The Independent Recommends

Film Ryan Gilbey

YOU CAN'T open a news-paper lately without reading about the genius of the late Alan Clarke - which is a good thing, as it happens. Until the Edinburgh Film Festival announced its comprehensive retrospective of his work, he had received far too little attention. Today at the festival, you can catch Clarke's 1979 film Scum. Originally made as a 1977 television drama, Clarke's work was banned by the BBC. Remaking it for cinema was the only way he could get it seen, and to this end he recruited many of the same actors, including the fearsome Ray Winstone who plays the new borstal boy who doesn't waste any time learning how to stay on top.

Edinburgh Filmhouse (0131-623 8030) 12noon

Do try and make time for the dazzling new print of The Adventures of Robin Hood (above), re-released to mark the 60th anniversary of the film's original release. Errol Flynn is poised and dashing, Basil Rathbone is eminently hissable, and the whole picture has a dizzy flair that is largely absent from most modern adventure movies.

On selected release

Theatre Dominic Cavendish

IT MAY SOUND like it's in the worst possible taste, but the National Theatre of Brent's Love Upon the Throne (below) - a deliberately garbled account of the relationship between Charles and Diana - succeeds in being both highly entertaining and oddly moving. Patrick Barlow and John Rann have got the attention-seeking tetchiness of a married couple down to a fine art.

Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh

(0131-226 2428) 4.30pm

Opening tonight is the Abbey Theatre's barnstorming production of Patrick Kavanagh's Tarry Flynn - the comic tale of a young farmer's big dreams of art and love. There will be only 13 performances, so catch it while you can.

Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre, London SE1 (0171-452 3000) 7pm

Pop Tim Perry

BEST KNOWN as the leader of the 1980s band, Aztec Camera, Roddy Frame (right) is back with a new batch of songs which will be released as The North Star album in a few weeks' time. This outing, as part of the Flux Festival, promises a preview of these emotive and beautiful new tracks including the single "Reason for Living". More stripped-down and sparse than his work with Aztec Camera, Frame who has just entered his Thirties (he wrote his first hit, "Oblivious", at 16), should have little problem in maintaining his reputation as a songwriter this evening.

Jaffa Cake, Edinburgh (0131-226 5138) 8pm

The V2 label's eclectic dance-rock hopefuls Tin Star bring their

successful late-night residency to a close tonight. Expect a party atmosphere as this trio spin a groove which travels from melancholic guitar sounds through sensuous dub to blazing hip hop.

The Aquarium, London EC1 (0171-251 6136) 10pm

Comedy James Rampton

NOW THAT we are all apparently slavish adherents of New Labour's "Third Way", Al Murray's Pub Landlord (below) may well be the only right-wing person left in Britain. Ranting away about putting the "great" back into Britain, the Landlord is an inspired and all-too-easily recognisable creation. He represents the comically small-minded attitudes that stalk the saloon- bars of the nation. In his new show, the thrice Perrier-nominated performer expounds more of his Little Englander mentality.

Pleasance, Edinburgh (0131-556 6550) 9.25pm

Accountancy must be one of the least comical professions imaginable. So it is quite surprising to learn that Fred MacAulay was an accountant for 12 years before the allure of stand-up became overpowering. A relaxed and engaging performer, he doesn't appear to regret the career change.

Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh (0131-226 2151) 7pm