ENO’s warm-hearted production of Jake Heggie’s operatic take on the classic Frank Capra film is full of poignant ironies

Jake Heggie’s take on the heartwarming Christmas classic has a glittering, melodic score with a gift of a role for soprano Danielle de Niese as goofy guardian angel Clara

Festive movies have never been more popular – and there’s nothing like a classic. Here are some to enjoy now, from Scrooged to Paddington to You’ve Got Mail

It’s now difficult to watch movies without worrying about the two-metre rule – here are the retrospective plot changes required to mean old movies pass muster

She starred with Humphrey Bogart and James Stewart. But Gloria Grahame refused to bow to Hollywood sexism and was driven out. Frank Cottrell-Boyce on a new film about her finding love and a second life with a chaotic Liverpool family

Supposedly ‘inspirational’ films tend to leave our critic reaching for the sick bag. He finds defeated boxers, desperate weathermen and boozy, cantankerous widowers far more uplifting

This stage version of the classic film, now touring 45 rural communities, has a raggedy, unforced charm

New Year? New perspective. It’s open season time: name songs about writing songs and making playlists, pick your favourite all-time RR themes, and alongside the hits, highlight songs and topics we missed