Behind the Planet of the Apes

Behind the Planet of the Apes 1998

7.20

Roddy McDowall takes you, film by film, from production meetings to make-up sessions, then right onto the movie set to see the actual filming of the science fiction masterpiece. The most comprehensive history of Planet of the Apes ever created, this fascinating 127-minute documentary explores one of the most imaginative and influential series in movie history.

1998

Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years

Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years 1997

7.20

The first half century of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation from its beginnings under Hungarian immigrant William Fox to it emergence as a major studio.

1997

The Alien Saga

The Alien Saga 2002

6.60

In 1979, Alien burst onto the scene with a strong female lead in the form of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) battling the ultimate biomechanical creature. The brilliant and terrifying result reinvented the horror and science fiction genres, creating one of the most successful and celebrated film franchises in Hollywood history. This award-winning, feature-length documentary explores the series.

2002

Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley'

Backstory: 'How Green Was My Valley' 2000

1

Documentary about how the creative energies of Darryl F. Zanuck and John Ford combined to forge an enduring masterpiece despite the challenges of wartime production.

2000

Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film

Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film 2002

1

illustrates how directors pushed boundaries and altered the art of filmmaking during the turbulent, swinging 1960s. Narrated by Woody Harrelson, "Reel Radicals" features clips from such seminal films as Arthur Penn's "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967); Mike Nichols' "The Graduate" (1967); Dennis Hopper's "Easy Rider" (1969); John Frankenheimer's "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962); Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove" (1964) and "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968); John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy" (1969); Richard Brooks' "Elmer Gantry" (1960) and "In Cold Blood" (1967); and Norman Jewison's "In the Heat of the Night" (1967) and "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968). Frankenheimer, Jewison, Hopper, Schlesinger, Penn, Buck Henry, Paul Mazursky, Roger Corman and Arthur Hiller are among the filmmakers who discuss the decade.

2002

A Stormy Night

A Stormy Night 2020

6.70

When a heavy storm threatens the city of New York, two complete strangers –a cynical documentary filmmaker from Spain and an idealist app programmer– find themselves sharing shelter, questioning each other’s understanding of life, happiness and love.

2020

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood 1998

1

Louis Gossett Jr. takes viewers through a special documentary celebration of the groundbreaking achievements of African-American performers and their contributions to Hollywood filmmaking. Spectacular film clips, rare behind-the-scenes footage, archival photographs and fascinating interviews chronicle nearly a century of tribulation and triumph. Gazing at the outstanding range of African-American stars on today's movie screens, it is hard to imagine a time when there were no black leading men or women, a time when all of the roles available for people of color were considerably less heroic than they are now. Social progress came in small steps on the silver screen, film by film, for equal visibility and dignity on the silver screen; now it is possible to honor their struggles, their talent and their sacrifices.

1998

Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years

Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years 2003

5.00

Behind-the-scenes footage, rare screen tests and insightful interviews highlight this engrossing two-hour look at one of Hollywood's greatest dream factories. Such film luminaries as Tom Hanks, William Friedkin, George Lucas, Oliver Stone and Robert Altman discuss their work at the studio. Clips include scenes from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Patton, Young Frankenstein, Star Wars, Alien, Big, Home Alone, Die Hard and dozens more.

2003

Boom! Hollywood's Greatest Disaster Movies

Boom! Hollywood's Greatest Disaster Movies 2000

1

Narrated by Bill Mumy (Will Robinson from TV's "Lost in Space"), this documentary spotlights some of the most thrilling scenes the disaster genre has ever produced. From 1970s classics such as Airport and The Towering Inferno to James Cameron's Oscar-winning epic Titanic, no celluloid disaster flick is omitted. Interviews with directors and actors (including Will Smith) and newsreels of real historical disasters are also included.

2000

Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II

Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II 1991

1

American Movie Classics produced this original salute to those celebrities who worked to improve the morale of the soldiers in World War II. Hosted by Tony Randall the one hour presentation included many clips from the news, USO shows, Armed Forces Radio, US Savings Bonds and more.

1991

The Omen Legacy

The Omen Legacy 2001

7.00

The true stories that spawned the eerie tale of Damien, a small boy with an angelic face, whose very name still conjures up thoughts of Satan. This documentary shares spine-tingling information about the the all-too-memorable flick that has terrorized film audiences since 1976.

2001

Censored!

Censored! 1999

1

A documentary about the cultural effect of film censorship, focusing on the tumultuous times of the teens and early 1920s in America.

1999

Dita and the Family Business

Dita and the Family Business 2001

1

Dita and the Family Business is a 2001 documentary film directed by Joshua Taylor and Ferne Pearlstein about Taylor's own family, who owned the New York City department store Bergdorf Goodman.

2001