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Genius on screen

Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore how genius is portrayed on-screen - and celebrated off-screen.

As new film Tar hits UK cinemas, starring Cate Blanchett as a brilliant, highly-celebrated and highly-problematic conductor, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore how genius is portrayed on-screen - and celebrated off-screen.

Mark speaks to director Nick Moran about his 2008 film Telstar: The Joe Meek Story, which focused on another problematic musical genius, and to journalist Jon Ronson about 2014's Frank, co-written by Jon and inspired by his time working with comic musician Chris Sievey, aka Frank Sidebottom.

And Ellen looks at EGOTs - the extraordinary performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony - speaking to film star, TV host and EGOT Whoopi Goldberg.

Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar shares his favourite genius on screen in Viewing Notes.

Producer: Jane Long
A Prospect Street production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Fri 13 Jan 2023 19:15

Broadcast

  • Fri 13 Jan 2023 19:15

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