Film history

Charlie Chaplin's silent comedy, City Lights, is often cited as one of the greatest films ever made – and its final moments are key to its reputation.

Apart from the dialogue, performances, music and cinematography, there's one genius innovation that made Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron’s 1989 film so successful.

David Fincher's thriller began with its screenwriter's view of the urban decay and religious conservatism of the Reagan era. But it also predicted our obsession with true crime today.

Richard Burton, born 100 years ago this month, was famously married - twice - to Elizabeth Taylor. In 1966, a BBC interview with them saw a furious Taylor come to her husband's aid.

As people around the world mark Halloween, our editors pick the frightening scenes that have truly stayed with them.

The Nazi high command was put on trial 80 years ago in 1945. The new film Nuremberg draws on a little-known detail of the tribunal to ask enduring questions about the nature of evil.

Forty years ago, the mad scientist comedy-horror was released to meagre box-office. But its shock value and outrageous humour soon made it a cult favourite among horror fans.