A Touch Of Class (BBC Four)

Member Name: eiley123

Product:	BBC Four
Date:	31/12/07 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Different variety, not run of the mill, some good programmes

Disadvantages: Repeats and too specialised for some

Having aired my thoughts recently, on BBC Three, I thought I would just do the same for BBC Four. BBC Four is another of the Freeview Channels which appeared in the last few years and promised great things. In common with it's sister channel BBC Three it only has programming from 7pm until 4am each day. I guess the programmes after midnight are handy for people such as shift workers, in that most mainstream channels only have those quizzes on after midnight these days.

So I will start with today's listings to give you an idea:-

7:00 pm Masterpieces of Vienna:
Death and the......Maiden. Part of the Vienna season. Painted by Egon Schiele in 1915, this depiction of two lovers clinging to each other was Schiele's tribute to the woman who stood by him, but who he rejected. [S]

7:30 pm The Third Man
Part of the Vienna season. Film noir. Holly (Joseph Cotten) arrives in Vienna and discovers his friend has died in a car crash so he sets out to find out the truth behind his death. [1949, b&w] [S]

9:10 pm Arena
Shadowing The Third Man: Part of the Vienna season. Documentary which explores the artistry, moral world and furious infighting behind the film The Third Man. [S]

10:15 pm Dance Britannia
2/3. Twist and Shake. 1945 -1970: A history of popular dance in 20th century Britain told through rare archive film and interviews. How the post-war baby boomer generation changed British dancing. [S]

11:15 pm Miss Marie Lloyd: Queen of the Music......Hall.
Jessie Wallace stars as east end music hall legend, Marie Lloyd. Marie leads a music hall strike, but society is scandalised by her champagne lifestyle. Some sexual content. [AD,S]

12:35 am Brits Can't Dance
From Step This Way to Come Dancing, dance has been at the core of British TV. This programme looks back at the televisual history of Brits hoofing. [S]

1:05 am In Concert: The Eagles
Live concert recorded in 1973, sees The Eagles performing their classic US hits such as Peaceful Easy Feeling, Witchy Woman and their no.1 hit, Take it Easy. [S]

1:35 am Hotel California: LA from The Byrds......to The Eagles.
Documentary about the music and mythology of a golden era in Californian culture, and how LA become the hub of the American music industry in the 1970s. Some strong language. [S]

3:05 am Brits Can't Dance
From Step This Way to Come Dancing, dance has been at the core of British TV. This programme looks back at the televisual history of Brits hoofing. [S]

3:35 am Masterpieces of Vienna: Death and the......Maiden.
Part of the Vienna season. Painted by Egon Schiele in 1915, this depiction of two lovers clinging to each other was Schiele's tribute to the woman who stood by him, but who he rejected. [S]

As you can see all of these programmes are repeats. However I find the variety good and at least there is only one programme which is repeated in the same day's listings.

BBC Four claims that it has 'alternative and wonderful mixture of culture, arts, sciences, world cinema etc' and on the whole I would agree with that. In many ways it seems to have taken over the role that BBC Two had in it's early days. Sure there is some dross at times but then that is true of all channels. BBC Four has seasons which concentrate on dance or perhaps music and generally these have something for a variety of viewers. The films tend to be more thoughtful ones , unusual and interesting. Yes tonight's offering is The Thin Man and so an old black and white film, but what a classic. Do not let the lack of colour put you off watching this film if you have not seen it before.

Overall BBC Four is recommended if you enjoy something a little different. You will still have to select you choice carefully but I think this channel is a welcome addition to the BBC.

You will find BBC Four on Channel 9 on freeview

Thanks for reading
Eiley 2007 (C)

Summary: Upmarket television