The top 25 historical films revealed – but Braveheart and Gladiator not number 1

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The top 25 historical movies can now be revealed after a shortlist was created … by some of UK’s top historians.From Mel Gibson’s ‘Braveheart’ to Tom Hanks’s tale of WWII gallantry ‘Saving Private Ryan’, 22 of the UK’s leading history experts their 100-strong shortlist.Then HistoryExtra.com readers voted for their top five from the list in a survey from 4th November to 8th December 2024 top create a top 25 – with the winner a film that scooped seven Oscars in 1994.The enthralling 1993 movie ‘Schindler’s List, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Ralph Fiennes in his chilling role as Nazi death camp guard Amon Goeth, topped the list after over 3,800 votes were cast.Nominated by historians Roger Moorhouse and Nathen Amin, the film based on true events chronicles how German industrialist Oskar Schindler saved the lives of more than 1,000 Jewish workers during the Second World War.Roger Moorhouse says: “Today, as the Holocaust recedes beyond living memory, Schindler’s List takes on a vital significance not just as a cinematic masterpiece, but as a history lesson.”It immerses viewers in the brutal reality, from the dehumanising conditions of the ghettos and concentration camps to the small acts of defiance and hope that sustained the survivors.”By focusing on individual stories, the film adds much-needed humanity to one of history’s darkest chapters.”Second in the poll is Gladiator (2000), directed by Ridley Scott, and nominated by historians Nathen Amin, James Holland and Luke Pepera – the tale of the slave who became a gladiator and defied an emperor won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor.While third is Lawrence of Arabia (1962), directed by David Lean and nominated by historian Alex von Tunzelmann.One of the most visually stunning films ever made: its desert landscapes, filmed in Jordan, Morocco, California and Spain, are sumptuous, and the film is praised for capturing Lawrence’s character and charisma, and the historical context he was rooted in.Kev Lochun, Deputy Digital Editor, HistoryExtra.com says: “HistoryExtra.com challenged 22 historians to choose the historical movies that have most inspired, entertained and enthralled them, and explain why.”Our final list, ranked by the HistoryExtra.com readers, spans the centuries and shines a light on what cinema can do to bring to life characters and stories that are timeless.”Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List was a clear winner in this poll, and is widely regarded as not only one of the greatest historical films ever made, but one of the greatest films full stop.”As well as some surprising inclusions, equally surprising are the movies that did not make the cut, and how many popular historical movies of recent memory were not nominated by our panel of historians at all.”Some of them are the biggest releases of recent years that are covered on HistoryExtra, from American true crime tale Killers of the Flower Moon and slickly shot WW1 drama 1917 to the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.”

UK sees record wave of business closures amid tough environment

Business News

Britain has recorded its highest number of company closures for two decades, with the final quarter of 2024 seeing 198,046 businesses struck off the official register.
The figure, revealed by research firm Beauhurst, surpasses levels last reached in 2021 and in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
Henry Whorwood, managing director of research and consultancy at Beauhurst, said the increase in business dissolutions is largely a consequence of last year’s budget measures, combined with a difficult financing climate. “We really need to make sure this doesn’t get worse,” he added.
Separately, data from Zempler Bank, a small-business lender, points to an 8 per cent drop in new company formations throughout 2024, taking the total to 807,000. Rich Wagner, chief executive of Zempler, suggested the higher costs and stricter policing of new incorporations could be deterring many would-be entrepreneurs. Last year Companies House was granted new powers and raised incorporation fees from £12 to £50, which coincided with a year-on-year dip of almost 20 per cent in registrations between May and December.
Wagner said it remains to be seen if these changes will mean fewer, but more resilient, businesses in the long run:
“It will be interesting to see whether the changes at Companies House, which may have the effect of weeding out those who aren’t serious about starting a company, result in a higher proportion of businesses surviving, even in challenging economic conditions.”
Despite nearly 900,000 new companies being registered in 2023, a portion of those were shell entities created for future use, and more than 40,000 were subsidiaries of existing companies. Online retail saw the highest number of formations during that period (82,000), followed by property-letting firms (49,000).
Jamie Young Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.

When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

Controversial plans for tourist tax that divided UK seaside town rejected

Travel

A controversial tourist tax that would have been implemented in a popular UK seaside town has been rejected after an investigation.The tax could have cost families staying in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) an extra £34 a week.But the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has now rejected the plans after it investigated the planned tourist tax and identified an administrative error.It discovered that multiple businesses were not allowed to vote on the tax reform after being accidentally left off the list created by BCP Council, the Bournemouth Echo reports.Rosie Radwell, a local hotelier and chair of the Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), voiced her disappointment at the outcome after the tourist tax was appealed last year.She said: “We are deeply disappointed by the outcome, as the ABID initiative was developed to address the challenges facing our tourism industry and secure a prosperous future for Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole as a leading UK destination.”While this is disappointing, we respect the ministry’s findings and will work to address the challenges ahead. We will take time to reflect on the next steps.”The ABID is a collective focused on improving the area by collecting funding for initiatives that help BCP’s residents and businesses.Hotels were expected to start charging the tax in July 2024, but it was postponed just 48 hours after, as “many hotels have no confidence in the ABID Board”, an opposition spokesperson said at the time. The tax would’ve charged guests staying in larger hotels an extra £2.40 per room, per night. This would’ve meant an extra £33.60 for a family of four staying in two rooms for a week.Last year’s vote, which has now been exposed for its administrative error, saw 16 hotels vote in favour of the tourist tax, and 15 vote against it. It supposedly would’ve generated an extra £2.6 million a year for the area.Now there are no plans to introduce the tax in the near future, the ABID’s future is uncertain and the collective is trying to look for a way forward.Radwell added: “We are grateful to all the businesses and stakeholders who supported the ABID and provided valuable insights throughout this process.”Tourism is essential to our local economy, and we remain committed to exploring new ways to protect and grow this important sector. The ABID board will now reflect on the outcome and engage with stakeholders to determine the best way forward.”

Greenland-Set Berlinale Movie ‘The Incredible Snow Woman,’ Starring French Comedian Blanche Gardin, Boarded by Be For Films (EXCLUSIVE)

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Be For Films (“Anais in Love”) has boarded international sales rights to “The Incredible Snow Woman,” a Greenland-set movie headlined by popular French comedian Blanche Gardin, ahead of the its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
Helmed by Sebastien Betbeder (“Inupiluk”), the movie stars Gardin as Coline Morel, a one-of-a-kind explorer and expert on the Great North. The cast is completed by Cesar-winning Philippe Katerine (“Sink or Swim”) and Bastien Bouillon (“The Night of the 12th”), Ole Eliassen (“Journey to Greenland”) and Martin Jensen.

In “The Incredible Snow Woman,” Coline Morel (Gardin) “turns up unannounced in her native village in the Jura mountains to visit her two brothers Basile and Lolo, whom she hasn’t seen in years. While there, she stumbles upon Christophe, her first love, a wholly unexpected encounter; learns that she’s been fired; and is dumped by her boyfriend. Utterly confused and unable to reveal the true reason for her return, Coline spirals out of control and ends up causing absolute chaos in the village during an unhinged night of excess,” reads the synopsis.

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“As the days pass, our adventurer slowly withdraws into complete silence. After an improbable hike with her two brothers, Coline vanishes without a trace – taking her secret with her – into the snow-covered expanses of Greenland, following the teachings of a famous Inuit proverb : If you are afraid, change your way. Ultimately, this journey will turn out to be the most important of her life.”

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Betbeder has directed more than 20 films, including “Inupiluk” which earned a Cesar nomination and won the Jean Vigo prize. The French helmer said the challenge with “The Incredible Snow Woman” was to “successfully combine comedy and drama to tell the story of a character’s quest for an absolute form of serenity.”

“The unconventional paths Coline Morel takes to achieve this, her boldness and courage, guided the writing and directing of this film until the very end,” said the director.

The film was produced by Frederic Dubreuil at Envie de Tempête Productions, and co-produced by Pastorale Productions and Sedna Explore.

“We set out from the Jura mountains, traveling through snowy plains and the Greenland pack ice, bringing together Blanche Gardin, Philippe Katerine, and Bastien Bouillon alongside Inuit bear hunters!” reminisced Dubreuil.

“Was it a sign? In any case, we are deeply honored, after many adventures, to land at this prestigious festival in Berlin to present the world premiere of our ‘Incredible Snow Woman,” he continued.

Pamela Leu, the founder of Be For Films, said the company has “been following Sebastien’s work for quite a long time.” “From the moment I read the script, I believed it would convey to a powerful film in terms of cinematography, editing, and acting. Blanche Gardin is simply fantastic,” said Leu.

“The Incredible Snow Woman” will play in the Panorama section at the Berlin Film Festival and will be distributed in France by KMBO.

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces CHIPS Incentives Awards with Corning, Edwards Vacuum, and Infinera to Increase Domestic Production Capacity of Chips and Equipment Critical for U.S. Technological Leadership

Technology

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces CHIPS Incentives Awards with Corning, Edwards Vacuum, and Infinera to Increase Domestic Production Capacity of Chips and Equipment Critical for U.S. Technological Leadership – Technology Today – EIN Presswire

Jaws 2, Supergirl and Santa Claus director Jeannot Szwarc dies aged 87 after six-decade-long movie career

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

LEGENDARY film director Jeannot Szwarc from Jaws 2 and Somewhere in Time has died at the age of 87.The French-American director’s death was confirmed by his son Sacha Szwarc.5Jeannot Szwarc died on Tuesday at a hospital in FranceCredit: Getty5He worked on a series of films as well as writing and producing televisionCredit: Getty5Szwarc directed Jaws 2, the 1978 sequel to the first Jaws creature featureCredit: Kobal Collection – ShutterstockHis father died on Tuesday of respiratory failure at Central Hospital in Loches, France, he told The Hollywood Reporter.Szwarc had a legendary six-decade career in the film industry taking part in movies as well as producing and writing for television. He worked on films like Santa Claus: The Movie, Bug, and Supergirl as well as popular television shows like Grey’s Anatomy, The Practice, and Smallville.Tributes have poured in for the talented producer, including a touching note from James Bond star Jane Seymour.read more on film legendsOn Facebook, she wrote: “Today, we say goodbye to a true visionary.”Jeannot Szwarc was not just a brilliant director but a kind and generous soul. “He gifted us many timeless stories, including Somewhere in Time, a film that changed my life forever. “May his memory be a blessing, and may his artistry live on in our hearts.”Meanwhile, his son said: “He was a passionate filmmaker and cinephile his whole life.”Traits he has passed down to both his sons.”Legendary Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks writer & director David Lynch dead at 78 as devastated fans pay tributeOn Thursday, Jim Michaels a director on the series Supernatural posted a tribute to Szwarc.He wrote: “Very sad to disclose Jeannot Szwarc who directed 5 episodes of #Supernatural has passed away (here with yours truly and ⁦@JerryWanek⁩). “His other credits are too many to list. The film & television world sends a virtual group hug to his family.”Jeffrey Kramer who starred in the first two Jaws movies called him “one of the finest most talented souls.”BIRTH OF A FILM LEGENDThe director was born in Paris in 1937 but grew up in Argentina before heading stateside to get a master’s degree at Harvard University.Once back in France, he worked on documentaries and television adverts before returning to the US to work on television shows and films.Szwarc started his 60-year career at Universal in Hollywood where he was hired to replace Jaws 2 director Verna Fields while also preparing a TV pilot for Quinn Martin.This would be his second film after directing Bug in 1975.Speaking to Film Talk in 2019 about taking on the shark film, he said: “I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t have a clue.”I told them that the dialogue was terrible, but the action was good.” His work on that successful film which earned $77 million in its initial release making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 1978, started a domino effect for the director.Read more on the Scottish SunHe was then selected to direct Somewhere in Time and from there his career took off.Szwarc is survived by his two sons Sacha and Stefan and his wife Cara.5He directed the 1985 movie Santa Clause: The Movie starring David Huddleston and Dudley MooreCredit: Alamy5Tributes have been made to the director with Jane Seymour praising his talentCredit: Alamy