FILMS OF THE WEEK

THE BIG MOVIE Woman In Gold (2015) 12 Saturday, 8.30pm, BBC2

This fascinating true story follows the experience of Maria Altmann, a Jewish Austrian who fled Vienna during the Second World War, and more than 60 years later, fought the Austrian government for her family’s art collection, which had been stolen by the Nazis. The focus is on paintings by Gustav Klimt and, specifically, his portrait of Maria’s aunt, Adele BlochBauer. The film doesn’t labour on the legal process, but instead provides a personal, emotional – and nonmonetary – value for the painting; flashbacks to Maria’s young life in Vienna society show her surrounded by culture and luxury, and in awe of her beautiful aunt. Helen Mirren stars as Maria, making her both sad and defiant, with Ryan Reynolds (above, with Mirren) as her lawyer, a man with his own family connection to Austria.

CLASSIC FILM CHOICE The Three Musketeers (1973) PG Friday, 4.25pm, Film4

Alexandre Dumas’s historical novel featuring France’s most famous swordsmen has been filmed many times. This film version, directed by Richard Lester, is considered one of the best, corralling action, comedy, romance and intrigue into one thunderous package – well, two, as it was filmed together with its sequel, The Four Musketeers. The casting is a huge factor in its success. Michael York is the naive D’Artagnan (above), arriving from the country in the hope of joining the elite royal guard, with Frank Finlay, Richard Chamberlain and Oliver Reed as Musketeers Porthos, Aramis and Athos. But it’s the villains and supporting cast as much as the good guys who make the film – Faye Dunaway’s sultry Milady and Charlton Heston’s scheming Richelieu, with Spike Milligan and Roy Kinnear adding to the film’s many slapstick pleasures.