The AnswerBank Articles

What was the best Saturday morning kids TV programme

A. Saturday morning is now a key ratings battleground between the BBC and ITV. The BBC has come up with a "sexier, sassier" show for children after losing ground to ITV's Ant and Dec show. It is01:00 Mon 01st Oct 2001

Can TV viewers bet on the outcome of a penalty kick

A. Armchair football fans will soon be able to use their remote controls to bet on games as they are televised. With their handsets, viewers will be able to open accounts and, as the match proceeds,01:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

Are futuristic films ever accurate

A. Furistic films rarely paint an entirely optimistic picture. Directors like Steven Spielberg try to deliver perfect illusions with an almost dreamlike quality. Most authors and film-makers conjure01:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

What is a B-movie

A. B-movies were produced at a time when the film industry was markedly different from the one we know today. They were the celluloid equivalent of the ancillary entertainment surrounding a01:00 Mon 24th Sep 2001

Are Thai films a hit in the UK

A. The Thai film industry is slowly emerging as a rival to its Asian counterparts. A number of successful films have attracted interest locally as well as internationally. A select band of New Wave01:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

Which film won the Golden Lion award

A. A comedy by the Indian director Mira Nair won the Golden Lion award for Best Film at the 58th Venice Film Festival. Miss Nair, 44, was the first woman and Indian to win the prestigious award. 01:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

How are classic film preserved

A. Film preservation is a relatively new field, and there is a shortage of skilled technicians for such specialist films. Part of the problem facing the film industry is the cost involved. A typical01:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

Will Superman fly again

Copyright DC Comics A. Superman, the super-hero who could fly faster than a speeding bullet, has lost his trademark tights and wings. The all-action hero, who has captivated generations of01:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

Are celebrities the key to TV advertising

A. Celebrity endorsement on television is becoming more popular. The public, it seems, are happy to fall for the idea that Jamie Oliver shops in Sainsbury's and footballer David Beckham uses01:00 Sat 10th Mar 2001

Who is making a film of Ernest Shackleton's epic trip

A. Hollywood stars Russell Crowe and Kenneth Branagh are both to play the part of Sir Ernest Shackleton in two screen treatment of the explorer's heroic but doomed adventure to the South Pole in01:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

What was the defining moment in cartoon history

A. The first 'real' cartoon character was Gertie The Dinosaur in 1914. It presented cartoons as viable cinematic heroes, and pre-emted Jurassic Park by about 80 years. Steamboat Willie in 1928 was01:00 Mon 03rd Sep 2001

Are digital cameras used in film-making

A. Digital technology is set to revolutionise the film industry. By means of high-definition technology, film images can be produced that have remarkable clarity - and even more importantly - give01:00 Mon 03rd Sep 2001

Was Billy Liar an original - or can it be remade

A. The daydreaming life of Billy Liar still resonates nearly 30 years after it opened. When John Schlesinger's version of Keith Waterhouse's cult novel came out, the New York Times' critic called it01:00 Mon 03rd Sep 2001

Why is Mastermind making a comeback

A. The revival of Mastermind is seen as further evidence of the primacy of the quiz show, although it is a long way from the quick-fire style of Anne Robinson's The Weakest Link and Who Wants to be a01:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

Is the threatened recession affecting the film industry

A. Foreign investment in the British film industry has slumped by a third, sparking fears that the boom period enjoyed over the last five years could be at an end. Figures for the first six months of01:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

What are the most famous one-liners in the movies

CasablancaA. There are some classic one-liners which have been repeated millions of times over the years. "Go ahead, make my day," - Clint Eastwood, in the 1983 film, Sudden Impact "Here's looking01:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

What's the most expensive drama ever made

A. The most expensive drama ever made is thought to be the Steven Spielberg epic Band of Brothers. It is an all-American tale of bravery and tragedy - with a budget of 80 million. It follows the01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

Who directed the Girl with the Pearl Earring

A. Mike Newell, the British director of Four Weddings And A Funeral, is directing the 10 million film. Kate Hudson, the Hollywood actress and daughter of Goldie Hawn, stars in the movie, the01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

What's the funniest film ever made

A. According to the American Film Institute, it was the Marilyn Monroe classic Some Like it Hot. The Billy Wilder classic with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, which was made in black and white 42 years01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

What are the top cult TV programmes

A. Dr Who has been heralded as the most important influential cult TV programme of all time, according to media historian Jeff Evans. John Cleese's Fawlty Towers is in second place, and the original01:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001