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'You've Never Had It So Good'

A look back on cinematic depictions of the 1950s through film music with Matthew Sweet, marking the release this week of 'Tell It To The Bees'.

A look back on cinematic depictions of 1950's Britain through film music with Matthew Sweet, marking the release this week of 'Tell It To The Bees' - Annabel Jankel's drama set in 1950's Scotland, with music by Claire M Singer.

How should we regard Britain in the 1950's? Matthew Sweet profiles the decade through some of the film music of the time and takes a "rear view mirror" look, courtesy of some more recent films set in the period, which saw the nation transition from post-war austerity into the Swinging Sixties.

Music featured in the programme is taken from the films 'The Happiest Days of Your Life'; 'Doctor In the House'; 'A Kid For Two Farthings'; 'Night And The City'; 'Room At The Top'; 'Night Of The Demon'; 'The Colditz Story'; 'Queen And Country'; 'Wish You Were Here'; 'The Long Day Closes'; and 'Phantom Thread'. The programme also features music from this week's featured new release 'Tell It To the Bees'.

Available now

31 minutes

Last on

Sat 20 Jul 201915:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Wally Stott

    Hancock's Half Hour - Titles

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.

  • Mario Nascimbene

    Room At The Top (1959) - Titles, End Credits

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • The Film Music of Mario Nascimbene.

  • Francis Chagrin

    The Colditz Story (1955): Prelude and Finale

    Music Arranger: Philip Lane. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Chagrin: The Film Music of Francis Chagrin.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 3.

  • Mischa Spoliansky

    The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) - Galop

    Music Arranger: Philip Lane. Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • The Film Music of Mischa Spoliansky.
    • Chandos.
    • 22.

  • Bruce Montgomery

    Doctor In The House (1954) - Titles

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.

  • Benjamin Frankel

    A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) - Theme

    Performer: Frank Chacksfield. Ensemble: Frank Chacksfield Orchestra.
    • Forty Favourite Golden Violins.
    • Golden Sky Records.
    • 25.

  • Benjamin Frankel

    Night and the City (1950) - Main Title / The City At Night

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Night And The City (scores by Benjamin Frankel and Franz Waxman).
    • Screen Archives Entertainment.
    • 1.

  • Franz Waxman

    Night and the City (1950) - Prelude / This Is London

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Night And The City (scores by Benjamin Frankel and Franz Waxman).
    • Screen Archives Entertainment.
    • 1.

  • Billy Meyers

    Bugle Call Rag

    Composer: Jack Pettis. Composer: Elmer Schoebel. Performer: Chris Barber. Ensemble: Chris Barber's Jazz & Blues Band.
    • The Pye Jazz Anthology.
    • Castle Music.
    • 15.

  • Mario Nascimbene

    Room At The Top (Main Title)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • The Film Music of Mario Nascimbene.
    • Quartet Records.

  • Stanley Myers

    Wish You Were Here (1987) - The Return of Linda

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Music From The Films My Beautiful Laundrette/Wish You Were Here/Sammy And Rosie.
    • Milan.
    • 8.

  • Clifton Parker

    Night of the Demon (1957) - Theme

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • The Film Music of Clifton Parker.
    • Chandos.
    • 15.

  • Francis Chagrin

    The Colditz Story (1955): Prelude and Finale

    Music Arranger: Philip Lane. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Chagrin: The Film Music of Francis Chagrin.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 3.

  • Stephen McKeon

    Queen and Country (2015) - End Credits

  • Stanley Myers

    Wish You Were Here (1987) - The Return of Linda

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Music From The Films My Beautiful Laundrette/Wish You Were Here/Sammy And Rosie.
    • Milan.
    • 8.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    The Long Day Closes

    Choir: Pro Cantione Antiqua. Director: Mark Brown.
    • Sweet & Low (Glees & Partsongs).
    • Conifer.
    • 19.

  • Jonny Greenwood

    Phantom Thread (2017) - Phantom Thread 1

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Ziegler.
    • Phantom Thread - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 1.

  • Claire M Singer

    Tell It To The Bees (2019) - Dance of the Bees

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Tell It To The Bees (Original Motion Picture Score).
    • 21.

  • Claire M Singer

    Tell It To The Bees (2019) - Paving The Way

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.

  • David Byrne

    Young Adam (2003) - Seaside Smokes

    Ensemble: Studio-Ensemble.
    • Lead Us Not Into Temptation - Music From The Film Young Adam.
    • Thrill Jockey.
    • 3.

  • James Edward Baker

    Gwen (2019) - Fog

    Orchestra: Studio-Ensemble.

Broadcast

  • Sat 20 Jul 201915:00
    BBC Radio 3

Podcast

  • Sound of Cinema

    Your weekly roundup of the finest film scores and movie music with Edith Bowman.