Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Top Hat. Picture: BFI

Tired of the same old Hollywood stars appearing in predictable blockbusters?

The Nottingham Broadway and BBC Radio Nottingham have teamed up to present a series of special film screenings to take you back to the golden days.

During April 2002 four musicals will be presented as they were intended - on the big screen.

April 4th
Top Hat U
dir Mark Sandrich
US 1935 (1hr 41mins)
with Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton

Top Hat is the quintessential Astaire-Rogers musical complete with endearing romance, wonderful music and lyrics composed by Irving Berlin, witty one-liners, beautiful sets and costumes and the cinema's best dancing duo.

Set in London, this romantic tale of mistaken identity concerns American song-and-dance man Jerry Travers and his love affair with the gorgeous Dale Tremont as she is of him. An effervescent musical that offers the most famous Astaire-Rogers duet, "Cheek to Cheek".

Seeking inspiration. Topsy Turvy. Picture: Pathé

April 11th
Topsy Turvy 12
dir Mike Leigh UK 1999 (2hrs 40mins)
with Jim Broadbent, Timothy Spall, Allan Corduner

1884 and the most successful partnership on the English stage is in trouble. An unkind review of Princess Ida has dubbed librettist WS Gilbert “the king of topsyturvydom”, while composer Sir Arthur Sullivan has decided to devote himself to more serious classical pieces rather than fulfil his contract with impresario D’Oyly Carte.

This insightful look into the creation of ‘The Mikado’ gives us a fascinating glimpse into the lives of two very gifted men.

Mickey and Judy sing another number. Picture: BFI

April 18th & 20th
Words & Music U
dir Norman Taurog US 1948 (2hrs 1min)
with Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Judy Garland, Lena Horne

A musical biography of song and show composers Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.

The film features numerous musical and choreographic interludes, performed by some of MGM's best-known stars.

Highlights of the nineteen musical numbers include Garland and Rooney’s ‘I Wish I Were in Love Again’, Horne’s ‘The Lady is a Tramp’ and the electrifying eight minute ballet ‘Slaughter on Tenth Avenue’.

April 25th
Funny Girl U
dir William Wyler US 1968 (2hrs 27mins)
with Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Walter Pidgeon

Funny Girl is the fictionalised biography of Fanny Brice, the ugly duckling who became a glamorous Ziegfield star and achieved fame as a comedian.

Painstakingly restored over a three-year period, this new print of William Wyler's 1968 musical boasts some freshly enhanced colours and a digitally remastered soundtrack that lets Barbra Streisand belt out her show-stopping numbers with ear-drum-bursting clarity.

BBC Radio Nottingham's film expert Dennis Howells with wife Beryl

Dennis Howells
Each of the films will be introduced by BBC Radio Nottingham's film expert Dennis Howells.

Winner of the first BBC2 "Film Buff Of The Year" competition, his interest in the minutiae of movie making make him their first point of call whenever people talk about the cinema.

Dennis will talk for 10-15 minutes before each screening - setting the film in context and talking about the background to the making of the movie.

If you miss the Thursday screening there will be another chance to see the film on Saturdays - but without Dennis's pre-film chat.

Ticket prices range from £2 for children to £4.60 full price.

More information from the Broadway Cinema on 0115 952 6600.