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The Eagle reviewed and Jack Rosenthal's Smash!

The Eagle, set in Roman-ruled Britain and starring Channing Tatum as a centurion on a bloody quest, is reviewed, and Mark Lawson rediscovers Sheffield's Ruskin Collection.

The Eagle stars model-turned-actor Channing Tatum as young centurion Marcus and Jamie Bell as his slave Esca. Set in Roman-ruled Britain and based on a novel by Rosemary Sutcliff, the film charts how master and slave set off on a brutal quest via Hadrian's Wall to reinstate the Eagle of the Ninth, the golden emblem of a lost legion. Rachel Cooke reviews.

Jack Rosenthal's play Smash! is a comic and scathing look at the journey to get a musical from page to stage. Rosenthal, who died in 2004, won great acclaim for his TV dramas, including Bar Mitzvah Boy, now released on DVD. Mark considers his career with Amy Rosenthal, who adapted the new version of Smash!, actors Tom Conti and Richard Schiff, and director Tamara Harvey.

As Sheffield's Ruskin Collection prepares to re-open after a four month redevelopment project, Mark visits the stores that house the art and natural history specimens of this Victorian writer, critic and artist.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of the 2012 Olympic organizing committee, tonight makes a cameo appearance in Twenty Twelve, a TV comedy about a floundering fictional team of London Olympic organizers. Lord Coe joins a long line of high-profile figures who have played themselves in films and TV dramas. Stephen Armstrong discusses who benefits most from these brief but often memorable moments.

Producer Beth Meade.

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30 minutes

Chapters

  • THE EAGLE

    The Eagle, set in Roman-ruled Britain and starring Channing Tatum as a centurion, reviewed.

    Duration: 04:53

  • SMASH!

    Mark takes a look at Smash! a comic and scathing look at the journey to get a musical from page to stage.

    Duration: 12:59

  • THE RUSKIN COLLECTION

    Sheffield's Ruskin Collection re-visited - the art and natural history specimens of the Victorian writer, critic and artist John Ruskin.

    Duration: 05:18

  • CAMEO APPEARANCES

    Stephen Armstrong discusses who benefits most from these brief but often memorable moments.

    Duration: 04:45

Broadcast

  • Mon 21 Mar 2011 19:15

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