Egg-cellent Easter films

Unlike Christmas, there isn't usually the plethora of festive films showing on the telly over Easter to keep you and your family from each others throats. So, how about getting hold of one of these cinematic classics, all with an Easter 'theme', natch..

Easter Parade (1948)
Just like It’s a Wonderful Life at Christmas, no cosy snuggly chocolate-scoffing Easter would be complete without at least one watch of Easter Parade. Starring cinematic legends Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, it’s a feelgood musical, with lashings of romance, spectacular dancing and a host of classic Irving Berlin tunes. Perfect!

Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)/The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Putting the half-chewed chocolate eggs to the side for a moment, it’s time to consider the true nature of Easter. And depending on which side of the religious fence you sit, either one of these films is a topical pick. Monty Python skewer the familiar tale of Jesus with their renowned, irreverent tale of a bloke called Brian, who gets mistaken for the Messiah. However, if you like your biblical tales a little more, er, reverent, then Mel Gibson’s highly controversial Passion of the Christ aims to be an accurate, if harsh, depiction of the last hours of Jesus’ life.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
Well, it's got an (Easter) bunny in, hasn't it? Audiences in 1988 were stunned by the special effects used in this groundbreaking film, which merged animated and real-life figures together to amazing effect. Nowadays, we're used to such CGI trickery, but the joy of RR isn't in its effects, but the dazzling script, top action, dark, adult humour and comic finesse that’s kept it such a classic.

Harvey (1950)
This offbeat, but utterly charming family film stars James Stewart as alcoholic Elwood P Dowd, who has a six-foot-tall rabbit as a friend — that only he can see. Widely acclaimed as one of the best movies ever written, it's an enchanting, quirky parable of how life perhaps should be. It also contains one of the most brilliant lines of dialogue ever: "I wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to say I won out over it."