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A rare glimpse into the mind of the notorious cagey master filmmaker, this documentary was shot on the set of Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie. With remarkable candor Hitchcock discusses his career and his passion for movies. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- 1994
- AddAmerican Experience: America and the Holocaustto QueueAddAmerican Experience: America and the Holocaustto top of Queue
This edition of The American Experience chronicles a dark chapter of American history, the refusal of this nation to come to the aid of German Jews in the months and years before and during World War II. Hal Linden narrates this tale which uses the story of one German immigrant, Kurt Klein, to illustrate the problems of an entire ethnic group. The obstacles Klein faced in reaching America, and the further obstructions he struggled against to free his parents are well chronicled. Klein's struggle is presented as a race against time as Hitler's policies toward the Jewish people become clear. This documentary is an unflinching look at a black episode of world history and a sobering reminder that responsibility for the events of the Holocaust can not be laid solely at German feet. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1998
- AddAmerican Experience: Return With Honorto QueueAddAmerican Experience: Return With Honorto top of Queue
Screening in the American Spectrum section of the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, this documentary by Academy award-winning filmmakers Freida Lee Mock (Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision) and Terry Sanders (A Time Out of War) explores the 462 American prisoners of war who were held in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War. Told entirely through interviews with survivors and previously unseen Vietnamese footage that documents their lives during the imprisonment, the filmmakers focus on the strength of overcoming adversity rather than the horrors of the war and the prisons. The film also concerns itself with the return of the 462 pilots held for over eight-and-one-half years, and how Americans celebrated their homecoming. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide
This documentary examines the legends and facts surrounding the mystery of the mythic place called Camelot and its wise leader, King Arthur. Whether fact or fiction, Camelot is revered as a peaceful and benign place where ideals of chivalry and service prevailed. Narrated by actress Kathleen Turner, the film searches for answers regarding the identity of Arthur and the location of Camelot. Archeologists weigh in on those subjects and more, while they continue to search for the actual round table used by Arthur's knights. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leonard Nimoy
- 1999
- AddArchives of War: Volume 2 - World War II - The Leadersto QueueAddArchives of War: Volume 2 - World War II - The Leadersto top of Queue
This film is the second part in a six-part series on the history of American involvement in wars of the 20th century. Using only vintage newsreels for a touchstone, this installment focuses attention on the leaders of the various nations involved in World War II. There are clips of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Emperor Hirohito, the representatives of the Axis powers. The viewer also sees clips from speeches by Allied leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Presented in its entirety, is Roosevelt's speech to the joint sessions of Congress regarding the attack on Pearl Harbor, "a date which will live in infamy." ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1999
- AddArchives of War: Volume 3 - World War II - The Battlesto QueueAddArchives of War: Volume 3 - World War II - The Battlesto top of Queue
This video is part three of a six-volume set of films that chronicles the story of the great wars of the 20th century, and the role that the United States played in them. This volume features some of the definitive battles of World War II, and the turning points they represented in the fight between the Axis and Allied Powers. The viewer goes, via live vintage newsreels, to the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters of the war. One can witness the Battle of Britain, the success of the Allied forces at the Battle of Stalingrad, the campaign against Rommel's Afrika Corps, D-Day at Normandy, U.S. naval victories in the Pacific, and U.S. and Chinese forces training in India. Of interest also are the shots of women factory workers building bombs on the home front, and U.S. Army nurses in training, then wading ashore for service in the Pacific islands. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
B-17: Flying Fortress is an historical documentary that chronicles the development of aerial weaponry. The 55-minute program takes an in-depth look at the following topics: the history of aerial warfare, the development of the atomic bomb, and strategic bombing formations, and the utilization of the B-17 bomber. Archival footage is featured. ~ Kathleen Wildasin, All Movie Guide
The name Babe Ruth is synonymous with the game of baseball. This biography looks at the man and player who achieved immortality with a bat. The Babe's home-run record stood for decades, and he is still the most revered hero of the great American pastime. Archival clips, photographs, interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and Babe Ruth himself show why he became an American legend. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1999
- AddBiography: Irving Berlin - An American Songto QueueAddBiography: Irving Berlin - An American Songto top of Queue
Part of the Biography television series from A&E, this documentary reviews the career and personal life of musician Irving Berlin. With only an elementary knowledge of how to read music -- he never really learned how to read harmony and played only in the key of F sharp -- Berlin composed by picking out, by ear, notes that a pianist-arranger then wrote down.
The documentary tells how Berlin wrote his first complete Broadway score for Watch Your Step, which debuted in December 1914. Over the next four decades, Berlin wrote successful stage and film musicals that included many American standards, such as "Puttin' on the Ritz," "Say It Isn't So," and the now classic song "Easter Parade." In 1938, on the eve of World War II, Berlin's patriotic song "God Bless America," which he had written during his Army service but never released, was unofficially adopted as a second national anthem.
The video goes on to tell how Berlin wrote the scores for a number of feature films, beginning in 1935 with Top Hat. The 1942 film Holiday Inn, starring Bing Crosby, featured "White Christmas," a song that Berlin had written several years earlier while staying in sunny Hollywood working on the 1938 film version of Alexander's Ragtime Band. His most successful stage musical was Annie Get Your Gun, starring Ethel Merman. The show opened on Broadway in May 1946 and ran for over 1,000 performances.
~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
The documentary tells how Berlin wrote his first complete Broadway score for Watch Your Step, which debuted in December 1914. Over the next four decades, Berlin wrote successful stage and film musicals that included many American standards, such as "Puttin' on the Ritz," "Say It Isn't So," and the now classic song "Easter Parade." In 1938, on the eve of World War II, Berlin's patriotic song "God Bless America," which he had written during his Army service but never released, was unofficially adopted as a second national anthem.
The video goes on to tell how Berlin wrote the scores for a number of feature films, beginning in 1935 with Top Hat. The 1942 film Holiday Inn, starring Bing Crosby, featured "White Christmas," a song that Berlin had written several years earlier while staying in sunny Hollywood working on the 1938 film version of Alexander's Ragtime Band. His most successful stage musical was Annie Get Your Gun, starring Ethel Merman. The show opened on Broadway in May 1946 and ran for over 1,000 performances.
~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
This edition of Biography, the long running documentary series from A&E, explores the life of King David. The second king of Israel, and the first of the dynasty that governed Judah and Israel until the exile, David was the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem. According to Jewish tradition he is the author of several of the Psalms, and according to some Christian traditions he is the ancestor of Jesus. He was a warrior under King Saul, but his successes against the Philistines (including the killing of Goliath) caused the king's jealousy, and he was forced to become an outlaw. After Saul's death, he became king over Judah in Hebron, and later was chosen king of all Israel. He made Jerusalem the political and religious centre of his kingdom, building a palace for himself on its highest hill, Zion, and placing the Ark of the Covenant there under a tent. He united the many tribes of Israel, and extended his territory from Egypt to the Euphrates. The later part of his reign was troubled by the revolts of his sons Absalom and Adonijah. He was succeeded by Solomon, his son by Bathsheba. ~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
Part of the Biography television series from A&E, this documentary reviews the career and personal life of actor and singer Roy Rogers. Rogers starred in more than eighty westerns, was well-deserving of his nickname, "King of the Cowboys." He signed with Republic Pictures in 1938 and, with Gene Autry, became one of the country's two most famous cowboys. His films include Under Western Stars, King of the Cowboys, and The Yellow Rose of Texas. His wife, Dale Evans, is also a well-known actress who appeared with him in many of his film roles. To the dismay of his many fans, Rogers never won an Oscar in his forty year film career.
~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
- 2000
- AddChurchill: A Biography of His Life and Speechesto QueueAddChurchill: A Biography of His Life and Speechesto top of Queue
The life and wisdom of one of history's greatest leaders is explored in this release that seeks to reveal the true Winston Churchill by using the late British Prime Minister's own words. In a time of raging global war, Churchill's deep courage and affecting speeches reached across borders to give hope where all hope was lost. Now, for both the nostalgic enjoyment of previous generations, and the inspiration of future generations, Churchill's own words lay the groundwork for this revealing documentary. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
One of the most original and dominant figures in American literature during the 19th Century was Edgar Allen Poe. His stories and poems have influenced generations of American writers and scared millions of readers with his timeless Gothic tales. This PBS home video examines the truths and debunks the myths about this famous writer who was haunted by his own personal demons; it also reveals the sources of his imaginative stories. In his life Poe was a writer, editor, critic, and poet with a tragic life that was filled with melancholy, depression, and alcoholism, only to end mysteriously just prior to his fortieth birthday. ~ Forrest Spencer, All Movie Guide
This video, part of the Famous Authors series, examines the life and work of Jazz Age author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Born into an affluent family, Fitzgerald later used this wealthy background as the basis for some of his most famous fictional stories, including the classics The Great Gatsby, The Last Tycoon, and Tender Is the Night. His novels are filled with characters who lived hard, fast lives in high society. Toward the middle of his life, after his wife Zelda went insane, Fitzgerald had a nervous breakdown that contributed to his death at age 44. This video captures the world of this troubled writer, featuring portraits, photographs, and archival material along with commentary from scholars about Fitzgerald and his work. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide
This video, part of the Famous Authors series, examines the life and work of the multi-faceted and controversial writer John Steinbeck. His early background in a farming area of California enriched Steinbeck's writings with themes of poverty, depression, and nature, while also bringing realism to the words he wrote. Best known for his many novels, including Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck was also a famed playwright and screenwriter. Though his works caused him to become a politically disruptive figure, even labeled a Communist, Steinbeck's writing continuously impressed critics, earning him both a Pulitzer Prize and a Nobel Prize for Literature. This video captures the world of Steinbeck, featuring portraits, photographs, and archival material along with commentary from professors and scholars. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide
Journey through the life of Mark Twain as this Famous Authors Series documentary follows the former Samuel Langhorne Clemens from his boyhood along the Mississippi River to his place as one of the pre-eminent voices in American fiction. After his school career ended early, Twain found work in the newspaper and printing trade in his hometown of Hannibal, MO. He lived in St. Louis and New York before returning home to work on a steamboat, which inspired many of his literary explorations. Continuously publishing humorous articles, he finally achieved literary acclaim with the publication of the Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, which gained him admiration as a comic storyteller. Later, he revolutionized American writing with his novels The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, both of which are set along the southern Mississippi River and utilize the dialect of the area, something unheard of for mid-1800s fiction. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide
This video, part of the Famous Authors series, examines the life and work of famous American poet Walt Whitman. Best known for his collection of poetry Leaves of Grass, Whitman dared to experiment early in his career with the boundaries of poetry. He came up with his own rhythmic pattern, giving his poems a musical, lyrical tone. He was also unconventional with the themes of some of his poems, tackling such topics as death, civil rights, philosophy, and spiritualism. In his later life, he suffered a stroke, but continued to lecture, teach, and write. This video captures the world of this acclaimed poet, featuring portraits, photographs, and archival material along with commentary from scholars about Whitman and his work. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide
- 2000
- AddGreat Kings of England: King Charles Ito QueueAddGreat Kings of England: King Charles Ito top of Queue
This video tells the story of King Charles I, who became the only English king ever to be deposed and executed. He was a patron of the arts and was devoted to his people; however, he was a poor administrator and strategist. He was involved in two civil wars, both of which were won by his opponents. In 1648, he was tried for treason by a court comprised of his enemies. An adherent to the theory of the divine right of kings, he refused to enter a plea at his trial by the Parliamentarians and was convicted. He was beheaded on January 30, 1649. The film features historic reenactments, period imagery and art, and commentary by historians. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1999
- AddHog Heaven: The Story of the Harley Davidson Empireto QueueAddHog Heaven: The Story of the Harley Davidson Empireto top of Queue
Hog Heaven: The Story of the Harley Davidson Empire explores the unsteady rise of this quintessentially American company. Tracing the roots of this multimillion-dollar manufacturer from the garage shop of two motorcycle purists, this video presents a true Horatio Alger tale. Featuring interviews with celebrity enthusiasts including Peter Fonda and Jay Leno, motorcycle historians, and plenty of footage of hogs past and present, the video provides a comprehensive look at this important slice of Americana. ~ Sean Hurley, All Movie Guide
This edition of Biography, the long running documentary series from A&E, explores the life of Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner who launched an entertainment empire with the magazine which he created in 1953 and which grew to become the world's best selling men's magazine.
The documentary chronicals how Playboy was pivotal to America's mid-twentieth century "sexual revolution," as it helped to bring sexual topics and imagery into the cultural mainstream. Playboy's fun-loving, sexually free lifestyle features a mix of "centerfolds" of naked women, celebrity interviews, short fiction, book and movie reviews, and essays. The video also explained how Hefner has lived the lifestyle his magazine espouses, partying with celebrities in his Los Angeles mansion, surrounding himself with curvaceous women, and always wearing his trademark silk pajamas and smoking jacket. In the 1970s Hefner opened Playboy Clubs, casinos, and resorts worldwide, but he eventually phased out this part of his company. Today, Playboy Enterprises encompasses global television and home video businesses, motion picture production, a host of international licensed products, CD-ROMs and other new media products, as well as a Web site. The documentary ends with an update since the mid-1980s. At that point Hefner's daughter Christie began to serve as chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises.
~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
The documentary chronicals how Playboy was pivotal to America's mid-twentieth century "sexual revolution," as it helped to bring sexual topics and imagery into the cultural mainstream. Playboy's fun-loving, sexually free lifestyle features a mix of "centerfolds" of naked women, celebrity interviews, short fiction, book and movie reviews, and essays. The video also explained how Hefner has lived the lifestyle his magazine espouses, partying with celebrities in his Los Angeles mansion, surrounding himself with curvaceous women, and always wearing his trademark silk pajamas and smoking jacket. In the 1970s Hefner opened Playboy Clubs, casinos, and resorts worldwide, but he eventually phased out this part of his company. Today, Playboy Enterprises encompasses global television and home video businesses, motion picture production, a host of international licensed products, CD-ROMs and other new media products, as well as a Web site. The documentary ends with an update since the mid-1980s. At that point Hefner's daughter Christie began to serve as chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises.
~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide
In June of 1963, President John F. Kennedy visited his ancestral homeland of Ireland. In this 42-minute documentary, follow his journey to the Emerald Isle and meet the people with whom he came into contact. Through rare footage, witness how America's 35th president, and first Roman Catholic elected to the highest public office, made his ancestors proud. Only five months following this sentimental and historical trip, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX. ~ Brooke Hodess, All Movie Guide
Renowned documentary-maker Ken Burns uses archival film clips, interviews, newspaper stories, and journals to bring the story of the U.S. Congress and the characters involved in its fascinating and sometimes dubious history to life. The film explores the popularly-elected Legislative branch of our government and observes its modes of functioning, along with its past and present strengths and weaknesses. Famous historical figures who served as Congressmen (Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and others) are featured, as are contemporary members and events. Burns uses his skills to draw our sometimes admiring, sometimes skeptical attitudes toward this group of power-entrusted individuals into full perspective, pointing out the valuable role the Congress is designed to serve - potentially providing balance in extreme situations or weighted political atmospheres.
~ Alice Duncan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David McCullough
- 2000
- AddLost Treasures of the Ancient World 3: China - A Journey Back in Timeto QueueAddLost Treasures of the Ancient World 3: China - A Journey Back in Timeto top of Queue
This video is part of the Lost Treasures of the Ancient World series that looks at some of the ancient civilizations of the world. China is country with a history that spans thousands of years. The Chinese Book of Changes, the I Ching dates back 3,000 years. Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: China -- A Journey Back in Time examines the legacy of that ancient world, in the arts and sciences, from the wisdom of Confucius to painting to fireworks. The viewer travels to China to see some of the monuments of that culture, including the Great Wall of China, and the Forbidden City. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
Explore the live of the woman whose name has become synonymous with the French monarchy as filmmakers explore just how one wanton sovereign set into motion the wheels of the French Revolution. From her early childhood in the powerful Austro-Hungarian Empire to her grim final hours in a French prison cell, this two-hour portrait of Marie Antoinette paints a vivid portrait of a historical figure that was as tragic as she was courageous. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Explore the career of the first non-Italian ever to win the prized Rossini Medal in this documentary that offers a detailed retrospective of mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne. A singer whose remarkable vocal talents spanned a wide range of genres ranging from pop to grand opera, Horne gained worldwide acclaim not only for her unusual versatility, but also for her unparalleled vocal abilities. Now, in celebration of Horne's sixtieth birthday, producer/director Nigel Wattis treats fans to an intimate look at the singer's remarkable life and enduring career. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
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