Podcasts from The Top Ten

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson. They explore the representation of Black people and culture, as well as the reception and treatment of Black actors and directors in Hollywood, throughout cinematic history. In this episode: Hallelujah (1929), The Defiant Ones (1958), A Taste of Honey (1961), Shaft (1971), Tsotsi (2005), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Moonlight (2016), Get Out (2017), I Am Not a Witch (2017), Black Panther (2018).

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to delve into the sports films that come “top of the podium”. They discuss what makes a winner in the genre of sports films, and James shares the story of what happened when he met Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this episode: The Pride of the Yankees (1942), The Hustler (1961), This Sporting Life (1963) Rocky (1976), Pumping Iron (1977), Raging Bull (1980), Chariots of Fire (1981), The Wrestler (2008), Battle of the Sexes (2017), I, Tonya (2017).

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to explore what makes a great “animal film”. James reveals why this top ten has turned into a “Top Dozen”, Vicky makes her case for some of her favourites, and a last-minute change of heart from James sees War Horse knocked off its spot by a CGI bear called Paddington. In this episode: National Velvet (1944), The Yearling (1946), Greyfriars Bobby (1961), The Incredible Journey (1963), Born Free (1966), Ring of Bright Water (1969), Jaws (1975), Fly Away Home (1996), The Cave of the Yellow Dog (2005), March of the Penguins (2005), Project Nim (2011), War Horse (2011).

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to discuss some of the greatest scenes in cinema history. They discuss the different ways in which these scenes have become so memorable; from ground-breaking use of camera techniques, to spectacular performances, and the use of specific pieces of music to accompany certain scenes. James also shares some more of his favourite film scenes that just missed the cut. In this episode: Battleship Potemkin (1925), King Kong (1933), Singin’ in the Rain (1952), North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960), Alien (1979), Chariots of Fire (1981), When Harry Met Sally (1989), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), La La Land (2016).

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to explore the complex world of the documentary film. James shares his top ten picks of what he feels is a neglected genre, offering them up as a challenge to anyone who might think of documentaries as “boring”. In this episode: Man With a Movie Camera (1929), Triumph of the Will (1935), Shoah (1985), Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), Man on Wire (2008), Senna (2010), Searching for Sugar Man (2012), Citizenfour (2014), They Shall Not Grow Old (2018), The Cave (2019).

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to discuss some of the most memorable male icons of cinema. They talk about unlikely heroes of the silver screen that have become household names, and explore a little of what their lives were like behind the camera – as well as why a lot of James’ choices come from the “Golden Age” of Hollywood. In this episode: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Rudolph Valentino, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, John Wayne, James Stewart, Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise.

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to talk about the most memorable female icons of the silver screen; and how the ever-changing nature of cinema has altered the way we view the Hollywood A-List. In this episode: Lillian Gish, Clara Bow, Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence.

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to discuss the best male filmmakers to date. In this episode: D.W. Griffith, Buster Keaton, Alfred Hitchock, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, Satyajit Ray, David Lean, Francois Truffaut, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to discuss the best female filmmakers to date. In this episode, James chooses a grand total of 21 female directors: from Dorothy Arzner, the very first woman ever to direct a film with sound; to Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director in 2010. They also talk about why Hollywood still has a lot of work to do when it comes to providing equal opportunities to women behind the camera.

Vicky Sayers is joined by film critic and broadcaster, James Cameron-Wilson, to take a trip down memory lane as they discuss some of the most formative children’s films in cinematic history. In this episode: The Wizard of Oz (1939), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Mary Poppins (1964), The Railway Children (1970), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Goonies (1985), Home Alone (1990), Babe (1995), Millions (2004).