John Selwyn Gilbert

A biographical portrait of pen-and-ink artist, Aubrey Beardsley.

Talking with Michael Parkinson and members of the audience at the National Film Theatre, London. An informal discussion illustrated with extracts from some of his most famous films: Champion (1949), Ace in the Hole (1951), Paths of Glory (1958), Lonely are the Brave (1962), In Harm's Way (1965), The Arrangement (1970).

Aubrey Beardsley was a phenomenon, as his contemporaries recognised. Between 1893 and 1898 (when he died from tuberculosis aged just 25) he developed into one of the world's most exciting graphic artists, and turned out hundreds of black and white drawings, which retain their power to fascinate, to amuse and to shock. In this film Brian Reade, Brigid Brophy, Ralph Steadman and a psychiatrist, discuss Beardsley's work and recall the story of his short life. The film has been made almost exclusively from Beardsley's original drawings.

An acting company prepares to rehearse the play The Rules of the Game by Luigi Pirandello. As the rehearsal is about to begin, they are interrupted by the arrival of six strange people. The Director, furious at the interruption, demands an explanation. The Father explains that they are unfinished characters in search of an author to finish their story...

A one-hour anthology television series of one-off contemporary and classic dramas produced by the BBC.