Josephine Botting

Josephine Botting is curator, 20th century fiction, at the BFI National Archive.

All articles by Josephine Botting

Rarities of British cinema

A Question of Adultery: how an X-rated 1950s drama tackled the subject of artificial insemination

Censors quibbled some of the adult language in the script, but otherwise passed this boundary-pushing drama starring Julie London and Anthony Steel as a married couple seeking out a fertility clinic.

By Josephine Botting

A Question of Adultery: how an X-rated 1950s drama tackled the subject of artificial insemination

Rarities of British cinema

Edward G. Robinson’s rare British film: remembering 1930s fish-out-of-water drama Thunder in the City

By Josephine Botting

Edward G. Robinson’s rare British film: remembering 1930s fish-out-of-water drama Thunder in the City

Rarities of British cinema

Idol of Paris: the lusty 1948 costume drama with a sensational whip duel

By Josephine Botting

Idol of Paris: the lusty 1948 costume drama with a sensational whip duel

Features

Mai Zetterling in the UK: from stardom to freedom

By Josephine Botting

Mai Zetterling in the UK: from stardom to freedom

Rarities of British cinema

Service for Ladies: how Alexander Korda’s glittering comedy brought a dash of continental sophistication to British cinema

By Josephine Botting

Service for Ladies: how Alexander Korda’s glittering comedy brought a dash of continental sophistication to British cinema

News

Inside the Archive #18: New archivists in the making

By Molly Petter, Nicky Williams and others

Inside the Archive #18: New archivists in the making

Rarities of British cinema

The Lost People: how an immersive play became a 1940s British film about wartime displacement

By Josephine Botting

The Lost People: how an immersive play became a 1940s British film about wartime displacement

Rarities of British cinema

The forgotten Technicolor fashion-world drama: It Started in Paradise

By Josephine Botting

The forgotten Technicolor fashion-world drama: It Started in Paradise

News

Inside the Archive #9: 3D printing and family donations

By Josephine Botting and Alex Prideaux

Inside the Archive #9: 3D printing and family donations

Rarities of British cinema

Limelight: the forgotten British film that goes backstage in 1930s London theatre world

By Josephine Botting

Limelight: the forgotten British film that goes backstage in 1930s London theatre world

Features

Britain’s first blonde bombshell: celebrating the centenary of Christine Norden

By Josephine Botting

Britain’s first blonde bombshell: celebrating the centenary of Christine Norden

Lists

The best British television of 2024

By Josephine Botting, Ros Cranston and others

The best British television of 2024

Features

Blue Gene: Tierney in the UK

By Josephine Botting

Blue Gene: Tierney in the UK

Obituaries

Glynis Johns obituary: veteran British star of Mary Poppins and Miranda

By Josephine Botting

Glynis Johns obituary: veteran British star of Mary Poppins and Miranda

Lists

The best British TV of 2023, as picked by BFI curators

By Xavier Alexandre Pillai, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2023, as picked by BFI curators

Features

360 classic feature films: how an archive project sought to show the canon, all year round

By Josephine Botting

360 classic feature films: how an archive project sought to show the canon, all year round

Obituaries

David Meeker obituary: film archivist who played a pivotal role in growing the BFI National Archive

By Josephine Botting

David Meeker obituary: film archivist who played a pivotal role in growing the BFI National Archive

Features

How Muriel Box broke down doors for female directors in Britain

By Josephine Botting

How Muriel Box broke down doors for female directors in Britain

Features

Papers, plans, diagrams: the making of The Draughtsman’s Contract

By Josephine Botting

Papers, plans, diagrams: the making of The Draughtsman’s Contract

Lists

40 years of Channel 4: 10 C4 gems currently streaming

By Josephine Botting, William Fowler and others

40 years of Channel 4: 10 C4 gems currently streaming

Lists

100 BBC TV gamechangers

By Lisa Kerrigan, Nadia Attia and others

100 BBC TV gamechangers

Best of 2021

The best new British TV of 2021, picked by BFI curators

By Lisa Kerrigan, James Bell and others

The best new British TV of 2021, picked by BFI curators

Features

“Servant? I’m nobody’s servant”: Dirk Bogarde in Pinterland

By Josephine Botting

“Servant? I’m nobody’s servant”: Dirk Bogarde in Pinterland

Features

Muriel Box: the government files on the work of Britain’s pioneering female director

By Josephine Botting and Sarah Castagnetti

Muriel Box: the government files on the work of Britain’s pioneering female director

Obituaries

Norman J. Warren: the gentleman of English exploitation

By Josephine Botting

Norman J. Warren: the gentleman of English exploitation

10 great

10 great Christmas films

By Josephine Botting, Sarah Currant and others

10 great Christmas films

Lists

The best British TV of 2020, picked by BFI curators

By Robin Baker, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2020, picked by BFI curators

Features

Remembering British film star Anne Crawford on the centenary of her birth

By Josephine Botting

Remembering British film star Anne Crawford on the centenary of her birth

Obituaries

Diana Rigg obituary: an independent, indefatigable star

By Josephine Botting

Diana Rigg obituary: an independent, indefatigable star

BFI Recommends

BFI Recommends: Red Road

By Josephine Botting

BFI Recommends: Red Road