War Movie Theatre

Norway 1940: the Nazis are arriving. The government is paralysed. And one man needs to help a country decide its future. The amazing true story of how Norway faced the invader. Listen even if you haven't seen the film as we discuss a small hinge of history.Next week: Fort Apache

"Ridley Scott's good Napoleonic Wars film." This week, the Bonapartist Duncan makes the case for this 1977 tale of honour and obsession, as Harvey Keitel chases Keith Carradine around Europe demanding to know if he spilled his pint. Joining us is James Landale, whose ancestor fought what is believed to be the last fatal duel in Scotland, the subject of his terrific history Duel.Next week: The King's Choice

For you, the war movies are over! Yes, we're watching the stone cold war movie classic The Colditz Story, a film which showed how the most fun a chap could have during the war was to be taken prisoner. Hang on, have we got that right? Perhaps there's a little more to the reality. But with John Mills and Eric Portman, why not just enjoy the myth?Next week: The Duellists (1977)

An absolute classic of war movie Sunday afternoons, it's a tale of American guts as George Segal and Ben Gazzara risk everything to try to capture the last bridge over the Rhine, while Robert Vaughn is the German trying to stop them. The film nearly caused an international incident after the producers had the brilliant idea of filming in Czechoslovakia in 1968 - what could go wrong? Next week: The Colditz Story.

Robin Williams said he wasn't sure he was leading man material until he picked up the script for this comedy about a military DJ fighting authority in Saigon. Backed by an incredible cast of supporting actors, he delivered one of the hits of the 80s, helped by a soundtrack album that every teenager knew by heart.James Cary knows a thing or two about finding the humour in war. As well as working on Miranda, he co-wrote the Afghan bomb-disposal sitcom Bluestone 42 -- very much one our listeners will enjoy. He joins us to explain why director Barry Levinson set an especially difficult bar for Williams in this film, and how the comedian easily cleared it. Read more about James here. Next week: The Bridge At Remagen.

Irish War Movie Month ends with Stanley Kubrick's tale of a socially ambitious rogue during the Seven Years War. Will Rob and Duncan be forced to duel? Would this film have been better if it had been about Napoleon? Joining us is Robert Smith, Corporate Finance Editor at the Financial Times, to explain why the film has become the subject of rap memes. No, we can't really explain either. Next week: Good Morning Vietnam

Fighting Irish Month continues with Liam Neeson as Michael Collins, the inventor of urban guerilla warfare and the man who negotiated independence. It's an epic from director Neil Jordan, but does it play favourites with the history? And how many categories will Julia Roberts win?Next week: Barry Lyndon.

The worst wars are civil wars. Ken Loach's tale of two brothers in Cork in the 1920s deals not just with the Irish War of Independence but also with the civil war that followed it. We're joined by Cork man Padraig Reidy to discuss whether what this movie really needed was one more lengthy chat about class conflict.

It's Fighting Irish Month! First up, a forgotten true tale of 150 soldiers sent to keep the peace in Congo. Low on ammunition, running out of water, can they hold off their attackers? How did the makers navigate the potential Dam Buster's Dog moments? Can anyone explain Conor Cruise O'Brien? And what fascinating facts has Duncan brought along about Bren guns and French mercenaries?Next week: The Wind That Shakes The Barley.