BBC won't regret that they aired the Indiana Jones trilogy again. The trilogy has been aired over the course of 3 weeks and have proved to be a ratings winner for the corporation. Media Guardian reports that even though the airings are repeats, the Temple of Doom and Last Crusade had better ratings than any of the (terrestrial) movie premieres shown over the Christmas period on the BBC.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade had 10 million viewers and a 40% audience share between 8 pm and 9.50 pm last night. Last week Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom also drew 10 million viewers, while a fortnight ago Raiders of the Lost Ark pulled in 8.8 million.

Hit the link above for more info. Thanks to TheForce.Net for the news.

I've got some very exciting filmfan news for you today! Russ Williamson from Renaissance TV has let me know they are working on a series about film facts, trivia etc. or some of the people involved. Hidden Hollywood is the title of this proposed TV series. Renaissance TV is currently negotiating a contract to supply program which if taken up by the BBC (or other broadcaster) will include locations, trivia, deleted scenes, out-takes, prop and memorabilia guides, technical updates and everything else a film fan wants to know. It's too early to know how long the series will run or when we may expect it to see it on TV but we may expect it to see the Hidden Hollywood series on TV this summer.

Hidden Hollywood's location guide (Tony Reeves) has already uncovered and confirmed over 4,000 film locations (believed to be the largest collection in the world). Filming locations from movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, etc. will be discussed in the series. Their mistakes researcher (Jon Sandys) has confirmed 10.000 'in-film mistakes', his web site (Movie Mistakes) now receives 20.000 hits a day. He can be seen early Friday mornings on Channel Fours Big Breakfast. The factual trivia and Urban Legends are supplied by Catherine Hanley (she's the editor of Empire magazine) and Warwick Davis (actor from Willow, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, etc.) is penciled in to present 'the guide to buying film props'. He's busy doing the next Harry Potter film at the moment. Micheal Sheard who played Mr. bronson in TV's Grange Hill (known to Indy fans as Hitler in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) is also going to make an appearance.

Russ Williamson is still looking for more info to fill Hidden Hollywood. Should you know an amazing piece of trivia or fact which they can investigate or you have a major question you have always wanted answered Renaissance TV will do it's best to get it aired. Mail your film trivia, facts, ideas, and questions to rwilliamson@cableinet.co.uk.

Renaissance TV has spoken with the BBC again last week and so far the 'commissioning process' is going smoothly, however things could change (for better or worse) at any moment so keep your fingers crossed. Further details about the Hidden Hollywood series will be announced at TheRaider.net shortly.

Steven Spielberg will be awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at ShoWest 2002, it was announced yesterday by Robert Sunshine, Chairman of Sunshine Group Worldwide (SGW), which operates the event.
Spielberg will receive his award at the annual Gala Awards Banquet to be held at Bally's and Paris Hotel on March 7th.

"We are honored that a true filmmaking genius such as Steven Spielberg is accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at ShoWest 2002,'' said Sunshine. "His career can only be described as astounding. Mr. Spielberg is the preeminent filmmaker of his generation.''

Celebrating its 28th year, ShoWest is the world's largest motion picture industry convention. Each year, ShoWest attracts delegates from more than 45 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. ShoWest was founded by the National Association of Theater Owners of California and Nevada, and the 2001 show was the first managed by SGW.

Read the Press Release if you want to know more about Spielberg and ShoWest. Thanks to Harrison Ford Web for the news.

Actor Ben Affleck will present the Cecil B. DeMille Award to superstar Harrison Ford at the 59th Golden Globe Awards next Sunday (January 20) in the Beverly Hilton.

It's probably not a coincidence that Ben Affleck will present the award to Harrison Ford. Ford portrayed Tom Clancy's hero, Jack Ryan, in two films: Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. Now, Affleck will portray Jack Ryan in The Sum of All Fears that will be released this summer by Paramount.

Thanks to TheForce.Net and The NY Post for the news.

Eileen from Harrison Ford Web has let us know that one of the projects that Harrison Ford is working on is the Untitled Fred Cuny biopic that Ford has had on his plate since the mid-90's. Although Harrison does not mention who will be playing the role of Fred Cuny, it would be ideal for him to be in this role. (At one time he was attached to not only produce but also star in this film.) In a recent interview with Variety, Harrison Ford had this to say about the project "I've been interested for some period of time in (Cuny) and the world he lived in."

Here's a synopsis of the Fred Cuny biopic:

"The story of relief working Fred Cuny who traveled to the breakaway republic of Chechnya hoping to broker a ceasefire and evacuate 40,000 elderly Russians. He is believed to have been executed by thugs working for the chief of Chechnya's military intelligence."

Also in the article from Variety, it says that "Ford is now helping oversee a handful of projects." What these other projects are is not known yet.

It's great that Harrison Ford is finally getting this Fred Cuny project off the ground but you know what's even more exciting about this project? None other than Alejandro Inarritu will be directing the film! Inarritu is the director behind Amores Perros (aka Love's a Bitch) which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2001 for Best Foreign Language Film.

Visit Harrison Ford Web for more info on Ford's Fred Cuny project.

The February 2002 issue of UK's film magazine Total Film contains an article on some of the weirdest movie urban legends. "A runny arse inspired Indiana Jones' most famous scene" is the title of one of the movie myths that the magazine examines.

Here's a part of what Total Film has to say about Indy's most famous scene:
...Whatever you want to call it, a two month shoot in Tunisia had taken its toll on Ford, whose guts had been shrivelled by dysentery. The crew were compelled to come up with an alternative to the originally-scripted three-page fight scene, less Ford "spill the cocoa" mid-shoot. Solution? "We had Indy pull out his revolver and dispatch the dude," laughs Spielberg,...
This isn't new for us but just look at this funny picture that Total Film has put together for the article.

Here are some other weird movie urban legends that Total Film investigates: "Jack Nicholson's sister was really his mother", "Disney's The Rescuers features shots of a naked woman", "A stuntman was killed filming the chariot race in Ben-Hur", etc... You'll have to read Total Film's February 2002 issue to find out which of the ones I mentioned are true and which ones are false.

Good news for everyone who can receive BBC 1! The channel will air Raiders of the Lost Ark on Thursday, January 10 from 8:00 PM till 10:00 PM. BBC's Raiders program info page also mentions that it's the widescreen version so you certainly don't want to miss it!

But that's not all! BBC 1 will also air the first chapter of The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones TV-series named My First Adventure (which has not been released on video yet). In this chapter we will see the Young Indy on his father's lecture tour around the world that starts with an adventure in Egypt... This first chapter will air on Sunday, January 13 from 3:00 PM till 4:25 PM. And again, BBC's Young Indy program info page mentions that we will get the widescreen version!

It's much likely that the BBC 1 will continue to air The Adventure of Young Indiana Jones TV-series and also the films: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. We will let you know their airing dates as soon as we know them.