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Irving Rapper is, in many ways, Hollywood's forgotten man. After getting his start as a "dialogue director" at Warner Bros. in the mid 30's, he became synonymous with the studio's "women's pictures" and rose in prominence as one of Bette Davis's most consistent collaborators, including on her biggest commercial success, Now Voyager (1942). He was a rebel who led the studio in suspensions for chronically refusing to direct the scripts handed to him by the brass, waiting instead for material that better suited his interests and thematic preoccupations. He was also one in a secretive fraternity of gay directors who had to conceal their identities and shield their private lives from potential public ruination. Daniel Kremer takes you through an unexamined and misunderstood life of a man of great artistic inclination who expressed his innermost yearnings covertly through his work in motion pictures.
A documentary about the making of the classic film "Casablanca."
Produced for Turner Classic Movies, this documentary looks at the early days of the gangster film.
In this documentary on the life of Joan Crawford, we learn why she should be remembered as the great actress she was, and not only as "mommie dearest." caricature she has become. Friends, fellow actors, directors, and others reminisce about their association with her, and numerous film clips show off her talent from her start in silents to bad science fiction/horror movies at the end of her career.
When Arthur Freed brought Alan Jay Lerner to Hollywood to compose a new Fred Astaire musical (based on Fred's life,) little did he know he would have to recast it's leading lady not once, but twice.
This documentary short subject for DVD gives a look at the making of Cole Porter's MGM classic, "Les Girls". Hosted by Finnish film legend and star of "Les Girls", Taina Elg tells of working with Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall and George Cukor on one of the last great MGM musicals.
The life and legacy of Marlon Brando and how he changed acting.
This documentary short subject details the making of the 1957 MGM musical, "Silk Stockings". Hosted by its star Cyd Charisse, the film gives behind-the-scenes glimpses of how this film was made with interviews by musical director Andre Previn and supporting actress Janis Paige.
A short documentary about the making of the 1956 film, High Society. Hosted by Celeste Holm.
Ann Miller hosts this documentary short on the making of the MGM-Cole Porter hot musical "Kiss Me Kate".
An original documentary from Turner Classic Movies, Garbo offers an intimate look at the life and career of the movies' most luminous, reclusive and mystifying star. A portrait of Garbo the woman is drawn through interviews with biographers and admirers, plus many of the friends, relatives and associates who came closest to penetrating the lonely star's veil of solitude.