Chris Hunt
Franco Zefirelli passed away on 15th June 2019. Chris Hunt's biography explores how Zeffirelli's sense of drama was born out of his own experience and how his life inspired his productions. Chris Hunt interviewed him and other famous actors, friends and associates, had a camera at Zefirelli's 94th birthday and during the opening of his foundation in Florence. This documentary, including clips from operas, films and plays aims to be the definitive portrait of a Renaissance man larger than life.
Swedish supergroup Abba stars in this documentary that features extensive concert footage, television clips and current interviews. Songs include "Super Trooper," "Mamma Mia," "Eagle," Head Over Heels," "Take a Chance On Me," "One Man, One Woman," "Money, Money, Money," "The Winner Takes It All," "Happy New Year," "Knowing Me and Knowing You" and "Fernando." Also included is the finale from the gala performance of the stage show "Mamma Mia."
Cole Porter's beloved classic receives "Another Op'nin, Another Show", in this masterful 1999 London revival of the Tony Award winning musical Kiss Me, Kate! When the egotistical Fred Graham mounts a musical adaptation of The Taming of The Shrew (with himself as director, producer, and star) he’s got the perfect leading lady in mind: his movie star ex-wife! The fireworks both onstage and off between the two seem destined to explode the entire production…or will a romantic flame that’s Too Darn Hot be rekindled? With backstage shenanigans, gangsters brushing up their Shakespeare, and a collection of Porter tunes that any Tom, Dick, or Harry will love, Kiss Me, Kate remains an all-time favorite of musical fans from Padua to Peoria.
Memorably set between the two world wars, this adaptation of Trevor Nunn's award-winning 1999 Royal National Theatre production of The Merchant of Venice features a superlative performance from Henry Goodman as Shylock.
Runs through Greta Garbo's life and films in chronological order in an attempt to reveal the 'real' Garbo.
The story of one of the greatest pop bands of all time, this programme features, for the first time, all four members talking about their lives before during and after ABBA. Included with extracts from the rehearsals and performances of the smash hit musical Mamma Mia!, based on the songs of ABBA, are all the big hits, concert footage and interviews with Bono, Malcolm McLaren, Pete Waterman, Tim Rice Bjorn Again and Steps!
This documentary, originally presented on the television series The South Bank Show, covers actor Humphrey Bogart's life and career, including archival footage and interviews with Lauren Bacall and his son Stephen Bogart.
Following the life of Marlene Dietrich through her films (including home movies) and interviews with family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and presumed lovers. From the cabaret scene in 1920's Berlin, silent films in Germany, her triumph in _The Blue Angel_ in 1930 (for which her screen test is included in this film), to Hollywood with Josef von Sternberg. The highest paid female star of her time, the luster dimmed by 1935. and in the later part of the decade she might be the most valuable actress in the world but also the most unemployable. But with _Destry Rides Again_ Marlene became a sex symbol who could play comedy and the most remarkable comeback in Hollywood was a reality. She was one of the most active entertainers of the allied troops during WW II. After the war movies were infrequent, but a new career on the stage continued for another 20 years, until she retired into seclusion for the last decade of her life.
Robert Johnson was one of the most legendary and mysterious Delta Bluesmiths of all time. Little is known about his life, but his music has influenced many different artists, like Eric Clapton and Keith Richards. Now, John Hammond Jr., son of legendary record producer John H. Hammond, who also organized a concert for Robert Johnson right before he died, goes to the Deep South to learn more about this amazing man, trying to find information about Johnson's birth date, place and parents, his early musical development, performances and travels, romances, his mythic "pact with the devil," his untimely murder in his late twenties, the discovery of possible offspring, and the uncertainty over where Johnson is buried. Throughout, Johnson's music is both foreground and background, from recordings of Johnson and as performed on camera by Hammond, David Honeyboy Edwards, and Johnny Shines.
Television documentary on playwright, actor, composer, and film maker Noel Coward.
In this documentary Roy Lichtenstein is interviewed and discusses his life and art work, what influenced him, where his ideas came from, how his art adapted and how and why it changed over time. He discusses the Pop Art movement, a bit, mostly how he was one of a number of artists making art that was then called Pop Art. Also interesting is Lichtenstein tells what different art critics have said about different phases of his art and he shares his personal reactions to their statements. Additionally some footage of people criticizing and discussing his artwork is included, almost in a “he said, she said” manner which makes the viewer think about how sometimes what others say about an artist’s work may be a bit off or just wrong. Contrary to what non-artists may think, artists do usually have a reason or an inspiration behind what they create. Lucky for us this documentary allows us into the brilliant mind of Roy Lichtenstein.
