The British Film Institute (BFI) has launched a streaming service housing more than 200 classic films from the silent era to the present.
BFI Player Classics is a sprawling resource for those either just dipping their toes into the history of British cinema or looking to discover new depths.
While the service is currently only available to audiences in the US, offering a free seven-day trial followed by a $5.99 monthly subscription, the launch gives us the opportunity to reflect on some of the greatest British films of all time.
Here are nine of the best.
‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’ (1976)
This featured David Bowie’s first starring role in a feature film and, in a way, it makes sense that it was such an ethereal one.
The Space Oddity singer portrays an alien who crash lands on Earth as he seeks to find a way to ship water to his drought-stricken planet.
Though the film received wildly mixed reviews when it was first released, it did win Bowie the Saturn Award for Best Actor.
The film, which is based on the 1963 novel by Walter Tevis, eventually became a cult classic and was lauded for its novel approach to the science-fiction genre.
‘The Lion and the Winter’ (1968)
It is Christmas in 1183, but there isn’t much of a holiday spirit at King Henry II’s chateau. Personal conflicts divide the royal family as the battle for who will be named heir apparent to the throne rages on.
Directed by Anthony Harvey, the British-American film stars a number of heavyweights of English and US cinema, including Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton.
The film was an immediate critical and commercial success and won Hepburn the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Eleanor of Aquitaine.
‘The Wicker Man’ (1973)
A cult classic about a cult, The Wicker Man is routinely touted as one of the best British horror films ever made.
The story revolves around a sergeant who travels to the mysterious Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. However, the island’s inhabitants, including the girl’s mother, deny that she ever even existed.
The film starred Edward Woodward and Sir Christopher Lee, and won the Saturn Award for Best Horror Film.
‘The London Nobody Knows’ (1969)
This film dismantles London, to show how it was before its extensive redevelopment in the late 1960s.
Narrated by Lolita actor James Mason, the 45-minute documentary is based on the 1962 Geoffrey Fletcher book of the same name and offers a candid look at a city on the verge of transformation.
From exploring the Bedford Theatre before it was torn down and replaced by a nondescript office block, to the Victorian slums around Camden, which have now been replaced by apartment buildings, The London Nobody Knows intimates viewers with a number of locations that no longer exist, but also shows us around bustling street markets and areas that still thrive today.
‘The Ladykillers’ (1955)
The great Alec Guinness leads a motley pack of inveterate criminals in this black comedy.
The film holds a perfect 100 per cent rating on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.
It tells the story of a group of criminals who rent a room in an elderly widow’s home as they prepare for a bank robbery, only to find out she may be their most formidable obstacle.
The Ladykillers was nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and won the Bafta for Best British Screenplay.
‘The Man Who Haunted Himself’ (1970)
This psychological thriller was the last film directed by Basil Dearden before the filmmaker died in a car accident in 1971.
It stars Roger Moore, who would go on to take on the role of James Bond a few years later, and is based on the 1957 Anthony Armstrong novel The Strange Case of Mr Pelham, a nail-biting take on the tale of Jekyll and Hyde.
Though the film was far from a box office success, it is considered one of the best in Moore's illustrious career. Initial criticisms were lacklustre, but The Man Who Haunted Himself has aged remarkably well, with more recent reviews praising both Moore's performance and Dearden's directorial approach, barring the dizzying 360-degree camera spins.
‘The Three Musketeers’ (1973)
One of the better and more faithful adaptations of the 1844 Alexandre Dumas novel, this Richard Lester classic offers plenty of exhilarating swordplay and humour.
The film features several British stars, including Oliver Reed, Michael York, Sir Christopher Lee, as well as American ones such as Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain and Geraldine Chaplin.
Originally intended to be a three-hour epic, it was instead split into two shorter features, the second being released in 1974 as The Four Musketeers.
‘Peeping Tom’ (1960)
A psychological horror that caused a storm of controversy upon release, Peeping Tom is a difficult watch even by today's standards.
The film revolves around a serial killer who films his victim’s dying moments. Its subject matter spurred a backlash that effectively ended director Michael Powell’s filmmaking career in the UK.
However, it received a reappraisal in the decade following its release, which caused Powell to lament in his autobiography: "I make a film that nobody wants to see and then, 30 years later, everybody has either seen it or wants to see it."
‘Paperhouse’ (1988)
This dark fantasy film is based on the 1958 Catherine Storr novel Marianne Dreams.
The story follows a girl aged 11 who, while suffering from granular fever, finds that whatever she draws becomes vivid and disturbing in her dreams.
Famed film critic Roger Ebert praised Paperhouse for distilling every image "to the point of almost frightening simplicity", going on to say that though it is classified as a fantasy thriller, the scenes are so real and concrete "they seem more convincing than real-life dramas".
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
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ILT20%20UAE%20stars
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What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Company%20Profile
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Allardyce's management career
Clubs (10) - Limerick (1991-1992), Perston North End (1992), Blackpool (1994-1996), Notts County (1997-1999), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2007), Newcastle United (2007-2008), Blackburn Rovers (2008-2010), West Ham United (2011-2015), Sunderland (2016), Crystal Palace (2016-2017)
Countries (1) - England (2016)
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
more from Janine di Giovanni
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