Film history

Seventy years old this year, Henri-Georges Clouzot's Les Diaboliques is a masterclass in macabre dread – and inspired Hitchcock's classic among others.

Fifty years after Monty Python and the Holy Grail redefined comedy, stars Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam look back on the freedoms – and limitations – that shaped the film.

New film Being Maria explores the life of Maria Schneider and her mistreatment in one of the most notorious, explicit scenes in cinema history.

In March 1944, 76 officers broke out of a German prisoner-of-war camp. In 1977, a key member of the escape team talked to the BBC about the mission, and the Hollywood film it inspired.

Stylish and experimental, Breathless heralded a new era of film-making when it was released 65 years ago. In 1964, its director told the BBC why he broke every rule he could.

From John Travolta to Demi Moore, how faded stars have revitalised their careers with one breathtaking performance.

Released in 1946, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life was derided as an "over-sentimental" Christmas yarn, but its bold exploration of mental health issues resonates today.

In December 1933, five-year-old Shirley Temple signed with a nearly-bankrupt Fox Studios. In History looks back at how she revived the studio's fortunes – and became a superstar.