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The Rom-Com

Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema Series 1
Episode 1 of 5

Film critic Mark Kermode examines the techniques and conventions behind some classic genres, beginning with romantic comedies.

Five-part documentary series. Film critic Mark Kermode presents a fresh and very personal look at the art of cinema by examining the techniques and conventions behind some classic genres: romcoms, heist movies, coming-of-age stories, science fiction and horror. In each episode, Mark uncovers the ingredients needed to make a great genre film and keep audiences coming back for more. How do you stage, shoot and edit a gripping car chase or orchestrate the shock moment in a horror movie? What is the secret to sizzling on-screen chemistry?

Mark begins with one of the most popular genres of all. They are sometimes sneered at by critics, but from the 1930s to the present day, many of our most beloved movies have been romantic comedies.

From Bringing Up Baby and The Lady Eve by way of Annie Hall, When Harry Met Sally and Pretty Woman to Love, Actually (a particular Kermode favourite) - as well as recent hits such as The Big Sick and La La Land - Mark examines the cinematic tricks and techniques involved in creating a classic romcom.

Mark celebrates old favourites, reveals hidden treasures and springs plenty of surprises. Examining films from Hollywood to Bollywood via other gems of world cinema, he reminds us how, much like love itself, the art of the romantic comedy is international.

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 14 May 2021 02:30
主播大秀 Four

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:12

    Louis Armstrong Ella Fitzgerald

    Love Is Here To Stay

  • 00:18

    Paul J. Smith

    Love's First Kiss (Finale)

    Composer: Larry Morey. Composer: Leigh Harline. Composer: Frank Churchill.
  • 00:20

    Rko Studio Orchestra, Fred Astaire, Max Steiner

    Let's Face The Music and Dance (Follow The Fleet (1936))

  • 00:22

    Shreya Ghoshal & Sonu Nigam

    Zoobi Doobi

  • 00:23

    Shankar Mahadevan, Ravi "Rags" Khote, Shankar Ehsaan Loy

    Pretty Woman

  • 00:24

    Bill Withers

    Ain't No Sunshine

  • 00:24

    Bill Withers

    Ain't No Sunshine

  • 00:25

    Bill Withers

    Ain't No Sunshine

  • 00:25

    Daryl Hall & John Oates

    You Make My Dreams

  • 00:25

    Daryl Hall & John Oates

    You Make My Dreams

  • 00:29

    Jennifer Warnes

    Right Time Of The Night

  • 00:55

    Pete Anthony, Spider-Man (Motion Picture)

    Revelation

  • 00:58

    Justin Hurwitz

    Epilogue

Credits

Presenter Mark Kermode
Series Producer Nick Freand Jones
Executive Producer Richard Bright
Executive Producer John Das

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