Free Thinking

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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

The ideas shaping our lives today - with artists and thinkers in debates and interviews.

The ideas shaping our lives today - with leading artists and thinkers in extended interview and debate.

Free Thinking: Early Cinema

Early Cinema

BBC Radio 4 - Free Thinking, Early Cinema

Matthew Sweet looks back at an early female film director and a British film pioneer.

Matthew Sweet looks back at the early history of cinema hearing about Alice Guy-Blaché and Robert Paul and how the Boer War led to animated film.

Alice Guy-Blaché the pioneering film director, a British film pioneer Robert Paul and how the Boer War led to animated film are the topics for discussion as Matthew Sweet talks to Donna Kornhaber, Ian Christie and Pamela B. Green.  Ahead of this weekend's Oscars ceremony they reflect on early film innovations.

Alice Guy or Alice Guy-Blaché (July 1, 1873 – March 24, 1968) is considered a pioneer of narrative film.  A new documentary Be Natural the untold story of Alice Guy-Blaché is on general release in the UK from January 2020. 

Robert Paul (3 October 1869 – 28 March 1943) was also an early pioneer of British film. He also worked as an electrician and scientific instrument maker.  Ian Christie has written a biography called Robert Paul and the Origins of British Cinema.  An exhibition about Paul runs at Bradford's National Science and Media Museum until March 2020. 

Donna Kornhaber has published Nightmares in the Dream Sanctuary: War and the Animated Film.

Producer: Caitlin Benedict

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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