Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton roll end credits on 28-year film review partnership; At The Movies will not return to ABC in 2015

Updated

Iconic film reviewers Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton are rolling end credits on their 28-year partnership and will record the final episode of At The Movies in December.

The pair came to the ABC in 2004 from SBS, where they had hosted The Movie Show for 18 years, and have grown to be arguably Australia's most trusted reviewers.

Stratton said he felt it was now "time to go" and thanked fans as well as the "wonderful teams" at the ABC and SBS.

"If I want to be really brutal, I turned 75 last week and I think if I can't do a little bit less work now I'm in my dotage, then it's a bit tough," he told the ABC's PM program.

"I think we've had a very long run. I think we've been very fortunate that people still are enjoying what we do, or seem to be enjoying what we do.

"But common sense tells you that you can't go on forever and I think it's good to quit while you're ahead."

He paid tribute to Pomeranz, saying her "enthusiasm, commitment and passion has been amazing (and only occasionally irritating) and has been a joy for over a quarter of a century".

Pomeranz, who is also known for her trademark earrings, said she was sad their "great innings" on the small screen was ending.

"My gratitude goes to David who gave me credibility just by being prepared to sit by me and discuss film when I am just a film enthusiast, not the great walking encyclopaedia of film that he is," she said in a statement.

"He's a grand person, a most generous, decent man, even if a little stubborn at times.

"We've seen Australian films continue to mature over nearly three decades on air and I look forward to a continued involvement in this wonderful industry of ours which explores and reflects our culture and our peccadilloes."

Pomeranz and Stratton, famous for their banter, will record the final episode of At The Movies on December 9, and the show will not return in 2015.

Pomeranz told PM she was "devastated" the show would not return with different hosts.

"You know, every year the ABC says to you around September, October, 'what about next year?', and we said, 'well, there isn't going to be a next year'. This is it for us," she said.

"I'm a bit devastated, I must say. I wanted something like that to watch in my retirement, but I'm sure there's a space for a show like this somewhere on the television spectrum."

Stratton added: "The problem is that Margaret and I have become so identified with this concept, this format, and I think it would be very difficult for anyone, however talented they were, to sit in these seats and carry on the way we do."

He said there was still room for reviewers with experience in the digital age.

"They're not in opposition to each other. I think it's all part of something that was unthinkable when I was young, that there is so much interest and so much communication about film," Stratton said.

Geoffery Rush hails 'sparkling bickering'

Many have paid tribute to the pair and their work in the film industry.

In a statement, actor Geoffrey Rush said the pair's "sparkling bickering was always entertaining and informative".

"Their yin and yang opinions presented neat snapshots of the uncompromised fearless array they selected from the contemporary and heritage cinema catalogue," he said.

ABC managing director Mark Scott gave the duo "five stars" and said the fact that audiences were on a first-name basis with the reviewers "demonstrates how much they are loved by the Australian public".

"Their passionate and enthusiastic championing of the cinema art form, their articulate and always entertaining reviews and their personal rapport on stage (not to mention those earrings) have defined them," Mr Scott said in a statement.

"Their contribution to the ABC and to the wider arts community has been enormous.

"We are so proud to have worked with them for over a decade at the ABC and we will miss them. I give them five stars."

Accidental pairing more than two decades ago

The pair's working relationship began when Pomeranz was assigned to produce Stratton's introductions to films screening on SBS.

Reflecting on the 25-year milestone in 2011, Pomeranz recalled that she wanted the straitlaced Stratton to "take his tie off and grow a pony tail".

After their successful pitch to SBS to create a weekly film review program, and a string of disappointing screen tests with female presenters, Stratton managed to convince Pomeranz to move in front of the camera - a prospect she found terrifying.

"We created the first sets out of polystyrene because there wasn't any money. We were able to make mistakes because there weren't that many people watching and improved our act over the years," she said.

At a media preview in 2011 of an exhibit celebrating their 25 years together, Pomeranz revealed how she managed to score an interview at Cannes with legendary director Robert Altman by following him to the buffet at an industry party.

Stratton trumped her by describing how Altman once invited him to a private preview screening of his film The Long Goodbye In Los Angeles – joining Groucho Marx in the select audience.

"I hate it when he tells those stories," Pomeranz retorted.

Asked if they would continue their friendship into retirement, Pomeranz said: "If he doesn't ask me out for dinner to talk about the films we've seen in the last month, I'm going to be very upset."

Stratton replied: "Oh really? OK, well, I'll take that under advisement. No, of course we'll stay in touch and I'm sure we'll exchange views over the phone and catch up occasionally."

Topics: television, arts-and-entertainment, film-movies, abc, australia

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