This is an excellent documentary for anyone interested in Golden Age Hollywood. It chronicles the rise and fall of MGM, once the biggest studio thanks to its famous and infamous executives, Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg.
The mini-series is 6 hours long and full of rare photos, scenes from better and lesser known movies, as well as interviews with stars - many now deceased - about their experiences as part of the studio's stable of cast and crew. Most of the more famous actors get at least a short segment, though if they have an interesting story, they get more screen time - e.g. with Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Jean Harlow.
For a movie buff like me, the docu contained a lot of information I already knew (and just as much I didn't), but even then, I had mostly read my knowledge till then and it was great getting the information again with accompanying sights and sounds. It also led me to greater appreciation of various actors, foremost of which is Judy Garland. I haven't seen many of her movies and so I hadn't heard her sing many of her signature songs beyond Over the Rainbow. Wow, can that girl sing and dance. No wonder she's such a gay icon.
It struck me a bit too late that I should start taking down with pen and paper all the movies that I now want to watch - there are puhlenty - so I guess I'll have to watch all 6 hours again at some point, lol.
The mini-series is 6 hours long and full of rare photos, scenes from better and lesser known movies, as well as interviews with stars - many now deceased - about their experiences as part of the studio's stable of cast and crew. Most of the more famous actors get at least a short segment, though if they have an interesting story, they get more screen time - e.g. with Greta Garbo, Judy Garland, Jean Harlow.
For a movie buff like me, the docu contained a lot of information I already knew (and just as much I didn't), but even then, I had mostly read my knowledge till then and it was great getting the information again with accompanying sights and sounds. It also led me to greater appreciation of various actors, foremost of which is Judy Garland. I haven't seen many of her movies and so I hadn't heard her sing many of her signature songs beyond Over the Rainbow. Wow, can that girl sing and dance. No wonder she's such a gay icon.
It struck me a bit too late that I should start taking down with pen and paper all the movies that I now want to watch - there are puhlenty - so I guess I'll have to watch all 6 hours again at some point, lol.