The Art of Film with Ian Nathan

Explore how filmmakers have depicted war, from the style they choose to ways they expand our understanding of the nature of war and humanity

Ian Nathan continues his exploration of cinema with a look at comedy, parody and satire, beginning with the early days of on-screen comedy with the silent actors who took vaudeville slapstick to the next level, including Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. As silent film gave way to talkies, films found new ways to keep the laughs coming, with stars like Groucho Marx bringing his famous one-liners to the screen in Duck Soup, and Peter Sellers excelling in satire in titles like I'm All Right, Jack and Two Way Stretch.

Ian takes a look at biopic, examining the different ways in which film has presented the real-life stories of significant figures. From Laurence Olivier's Shakespearean portrayal of Richard III to Robert Downey Jr's acclaimed role as Charlie Chaplin, and even stretching into the current decade with Kristen Stewart's take on Diana, Princess of Wales in 2021's Spencer.