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National Theatre's Nicholas Hytner joins in condemnation of Tories' stance on the arts at conference on regional theatre

Two leading lights of Britain's cultural life – Danny Boyle, who directed the Olympics opening ceremony, and Nicholas Hytner, chief of the National Theatre – have launched an uncompromising attack on the government's stance on culture.

Speaking after an event that brought together the heads of 23 of England's leading regional theatres, Boyle told the Guardian that the lack of attention to the arts shown by the culture secretary, Maria Miller, was "outrageous".

"Not one of those [artistic directors, including Hytner] has been even approached by this woman," he said. "That is outrageous. This is cultural life of our country. She is the minister of fucking culture. I mean, come on."

He added: "It's a disgrace: it is these artistic directors that are spending the taxpayers' money. And she's not met them. They are the people spending the money...

Actor who became a prolific TV director

Peter Hammond, who has died aged 87, moved from acting to become a prolific TV director, contributing to series including The Avengers, Granada's Sherlock Holmes series and Inspector Morse. It was with The Avengers in 1961 that he first made his mark. Hammond and his colleague Don Leaver directed 19 of the opening 26 episodes of the series between them and were largely responsible for creating its distinctive look in its pre-film days.

Hammond established himself as a quick worker who still managed to bring flair to his episodes. He developed a trademark style in which the confines of the small studio spaces would be enlivened by "foreground interest" and scenes would be distorted or heightened by being shot through glass or caught in the reflection of a mirror. This distinctive visual effect would reappear in productions as diverse as the studio-bound Three Musketeers (1966) and Dark Angel,...

Pure Movies looks at a range of classics released recently on DVD including The Moonraker, Cry The Beloved Country, The Lost Continent, Spring and Port Wine, The Proud Valley, Night Boat To Dublin and Nine Men. Nine Men The North Africa campaign in WWII: when their convoy is destroyed by enemy aircraft, nine British soldiers are forced to make a stand in an abandoned desert hovel against almost overwhelming Italian forces. The first feature from celebrated documentary maker Harry Watt after his arrival at Ealing, Nine Men helped set the pattern for Ealing films in the later part of the war, with an emphasis on ordinary heroism from the ranks rather than the officer class. Gritty, violent and exciting, it is highly lauded as a portrayal of character under duress.