Two of the greatest British films ever made will be shown back-to-back on BBC Two this Saturday, starting with The Red Shoes at 9:50am and followed by Lawrence of Arabia at 1:30pm.
The Red Shoes: A Powell and Pressburger classic
The 1948 drama is considered one of Powell and Pressburger's best films and was voted the 9th greatest British film of all time by the BFI in 1999. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, Moira Shearer stars as an aspiring ballerina who joins the world-famous Ballet Lermontov.
Owned and run by Anton Walbrook's Boris Lermontov, she is forced to choose between her dancing career and a newfound romance with Marius Goring's composer. The film is a favourite of Hollywood directors Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
Lawrence of Arabia: A four-hour epic
Running almost four hours, Lawrence of Arabia is considered one of the greatest movies ever made. The David Lean 1962 epic stars Peter O'Toole as World War I hero TE Lawrence, renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
Voted the Best British film of all time in 2004 in a poll of leading UK filmmakers, the war epic almost starred Marlon Brando in the title role. However, the Hollywood legend turned it down for filming in Tahiti with better pay on Mutiny on the Bounty, saying, "I'll be damned if I'll spend two years of my life on some f***ing camel!"
