TV FILMS of the week
1LICENCE TO KILL Tonight, ITV, 8pm
Timothy Dalton’s second – and unfortunately final – outing as
James Bond sees the MI6 agent resign his commission in order to pursue revenge against the brutal drug lord who crippled long-time pal Felix Leiter. Now a rogue agent, 007 will stop at nothing to see the bad guys get their just deserts – except pausing to pick up a girl or two of course. Dalton brought a refreshing edge back to the Bond franchise after the gadget-and-gags years of Roger Moore. Carey Lowell, Robert Davi, Talisa Soto and Benicio Del Toro co-star.
2THE ITALIAN JOB Tomorrow, ITV4, 7pm
One of the best-loved British films of all time is an action comedy focusing on a group of crooks as they attempt to pull off the ultimate gold bullion robbery in Turin with the help of a fleet of Mini Cooper cars. Michael Caine, left, is superb as lovable anti-hero, Charlie Croker and Noel Coward is delightful as criminal kingpin Mr Bridger.
3APOCALYPSE NOW: FINAL CUT Monday, BBC2, 11.15pm
Director Francis Ford Coppola added 30 extra minutes to his Vietnam war epic in this version. Martin Sheen, left, plays Captain Willard, an assassin assigned to find and kill the renegade Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who is believed to have descended into insanity. Winner of two Oscars, including Best Cinematography.
4YOUNG ADULT Tuesday, BBC2, 11.15pm
Former high-school queen bee Mavis (Charlize Theron) is now a hard-drinking writer whose series of teenage novels is about to be discontinued. Desperate for inspiration, she learns her teenage boyfriend and his wife have just welcomed a daughter. Mavis is determined to win Buddy (Patrick Wilson, left with Theron) back.
5OUR MAN IN HAVANA Wednesday, GREAT! movies classic, 6.45pm
Jim Wormwold, a vacuum-cleaner salesman working in Cuba, is recruited by British Intelligence to act as an agent. Sadly, it turns out he hasn’t much of a talent for hoovering up information, but instead of resigning as a spy, he starts to invent tip-offs. Alec Guinness, left, is particularly good in the lead role.
6SOME LIKE IT HOT Thursday, BBC4, 10.15pm
Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe, left, star in this caper about male musicians on the run after witnessing a gangland shooting. They try to make a quick getaway by donning drag and hiding out in an all-girl jazz band. Voted one of the funniest films ever made, and it’s easy to see why.
7SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY Friday, GREAT! movies, 9pm
Julia Roberts stars in this thriller about a woman who fakes her own death to escape her abusive husband. However, just when she thinks her nightmare is over, her other half walks back into her life, eager to claim her back. Patrick Bergin, pictured left with Roberts, is on fine form as the villain.