Alongside my other blog entry series (Ken Russell at the BBC), I would like to treat my readers to another one of mine, that I will entitle Moviedrome Mondays. Produced by the BBC, yet transmitted by BBC Two, Moviedrome was a British television series dedicated towards the showing of cult cinema. Some of them were well-known titles (i.e. The Terminator amongst others); others were more obscure (Razorback is just one example). Now, one question you readers might ask is why is an American doing something like this instead of a Brit? and why is an American so well versed in a British series that is not available on DVD in the States, let alone the UK? I can easily answer that question with one word: youtube. Not surprising I know, but that is how I came across it. This is where I first discovered Moviedrome, while typing the words “Alex Cox” in the search engine and “Moviedrome” was one of the words that popped up and I watched it. This was back in 2010. Each Monday, I will give a link to an episode of the series (1988-1994/1997-2000). The former years were introduced by cult filmmaker Alex Cox and the latter ones were presented by Mark Cousins – an Irish filmmaker/critic currently based in Edinburgh (read here). I may skip a few episodes on here due to youtube’s absence of the link to that episode. Nevertheless, I will link you to as many uploads as I can find. First things first though. I would love to dedicate this blog entry to my regular UK readers, which include Paul S. (Pfeiffer Pfilms and Meg Movies), Peter Johnson (beetleypete), Wolfie (Wolfmans Cult Film Club), Carlosnightman (The Spac Hole) and (in some ways) both dbmoviesblog, Madeleine (Maddy Loves Her Classic Films), Paul from The Cinema Fix and Thom Hickey from The Immortal Jukebox. Speaking of Wolfie, he wrote an even better synopsis on the history of Moviedrome back in 2017, that can be read here. If I forgot any other regular UK visitor to this site, Please let me know and I will add your name in this blog entry 🙂 Now without further ado, here is (reportedly) the premiere episode of the first season of Moviedrome. The film Alex Cox introduces here is Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man from 1973. The original airdate for this Moviedrome episode was May 8, 1988 (read here). Now without further ado, here is a youtube link of Alex Cox discussing it below. Watch it If you are interested 🙂
04/02/2019 Update: In case anyone is interested, here is a link to the website moviedromer.tumblr.com, which has more information about the program. Also, here is a link to the transcript of The Wicker Man episode.
Also, here is a link to The Wicker Man trailer below:
cinematiccoffee 
I saw this at the time,, John, as I was a regular viewer of the show. I still have a great fondness for The Wicker Man too.
Best wishes, Pete.
A great series, though it’s funny watching Cox give such a straight-laced introduction.
Thanks for the dedication, you’ve made my day, made my week. You know I’ve got fond memories of Moviedrome. As I’ve mentioned many times before I’ve still got the two guides that the BBC published to accompany the series.
Looking back now I realise just how many of my favourite films Alex Cox introduced me to: Badlands, Big Wednesday, Junior Bonner, Mad Max 2, Two-Lane Blacktop, Ulzana’s Raid, I could go on and on. I’ve got the DVD of Razorback which you mention here. Certainly summer Sunday nights on BBC 2 will never be more memorable.
The Wicker Man still remains director Robin Hardy’s masterpiece. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
P.S. I also think that it is awesome that you were a regular viewer of Moviedrome. I totally would have dug it If I had grown up during that time 🙂
Alex Cox always had a flair for irony (and I mean that as a compliment) during these introductions 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Superb idea John. Love the way you are so passionate about this series from overseas. Especially as it is probably little known to many under a certain age here. It truly was groundbreaking for me and 100% inspired my love for film. Remember so well watching The Wicker Man here for the first time. I never got to see them all but many became bonafid classics to me. Electra Glide In Blue, Man With X-Ray Eyes, Get Carter and Assault on Precinct 13 to name just a tiny few. Still to this day I’m slowly working my way through the list. I’ll get there someday, though everyday is like a moviedrome day. Love looking for new films to watch.
Enjoyed watching that introduction again. A double bill with “Don’t Look Now” man that was a creepy film!
I look forward to seeing each weeks intros when you post them. Thank you for linking my article,very much appreciated John.
Thanks again. All the best…..Mikey
Moviedrome sure provided a treasure trove of great stuff 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Interestingly enough, Moviedrome’s premiere episode (the intro of The Wicker Man) was the first intro I watched during that youtube search back in 2010 when searching for information on director Alex Cox. Occasionally, diehard fans of the show will often have play a Captain Kirk or Piccard game of who was one’s preferred presenter. In this case, that would be Alex Cox or Mark Cousins. Personally, I love the way both of them do it. They are equal in quality, but they just take a different approach to it. Speaking of Don’t Look Now, Cousins introduced that film on there one time. I also love it that he is a huge fan of Bad Timing (also directed by Roeg). I also had a crush (and still do) on actress Theresa Russell 🙂 Even If you disagreed with Cox’s take on a particular film, you loved the way he presented it anyway. Anyway, thanks for dropping by Mikey 🙂
Never missed it!
Alex Cox was my favorite but that was likely down to seeing more of his episodes. I was hit and miss with the Mark Cousins era as I was out partying more. I haven’t seen Bad Timing. Need to start ticking my off more from the series. Lots of classics I need to catch up on. Yes Theresa Russell is very nice. I remember her from Straight Time with Dustin Hoffman.
I love The Wicker Man (1973), but I am not familiar with the series (I guess, as Wolfman stated, I am slightly under certain age – but just tiny bit slightly 🙂 – I now love to hear all the films introductions. I am sorry, I am so late with my reply – I have not received any wordpress notification tag 🙂
I love The Wicker Man as well 🙂 I was not familiar with the series at all until earlier in the decade when I was searching videos on filmmaker Alex Cox on youtube. I started watching all of the Moviedrome intros I could find and I became better acquainted with it. Ironic, considering that I am an American and not a Brit and this show was only aired in the UK as opposed to the US. Nevertheless, my interest may have stemmed from my love of British filmmakers like Ken Russell and Nicolas Roeg (to name just two of many) that prompts me to search things like this 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂