Bank holidays are a time to gather round the television and grumble because it's raining outside. Traditionally, it's also a time for broadcasters to put on the same daft old movies they always show at Bank Holidays. Come Christmas, there's The Great Escape, of course, but depending on the time of year, you may get to see North Sea Hijack, Juggernaut or one of the other old redoubtables. So today's question is:
What's your favourite Bank Holiday movie?
You can include movies on DVD if there's one you always watch over the bank holidays.
As always, leave a comment with your answer or a link to your answer on your own blog.
May 27, 2009 | Reply
Is there still such a thing as a "Bank Holiday Movie" these days? To be honest, Bank Holidays pass me by TV-wise. WAS there anything special on last Monday? I think it carried more weight before multi-channel TV arrived. It's kinda like the BBC hyping a "Christmas Day Movie" that everyone saw 3 years ago on Sky or has been collecting dust as a DVD for ages.
But, from my childhood memories, it has to be a Bond film. Usually a Roger Moore. Moonraker sticks out as being more likely to see on a Bank Holiday back in the late-'80s/early-'90s.
May 27, 2009 | Reply
"WAS there anything special on last Monday?"
These days, the weekday peak schedules of the main channels are such that once you hit 7pm, you're most likely to get the standard fare.
However, earlier in the day, BBC1 had Wallace & Gromit, Freaky Friday and National Treasure, while Five had the brilliant Hunchback of Notre Dame. Channel 4 had Around the World in 80 Days (the Jackie Chan/Steven Coogan abomination) from 7.05pm.
For me, bank holidays from my youth revolved around Disney films, and "Disney Time", which really was a glorified clip show in the days where there were no DVD (or even VHS) sales of Disney animations to stae an eager child's appetite. The advent of Disney's own channels has to a great extent limited the use of the studio's output on terrestrial channels.
That said, both BBC1's feature films on Monday were Disney ones...
May 27, 2009 | Reply
My husband made me watch Mad Max back to back one bank holiday because he couldn't believe I hadn't seen it, but I don't think that's quite what you had in mind (-: (I'd still rate no 2 my favourite).
Hmm. Nowadays it would have to be something familycentric. Probably favourite BH film from this time last year was A Knight's Tale. As it didn't rain this year, we didn't watch anything. Also high up on list would have to be Pirates of the Caribbean which I first watched one Boxing Day (well it is a bank holiday) and which remains a family favourite.
Favourites from childhood would probably be any James Bond featuring Sean Connery.
May 27, 2009 | Reply
I think I remember a period where bank holidays were guaranteed to have either Flight of the Navigator or DARYL showing. Loved to rewatch those films. Are they still shown regularly?
May 29, 2009 | Reply
Awh, Flight of the Navigator is just lovely - such an odd film (good thing). Watched Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (was that on this weekend just past? with being ill I'm a bit time dizzy) and though very silly I can't help but enjoy the scenary chewing villainy of Rickman.