Ancient TV Movies

[MicrosoftBob]

Surely the most ancient TV movie has to be "As you like it" in 1936

[OwlHoot]

and then there's

x, y (2004)

and

X / Y (2014)

and

x + y (2014)

[zeitghost]

Just found reference to this:

X = o (TV Movie 1939) - IMDb

1939.

That's so far back in the mists of time.

It can't be the very first, surely?

Or this:

Tell Me If It Hurts (1934) - IMDb

Shown in 1938.

Then again, define "film", the above was a short, this talks about feature films:

405 Alive - FAQ - Programming - The oldest surviving programmes and pre-war programming

With little doubt the first feature film of any kind shown on high-definition BBC television was The Student Of Prague (Ger 1935) with Anton Walbrook and Dorothea Wieck, transmitted by the BBC on 14th August 1938.

It wasn't the only feature shown either. Also shown in 1938 (According to Asa Briggs' history of broadcasting) was Parnell (1937) - surprising as this was an MGM 'A' Feature, but it really bombed at the box office and perhaps MGM were keen to get any money back on it!

Also shown pre-war (and available on video recently following its restoration) was The Edge Of The World (GB 1937) shown on 22nd March 1939 (9.25 to 10.35pm) and also reshown on 1st April 1939.