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Movies week to mark 50 years in television for Bill Collins

Mr Movies, Bill Collins, will celebrate 50 years in television with a week of his favourite films screening on FOX Classics.

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2013-08-28_1025The one and only Mr Movies, Bill Collins OAM, will celebrate 50 years in television next month with a week of his favourite films screening on FOX Classics.

The Logie Hall of Fame and ASTRA Lifetime Achievement recipient will introduce films starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, James Stewart and Kim Novak.

It will be followed by a one hour special interview with Collins and his wife, Joan.

FOX Classics is also hosting two cinema screenings of Gone With The Wind, re-mastered in highest definition 4K Digital, introduced by Collins at the Astor Theatre at St Kilda on September 7 and the  Orpheum at Cremorne on September 15.

Starting September 16, FOX Classics is marking the occasion with a week of Bill’s favourite movies, culminating on Saturday September 21, with a one hour special on his career, Bill Collins – Mr Movies, followed by his number one film of all time Gone With The Wind.

Bill has introduced generations of Australians to the world of movies. His passion for filmmaking, his eye for detail and his knowledge of the work of the great screen talents, added with his natural charisma and spirited presentations, turned watching a movie presented by Bill into an “event”.

After starting his television career talking about film appreciation on the ABC’s Roundabout program in 1963, Bill went on to work as a movie presenter at the Nine, Seven and Ten Networks before signing with Foxtel for its launch in 1995.

Over the years Bill’s dedication to sharing his love of movies has earned him awards and accolades, including the Order of Australia Medal in 1987, the TV WEEK Hall of Fame Logie Award in 2009 and, in July this year he was presented with the inaugural ASTRA Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Bill Collins’ anniversary week line-up on FOX Classics

“People are always asking me what my favourite films are so this is a great opportunity to share these films and talk about them,” Bill says.

He has honed the list of titles for this special presentation, making it into a “top ten plus one” and will introduce each of the movies.

Gone With The Wind has been Bill’s favourite since he was boy so it was always going to be at number one and The Wizard of Oz has also always remained close to the top of his list.

“My favourite movies are ones which make me happy, I don’t mean happy in a childish or silly way but they make me feel life is worth living. There are some films which I would regard as very well-made but it does not necessarily make them favourites. My favourite films are those I feel have enriched or changed my life because of the way they have made me think about things.

“For example, I first saw Brief Encounter when I was a schoolboy in the 1940s. I liked it very much and it introduced me to Noel Coward whose works I came to enjoy greatly.”

The Voice of the Turtle is one of the films on the list which will not come as surprise to people who have seen and heard Bill speak about it over the years. “I know the title sounds odd but once you see it then it does make sense,” he says. “This film is based on one of my favourite plays which ran on Broadway for about five years in the 1940s so that’s an indication the story can captivate an audience.”

Bill loves “the artistry of Alfred Hitchcock’s films” and chose Vertigo as his favourite for the performances of James Stewart and Kim Novak.

He holds Bette Davis in extremely high regard as “the number one actress, there is simply no one else like her today” and chose All About Eve to represent her work.

“What I enjoy most is sharing films which I hope will give viewers a sense of enjoyment, thoughts to reflect on and perhaps something to cherish,” he says.

Monday, September 16 – 8.30pm – Bill’s favourite western film, Western Union

Then, at 10.15pm the countdown of his top 10 movies starts with Waterloo Bridge

Tuesday, September 17 – 8.30pm – Brief Encounter followed by The Picture of Dorian Gray

Wednesday, September 18 – 8.30pm – The Razor’s Edge followed by The Voice of the Turtle (also known as One for the Book)

Thursday, September 19 – 8.30pm – All About Eve followed by Vertigo

Friday, September 20 – 8.30pm – The Wizard of Oz followed by The Bandwagon

Saturday, September 21 – 7.30pm – Bill Collins – Mr Movies – A one hour special on his career, featuring interviews with Bill and his wife Joan plus insights from many who have worked with Bill or been in inspired by his love of films over the past five decades.
8.30pm – Gone With The Wind

7 Responses

  4. Maybe its my fault how I wrote that it was not the actual move I was referring to,it was the actual print made all those years ago and now HD 4K its like Foxtel turning ch7 AFL SD into HD that’s the turd I was referring to?

  5. @laurie, Seriously ? Really ? While someone’s favourite movie will not be another person’s favourite there a some movies which are just brilliant whether you are fan of it or not. I would have to say Gone With the Wind is one of those. To call it a turd is mm?

    The storyline, performances, cinematography, epic piece of cinema and some of the most remembered lines in movie history I don’t think make it a turd.

    Always have loved Bill Collins introducing movies and his little insights into the films, like he would say notice the staircase in the first scene you may be interested to know …… .

  6. FOX Classics is also hosting two cinema screenings of Gone With The Wind, re-mastered in highest definition 4K Digital,

    Thought you cannot polish a turd!!

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