Cinema Retro has received the following press release from the BBC:

(Christmas Eve; 10:40pm; BBC FOUR)

BBC Bristol’s Timeshift reveals the Ten Commandments of Big Cinema as it goes behind the scenes of the biggest film genre of them all - the Hollywood Epic. See the biggest sets ever known! Hear the sound of Ancient Rome! Count the spiralling costs as budgets soared!  

From Ben-Hur to The Ten Commandments, from El Cid to Cleopatra, these were films that set a new standard in BIG. In the days before computers they recreated ancient worlds on a vast scale, and they did it for real. Epic cinema hired armies, defied the seasons and changed cinema. Even the screen wasn't big enough for the epic, so Hollywood made it bigger - and some cinemagoers experienced vertigo watching these vast productions.  

Today, the Epic lives on in the Oscar-laden Gladiator and the spectacular sweep of Avatar. As this documentary reveals, the stories behind the films are as spectacular as the films themselves.   

The programme will include a number of classic Hollywood Epics from the 1950s and 1960s, and will include rare behind the scenes footage of Charlton Heston being interviewed on the set of El Cid.  

BBC Four will also see a Season of Classic Epics, including The Fall of the Roman Empire, El Cid, Land of the Pharaohs and many more.   

More info can be found on the BBC Four Timeshift Programme Page:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018jp1v

It's hard to believe but Diamonds Are Forever is 40 years old this month- the film, that is. The 1971 movie marked Sean Connery's return to the role of James Bond after a one film absence. (George Lazenby played the role in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.) The film is still considered a lukewarm entry in the series by die-hard fans, as it introduced the "over-the-top" humor that would define the series for many years to come. Still, it was a boxoffice blockbuster and did boast a great John Barry score and the trademark Ken Adam sets. The web site MI6 HQ has uncovered an interview with Connery conducted during the filming of Diamonds. Click here to read.

Here is the ultra rare Christmas teaser trailer for the film.