Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood is a mini-series that tells the history of Hollywood pioneers making movies. It features living relatives of Hollywood studio heads and film historians talking about the history of movies. The relatives of the moguls in the documentary include Samuel Goldwyn Jr., son of Samuel Goldwyn, Carla Laemmle, niece of Carl Laemmle, owner of Universal Pictures. Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood tells the story of Hollywood from the late 19th century-the early 1970s. It starts off as telling the story of the early movie pioneers who came to America and would make a future making movies, the coming of sound movies, World War II, censorship, and Hollywood changing in the 1960s.
The television mini-series is the comprehensive true story behind the making of the American movie industry. It is co-produced by Turner Classic Movies (TMC) and Bill Haber’s Ostar Productions. The series premiered in November 2010.
The mini-series is narrated by Christopher Plummer.
Watch all 7 episodes in the playlist below.
A History of Hollywood | Episode 1 – Peepshow Pioneers: 1889-1907
Filmmakers and innovators join forces to create a new form of entertainment.
A History of Hollywood | Episode 2 – The Birth of Hollywood: 1907-1920
Hollywood becomes the center of the film-making industry in the early 20th century. Charlie Chaplin, Tom Mix, Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Mary Pickford and Lillian Gish are among the stars profiled.
A History of Hollywood | Episode 3 – The Dream Merchants: 1920-1928
The Hollywood studio system flourishes in the 1920s, led by strong-willed studio executives such as Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, Hal Roach and Adolph Zukor.
A History of Hollywood | Episode 4 – Brother, Can You Spare a Dream?: 1929-1941
This episode covers the years 1929 to 1941, sound is introduced to the movies and an international economic depression hits the Hollywood moguls
A History of Hollywood | Episode 5 – Warriors & Peacemakers: 1941-1950
World War II generates a patriotic fervor in film; Hollywood films tackle topics such as anti-Semitism and racism; the studio contract system is challenged; the film industry faces a formidable new competitor.
A History of Hollywood | Episode 6 – The Attack of the Small Screens: 1950-1960
The reign of studio moguls begins a long decline; director Elia Kazan brings realism to films; Sidney Poitier shines in “The Defiant Ones”; Marlon Brando, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe lead a new breed of film stars.
A History of Hollywood | Episode 7 – Fade Out, Fade In 1960-1969
Political and social upheaval in the 1960s brings change to the movie industry; low-budget productions find an audience; foreign-language films have a renaissance; Mike Nichols, Stanley Kubrick and Arthur Penn lead a new wave of American directors.
