!

The Heartbreak Kid is a 1972 film written directly for the screen by the playwright Neil Simon and directed by Elaine May. It is the second of only four films that May directed and was her biggest box-office success. The late Charles Grodin stars as Lenny, an enterprising young man on his honeymoon with Lila (played by Jeannie Berlin, the director’s daughter), who meets and falls for American princess Kelly (Cybill Shepherd). Making excuse after excuse to his new wife for his serial absences from their hotel, he determines to win over Kelly’s wealthy family.

This is one of the great American films of the 1970s, a hilariously offbeat romcom and social satire with a career-best performance from Grodin. But rights issues have meant that it is unavailable on DVD or Blu-ray, has not been officially licensed for streaming and is no longer in commercial distribution. It has not seen on BBC television since 1994. However, tonight we will be showing the 35mm print deposited by the BBC in the BFI Archive. This is the only known surviving print in the world, and one of many thousands of films that are held for preservation in the Archive thanks to television.

Curated by Sheffield Hallam University.