'It's very educational'

John Walsh's book has reminded me of another reason why some people add a a film to their list of favourites. It's heard primarily from those who are not particular fans of the movies.

'It will help you learn about. . .whatever.'

These are the films that parents and teachers approve and they fall into two categories, the literary substitute, and the history lesson.

I've written elsewhere about the films made for people who don't like movies but can't be bothered to read the book. Or, who have read the book and think the film will be safe to watch.

This is why there will always be a market for the Shakespeare film. People can view the plays, nicely reduced and edited into digestible chunks and with the action sequences emphasised. I have to admit that they do provide a handy overview before tackling the text itself.

It's always amused me that teachers would encourage us to go to Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet and then be outraged that all we could talk about was the brief glimpse of Olivia Hussey's naked breasts. How anyone can object to Leonard Whiting's buttocks and at the same time listen po-faced to Shakespeare's great line, 'The bawdy hand of time is on the prick of noon', sagely noting that it is a perfect example of the standard iambic pentameter, escapes me.

In this category, you will find other filmed plays- The Importance of Being Earnest, The Browning Version, Othello, Richard III. Classic novels - Dickens, Austen, Melville. Some work as films, some are recordings of the play, some respectful renditions from one medium to another. Some work as pretty good movies, Moby Dick, for example. People tell me that Dr Zhivago is a bad film, but I think it's great. Perhaps I'd just like to write poetry inspired by Julie Christie. Come to think of it, bugger the poetry.

Then there's the history lesson. Lawrence of Arabia, for example, or Patton, or Alexander the Great. Except they are quite untrustworthy as history, for all their consultants and advisors. If you take Cromwell on trust you'll believe that Lords and Commons sat in the same house.

Right, a decision. Going by the usual 'best' lists, something like Gladiator might be chosen here, or maybe Titanic or Lawrence. Henry V would probably feature.

As for me, when it comes to history turned into film, I would avoid Cromwell, which scores poorly on both counts and choose Schindler's List or A Bridge Too Far. I'm rather fond of the latest version of The Alamo too.

And for literature, let's have Orson Welles' Chimes at Midnight and Moby Dick.