Discovering Film

20149 seriesEntertainment / Factual
Available on Sky Arts
Sky Arts

Some of the biggest film stars in history rose to fame during the `golden age' of Hollywood, in the early and mid-20th century. `Discovering Film' profiles some of these stars who became iconic face and household names during this era. Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda are among the stars and starlets featured in the hour-long episodes, which take a detailed look at their lives and careers. The programme explains how the stars of the screen rose to fame and lasted long enough at the top to create a legacy that still endures decades later.

Jean Harlow: Episode Image
Episode 1Jean Harlow

A profile of American actress Jean Harlow, who rose to fame as a sex symbol and starred in several films with Clark Gable in the 1930s before her untimely death aged 26. (S5, ep 1)

Lee Marvin: Episode Image
Episode 2Lee Marvin

An intimate look at the life and career of Academy Award-winning actor Lee Marvin, who starred in movies including Cat Ballou, The Professionals and The Dirty Dozen. (S5, ep 2)

Anthony Quinn: Episode Image
Episode 3Anthony Quinn

A look at the life and career of Oscar-winning Mexican-American actor Anthony Quinn, who starred in movies such as Viva Zapata!, Lust for Life and Zorba the Greek. (S5, ep 3)

Joan Crawford: Episode Image
Episode 4Joan Crawford

A fascinating look at the life and career of actress and dancer Joan Crawford, who won an Academy Award for her role in the 1945 film Mildred Pierce. (S5, ep 4)

Buster Keaton: Episode Image
Episode 5Buster Keaton

An intimate profile of silent film pioneer Buster Keaton, whose stone-faced physical comedy turned him into a Hollywood superstar in the 1920s. (S5, ep 5)

Olivia De Haviland: Episode Image
Episode 6Olivia De Haviland

A profile of Olivia de Havilland. Best known as Melanie in Gone with the Wind, she won Academy Awards for her roles in To Each His Own and The Heiress. (S5, ep 6)

William Holden: Episode Image
Episode 7William Holden

A fascinating look at the life and career of William Holden, an actor who became one of Hollywood's biggest box office draws from the 1950s through to the 1970s. (S5, ep 7)

Barbara Stanwyck: Episode Image
Episode 8Barbara Stanwyck

A profile of Barbara Stanwyck, an actress who enjoyed a 60-year career in film and television, best known for her strong female roles in films, such as Double Indemnity. (S5, ep 8)

Gregory Peck: Episode Image
Episode 9Gregory Peck

An eye-opening look at the life and films of American film legend Gregory Peck, the Academy Award-winning star of the 1962 drama To Kill a Mockingbird. (S5, ep 9)

Claudia Cardinale: Episode Image
Episode 10Claudia Cardinale

An intriguing profile of Tunisian-born Italian film actress Claudia Cardinale, who appeared in some of the most acclaimed European films of the 1960s and 1970s. (S5, ep 10)

Walter Matthau: Episode Image
Episode 11Walter Matthau

Film experts reflect on the life and career of Oscar-winning actor Walter Matthau, who starred in the comedies Fortune Cookie, The Odd Couple and Grumpy Old Men. (S5, ep 11)

Shirley Maclaine: Episode Image
Episode 12Shirley Maclaine

A fascinating look at the life and career of Shirley MacLaine, one of Hollywood's legendary leading ladies, who starred in films including The Apartment and Sweet Charity. (S5, ep 12)

Charles Bronson: Episode Image
Episode 13Charles Bronson

Film experts reflect on the work of Charles Bronson, who became a Hollywood star with his tough-guy, vigilante roles in films such as The Magnificent Seven and Death Wish. (S5, ep 13)

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