"So, did we get a second series?" That's what I like to think Moviedrome producer Nick Freand-Jones inquired of his BBC bosses in the early months of 1989. I also like to imagine he did a happy little dance when he discovered that, yes, Moviedrome would be returning in May, complete with new titles and a - let's face it - rather random selection of films.
First up, the title sequence, in which our host Alex Cox - wearing a rather fetching Stetson - pulls up at a drive-in in his convertible and settles down to enjoy the evening’s feature presentation. And yeah, that’s pretty much the size of that. A little on the nose maybe but far from offensive.
As for the films, Series Two - at its peak - satisfyingly plastered over the few gaps left by the inaugural season. Kicking off with a picture by the undisputed king of B-cinema Roger Corman (The Man With X-Ray Eyes), 1989's offerings included more present-day cult pictures (Trancers, Night Of The Comet) together with 100% cult pictures such as Monte Hellman's Two-Lane Blacktop and Jean-Luc Godard's Alphaville.
If there's a criticism, it is that a lot of the pictures shown this year had previously appeared on BBC Two's Movie Club. DOA, The Thing From Another World, THX 1138, The Buddy Holly Story - all films with things to recommend them but none of them exactly rare gems.
Fortunately, the quality of Mr Cox's thumbnail sketches remained sky high. With Alex's work slate and an increased budget allowing the intros to be filmed on location, we were treated to the sight of our man reciting Jabberwocky in the Mojave Desert ahead of a screening of the Terry Gilliam film. Alex's rare knack for summing things up in compelling fashion also refused to dim. Take his summary of Woody Allen's Stardust Memories - "[It] is 98% funny. And the other 2% consists of two minutes of Charlotte Rampling that is serious and amazing."
The other aspect of Moviedrome 2 that is beyond reproach is the selection of a number of films that every one with an interest in cinema ought to see. Sweet Smell Of Success, Five Easy Pieces, Ace In The Hole - it's hard to imagine better films than these aired anywhere on network television in 1989.
And while it was a pity that the last of those pictures wasn't screened top-to-tail with Sunset Blvd. - yes, we'd have to wait until 1990 for the first Moviedrome double-bill - Alex's introduction to Billy Wilder's all-out-of-love letter to Hollywood would provide the second series with something I doubt anyone imagined it would have - a whodunit.
Yes, fully six years before The Simpsons had the same idea, Moviedrome's 1989 run left us wondering who shot Alex Cox? And would we have to wait another 12 months for the answer..?
Moviedrome - Season Two (1989)
The Man With X-Ray Eyes (May 7th, 10:45pm)
Jabberwocky (May 14th, 10:15pm)
DOA (May 21st, 10:15pm)
The Thing From Another World (May 28th, 10:15pm)
The Incredible Shrinking Man (June 4th, 10:15pm)
California Dolls (June 11th, 10.20pm)
THX 1138 (June 25th, 10.15pm)
Stardust Memories (July 2nd, 10.05pm)
The Night Of The Comet (July 9th, 11.45pm)
The Grissom Gang (July 16th, 10.50pm)
Ace In The Hole (July 23rd, 10.50pm)
Alphaville (July 30th, 10.55pm)
Two-Lane Blacktop (August 6th, 10.30pm)
Trancers (August 13th, 10.25pm)
The Buddy Holly Story (August 20th, 10.20pm)
Five Easy Pieces (August 27th, 10.40pm)
Sweet Smell Of Success (September 3rd, 10.05pm)
Sunset Blvd. (September 10th, 10.40pm)