BBC Four

Natural Selection

10/12/2003

BBC Four - Natural Selection

A German judge, Russian contestants and rock 'n' roll in a short film about a dog show.

A German judge, Russian contestants and twangy rock 'n' roll are all part of the mix in a short film about a Russian dog show.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

A short film about events at a Russian dog show featuring a German judge.

Space Dogs

06/07/2009

BBC Four - Space Dogs

Documentary which tells the secret history of dog cosmonautics in the Soviet Union.

The secret history of dog cosmonautics in Russia. After the Second World War, in preparation for launching the first man into orbit, the Soviets began sending dogs into space.

In the years after the second world war, in preparation for sending the first man into orbit, the Soviets began sending dogs into space. 

Featuring unique archival footage, including that of the first 'dog flight' into space taken inside the capsule, this documentary tells the secret history of dog cosmonautics in Russia. Alongside famous dog cosmonauts Belka and Strelka were a large team of other test dogs. All the characteristics of weightlessness on a living organism were tested on these defenceless creatures given up for the conquest of space. 

The programme cost more than 20 dogs' lives and each loss was a personal blow to the trainer. As the relationship between the men and dogs developed, scientists began to treat them as colleagues and true companions and to this day, Russian scientists keep photographs of their departed four-legged friends.

An evening of space-based programming lifts off with the secret history of canine cosmonauts in the Soviet Union, featuring archive footage, including that of the first "dog flight" into space taken from inside the capsule. Narrated by Andrew Sachs.

Journey to the Moon - A Horizon Special

Horizon: 40 Years on the Moon

09/07/2009

BBC Four - Horizon: 40 Years on the Moon

Brian Cox uses the BBC archive to examine the story of man's relationship with the moon.

Brian Cox uses the BBC archive to examine the story of man's relationship with the moon, from James Burke testing out Nasa equipment to Neil Armstrong's giant leap for mankind.

Professor Brian Cox takes a look through nearly 50 years of BBC archive at the story of man's relationship with the moon. 

From the BBC's space fanatic James Burke testing out the latest Nasa equipment to 1960s interviews about the bacon-flavoured crystals that astronauts can survive on in space, to the iconic images of man's first steps on the moon and the dramatic story of Apollo 13, Horizon and the BBC have covered it all. 

But since President Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s was reached, no-one has succeeded in reigniting the public's enthusiasm for space travel and lunar voyages. Why?

On his journey through the ages, Professor Cox explores the role that international competition played in getting man to the moon and asks if, with America no longer the world's only superpower, we are at the dawn of a bright new space age.

Forty Years on the Moon

Professor Brian Cox takes a journey through the BBC science archive to explore the story of man's relationship with the Moon, from James Burke testing out Nasa equipment to Neil Armstrong 's first steps on the lunar surface and the dramatic tale of Apollo 13.

Being Neil Armstrong

05/07/2009

BBC Four - Being Neil Armstrong

Andrew Smith journeys across America to find out more about the reclusive Neil Armstrong.

Andrew Smith journeys across America to try and discover the real Neil Armstrong, a man who, in the four decades since he set foot on the moon, has become increasingly reclusive.

It has been said that 10,000 years from now only one name will still be remembered, that of Neil Armstrong. But in the four decades since he first set foot on the moon, Armstrong has become increasingly reclusive. 

Andrew Smith, author of the best-selling book Moondust, journeys across America to try and discover the real Neil Armstrong. He tracks down the people who knew Armstrong, from his closest childhood friend to fellow astronauts and Houston technicians, and even the barber who sold his hair, in a wry and sideways look at the reluctant hero of the greatest event of the 20th century.

Author Andrew Smith explores the life of the former astronaut during the four decades since the Moon landing, meeting his friends who offer their views on the reluctant hero.

Apollo Wives

BBC Four - Apollo Wives

Documentary following the reunion in Arizona of ten of the wives of Apollo astronauts.

Documentary following the reunion of ten of the wives of Apollo astronauts. They discuss death, danger and divorce, detailing how many of their men struggled to come back to Earth.

Ten extraordinary women, all in their seventies, come to Arizona for a special reunion. They are each different but have one thing in common - each was married to an Apollo astronaut. These women were right at the heart of the most ambitious journey ever made, as America shot for the moon. 

In exclusive interviews, they tell how it felt to watch their husband blast off into space and about the death, danger and divorce as many of their men struggled to come back to Earth.

Ten women who were married to Apollo astronauts visit Arizona for a reunion. In a series of interviews they reveal how it felt to watch their husbands blast off into space, share their experiences of being the focus of the world's media, and discuss the difficulty in readjusting to everyday life upon their spouses' return.

For All Mankind

BBC Four - For All Mankind

1989 documentary relating the story of the 24 men who travelled to the moon with NASA.

Classic 1989 documentary relating the story of the 24 men who travelled to the moon with NASA, told in their words, in their voices and using the images of their experiences.

In July 1969, the space race ended when Apollo 11 fulfilled President Kennedy's challenge of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to earth. No-one who witnessed the lunar landing will ever forget it. Breathtaking both in the scope of its vision and the exhilaration of the human emotions it captures, Al Reinert's classic 1989 documentary is the story of 24 men who travelled to the moon, told in their words, in their voices and using the images of their experiences.

Al Reinert's documentary explores the human aspects of Nasa's Apollo missions, using only video and audio footage captured on the vessels themselves and by mission control.

The Grandparent Diaries

The Grandparent Diaries: Episode 1: Ian Batten

Episode 1

Episode 1: Ian Batten

Ian Batten

BBC Four - The Grandparent Diaries, Ian Batten

A liberal 1960s dad takes his seven grandchildren for a day at the seaside.

Documentary series about grandparents in Britain today introduces Ian Batten, a 1960s dad who brought his own children up in the liberal spirit of the time.

Documentary series about grandparents in Britain today introduces Londoner Ian Batten - fashion designer, father of four and grandfather of seven.

Ian takes all seven of his grandchildren, ranging from toddlers to teenagers, for a weekend by the sea for the first time. As a 1960s dad who brought his own children up in the liberal spirit of the time, his approach seems to be a hit with the children. Bedtimes are relaxed and the kids happily chip in, but do his own children recall their upbringings as similarly idyllic, and how has the free, liberal approach influenced their own views on parenting?

Through interviews spanning three generations, the family's archive footage and observation, the film looks at how the philosophies of the 1960s influence Ian as a grandfather whilst celebrating the enduring traditions of grandparenting through the 20th century.

Documentary series looking at the relationships between grandparents and grandchildren

Documentary series looking at the relationships between three very different sets of grandparents and their grandchildren

: three documentaries looking at the relationships between grandparents and grandchildren

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