Omnibus was an arts-based BBC television documentary series, broadcast mainly on BBC1 in the United Kingdom. The programme was the successor to the long-running arts-based series 'Monitor'. It ran from 1967 until 2003, usually being transmitted on Sunday evenings. During its 35-year history, the programme won 12 Bafta awards. Among the series' best remembered documentaries are Cracked Actor, a profile of David Bowie, and Rene Magritte, a graduate film by David Wheatley, 'Madonna: Behind the American dream', a film produced by Nadia Hagger, and a profile of the British film director Ridley Scott. For a season in 1982, the series was in a magazine format presented by Barry Norman. The series was replaced by 'Imagine' hosted by Alan Yentob.
Omnibus (Season 32)
The Gentle Art of Making Enemies (Episode 1)
Air date: 1994-10-11
Doris Lessing: A Part of Me (Episode 2)
Air date: 1994-10-18
Quentin Tarantino: Hollywood's Boy Wonder (Episode 3)
Air date: 1994-10-25
About Face (Episode 4)
Air date: 1994-11-01
The Trials of Dominick Dunne (Episode 5)
Air date: 1994-11-08
Pink Floyd: The Story (Episode 6)
Air date: 1994-11-15
Overview: A look back at the band's 30 year career.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: Question for a Question (Episode 7)
Air date: 1994-11-22
Stevenson's Travels 1 (Episode 8)
Air date: 1994-11-29
Overview: First part of a two part doc on Robert Louis Stevenson, tracing his life from his childhood in Edinburgh through teenage travels with his father to his time as a wild student in Edinburgh.
Stevenson's Travels 2 (Episode 9)
Air date: 1994-12-06
Overview: Part 2 covers last 14 years of his life and work, including his return to America, touring the South Pacific, and settling in Samoa. Also a newly discovered 1940's interview with step-daughter Belle Strong.
The Greatest Living Painter: De Kooning (Episode 10)
Air date: 1995-02-21
Overview: Documentary about abstract expressionist artist Willem de Kooning. This explores his late work and the allegations that they have been kept off the market to inflate their value.
Carnival: The Biggest Party in the World (Episode 11)
Air date: 1995-02-28
Joshua Bell (Episode 12)
Air date: 1995-03-07
Ready When You Are, Mr Patel (Episode 13)
Air date: 1995-03-14
Darker Than Blue: Curtis Mayfield (Episode 14)
Air date: 1995-03-21
Overview: Soul legend Curtis Mayfield talks to writer Caryl Phillips about his life, career and contribution to the Civil Rights Movement in America. Program includes archive footage and contributions from family, friends and colleagues.
Jean Renoir: From La Belle Epoque to WW1 (Episode 15)
Air date: 1995-04-04
Jean Renoir: Hollywood & Beyond (Episode 16)
Air date: 1995-04-11
Perry & Croft: The Sitcoms (Episode 17)
Air date: 1995-04-18
Overview: A look at the work of television comedy writers David Croft and Jimmy Perry, featuring interviews with the men themselves, the many stars of the shows they created and other famous admirers.
Divas (Episode 18)
Air date: 1995-04-25
Ginger Rogers: A Tribute (Episode 19)
Air date: 1995-04-30
Overview: Hollywood star Ginger Rogers, who died at her California home on 25 April, began her career as a teenage vaudeville dancer and became the world's highest paid film actress. Above all, she is remembered for her dancing partnership with Fred Astaire. This film, screened as an Omnibus special on 30 April, shortly after her death, looks at how the legendary musicals were made, with anecdotes by Ginger herself, and clips from Astaire's last television interview.
Dave Stewart: Greetings from the Gutter (Episode 20)
Air date: 1995-05-02
