Slumdog makes top Brit flicks list

Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire has beaten the likes of Billy Elliot and The Italian Job to complete a list of the 50 greatest British movies of all time.

Broadcaster Barry Norman compiled his own view of the 49 finest British big-screen productions in the Radio Times last month, and asked film fans to submit one final submission.

The film journalist selected Danny Boyle's 2008 movie Slumdog Millionaire, because it is "unusual, gripping and multilayered", from some 500 film suggestions and 3,000 responses to complete the top 50.

Films which were nominated but did not make the final cut include Brighton Rock, The Wicker Man and Withnail And I.

Norman said of the list: "The response my list evoked has been both heartening and, frankly, astonishing... Who would have thought there could be another 500 films worthy - at least in some people's estimation - of a place in the best of British?

"All of which simply bears out what I have always said - no matter who you are, drawing up a list of the best of this or that is pretty much a subjective business."