Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood

This seven-hour documentary series produced for Turner Classic Movies looks at the development of Hollywood as a business, defined largely by the moguls who built the studios and the glamorous stars who populated them, rather than by films and filmmakers. Crisply narrated by Christopher Plummer and featuring interviews with numerous historians and scholars, the episodes tackle the topic from the era of Thomas Edison and the first peep shows in the late 1800s through the late 1960s. Much of the focus is on the evolution of the industry as managed by a group of immigrant businessmen (including Louis B. Mayer, Samuel Goldwyn, and many others) and the rise of actors—from nameless figures to international celebrities (beginning with such favorites as Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, and Charlie Chaplin). The coming of the sound age, the Depression and war years, and postwar developments (including the threat posed by television) are all covered, and the account concludes with the industry's response to the tumultuous social changes of the '60s. Despite the overall length, the series prefers to sketch the big picture rather than delve into specific aspects, but it's a solid introduction overall. DVD extras include brief panel discussions with TCM host Robert Osborne and various filmmakers. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Axmaker)