Biography
Season 1997
TV-PG
First hosted by veteran actor Peter Graves, and later by Jack Perkins, this popular Arts and Entertainment Network series profiled the lives of notable figures in the history of entertainment, sports, arts, science, politics and warfare. The show is notable for its in-depth research, which often provides viewers with little-known information about well-known people.
Where to Watch Season 1997
102 Episodes
- Timothy McVeigh: Soldier of TerrorE4
Timothy McVeigh: Soldier of TerrorThis profile of Timothy McVeigh, the former U.S. Army sergeant convicted of the Oklahoma City bombing, traces his early life in Pendleton, N.Y., and his military hitch, including his service in the Persian Gulf War. Chris Bury narrates. - Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New BeginningE10
Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New BeginningWith humanity perched on the brink of destruction, his righteousness saved the world. Although most people know the story of the Flood and Noah's Ark, few know details about Noah, the man. sailor, vintner, farmer, healer, and prophet-is said to have lived for 950 years. This remarkable BIOGRAPHY® traces the holy man's life, illuminating little-known facts and exploring his role as the central figure of the renowned tale of destruction and rebirth. Uncover Noah's extraordinary story through interviews with renowned historians, biblical excerpts and period accounts, stunning location footage from the Holy Land, and rare paintings and artifacts. NOAH & THE ARK offers a fascinating investigation into the life of one of the Bible's most celebrated men, a figure who foresaw a terrible end and a new beginning for mankind. - Lucrezia Borgia: Pretty PoisonE11
Lucrezia Borgia: Pretty PoisonBorn the illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia--later Pope Alexander VI--Lucrezia Borgia was three times married to further her father's political ambitions. Her first marriage had been annulled and her second husband was murdered on orders from her brother. The third of these was in 1501, to Alfonso son of the Duke of Este, who inherited the Duchy of Ferrara, where she established a brilliant court of artists and men of letters, and devoted herself to the patronage of art and education. But what of her reputation for wantonness and crime? She has been called the most depraved woman in history. As Lucrezia grew up in Roman society, rumors about her were rampant. Did she have incestuous affairs, with her father, the pope, and her brothers? Was pricking enemies with an arsenic-drenched ring her favorite method of disposing men? Or was Lucrezia a victim of her family's ruthless quest for power, exploited for her beauty and kindness? Is her reputation more legend than fact? - Larry Flynt: Fighting DirtyE12
Larry Flynt: Fighting DirtyFrom bootlegger to convict, to millionaire pornographer, to born-again Christian, to paraplegic gunshot-victim, Larry Flynt's life so far has been anything but ordinary. As the founder and publisher of Hustler Magazine Flynt broke new ground in porn publishing, offering filth and debauchery of a sort hitherto only imaginable. In his life Larry Flynt has always courted controversy, and along the way he's made himself the enemy of millions. But Larry Flynt always seems to come out on top. This comprehensive portrait follows Flynt from his dirt-poor Appalachian childhood to his surprising role as a poster-boy for First Amendment rights. Rare footage documents the defining moments in his life, from the launch of Hustler in 1974 to his landmark Supreme Court victory over Moral Majority head Jerry Falwell. In a moving interview, Flynt recalls his long and painful recovery from the assassination attempt that nearly took his life, and the tragic death of his wife. From selling moonshine to his dad to the controversial film that cemented his place in folklore, this is the controversial saga of Larry Flynt. - F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dreamer
E13F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American DreamerF. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), the “Great American Dreamer” whose literary classics include “The Great Gatsby” and “Tender Is the Night.” Interviewed: Garrison Keiller and three Fitzgerald biographers. - Ayatollah Khomeini: Holy Terror
E14Ayatollah Khomeini: Holy TerrorA profile of Ayatollah Khomeini, the theocratic Iranian revolutionary leader. “He was no fanatic,” says Mike Wallace. “He knew exactly what he was doing.” Also interviewed: Mideast expert Fouad Ajami; New York Times correspondent Elaine Sciolino. - Sonja Henie: Fire on IceE22
Sonja Henie: Fire on IceShe dominated her sport like few athletes in history, winning three consecutive Olympic Gold Medals and an unprecedented ten world figure skating championships. She parlayed her athletic success into a legendary career in entertainment. Sonja Henie skated into the hearts of the world, racing across the ice like a comet, her blond curls circling her head like a halo. BIOGRAPHY captures her the magic through footage of her world championship performances, and follows her to Hollywood, where she became one of the top box-office draws of the thirties and forties. - Erwin Rommel: The Last Knight
E37Erwin Rommel: The Last KnightHe served the cruelest monster who ever lived, yet emerged with his reputation intact. His military brilliance and sense of honor earned him a place among history's most fabled commanders. Erwin Rommel may be the greatest general to serve in World War II. His dreaded Panzer legions inflicted bitter defeats on the Allied commanders who opposed him. Yet his unwavering brilliance and nobility won him the enduring respect of his enemies, and eventually the betrayal of his master. This in-depth portrait explores the life of the commander who tore up Hitler's order to execute captured Jewish soldiers. Footage of his army in action and interviews with the men who fought with and against him testify to his tactical genius, while excerpts from his writings reveal the private man. Trace the remarkable life of Hitler's greatest commander, Erwin Rommel, the "Desert Fox." - George Marshall: Soldier and StatesmanE41
George Marshall: Soldier and StatesmanGeneral George C. Marshall, the subject of this Biography program, was instrumental in the Allied victory in World War II. In 1948, as Secretary of State in the Truman administration, Marshall initiated a program of economic and technical assistance to speed rebuilding of the postwar European economy. - George Armstrong Custer: America's Golden CavalierE56
George Armstrong Custer: America's Golden CavalierGeorge Armstrong Custer was a sorry excuse for a cadet at West Point, but he was also brave and dashing--an egomaniac with a flare that made him America’s most celebrated soldier of the time. To most Americans he was famous as the “boy general,” but after the Civil War he became infamous to Indians as “Yellow Hair,” the most sadistic white man of them all. Learn more about Custer and how his massive ego eventually got the better of him when he picked the wrong fight at the wrong place, Little Big Horn. It remains one of history’s legendary battles, forever known as Custer’s Last Stand - Ivan the Terrible: Might and Madness
E61Ivan the Terrible: Might and MadnessHe was the first Tsar of Russia. He killed his own son and even had several of his wives murdered. He resorted to torture, exile, and imprisonment to repress those who stood against him. But the ruler known as "Ivan the Terrible" also established sweeping reforms that helped bring his nation out of the Dark Ages. - Kirk Douglas: A Lust for LifeE71
Kirk Douglas: A Lust for LifeHis striking looks and indomitable spirit caught America's attention. His determination and willingness to risk everything made him one of the most respected and admired figures in Hollywood.Kirk Douglas knew from childhood that he wanted to be an actor. The child of Russian immigrants, his road to fame started in tiny Amsterdam, New York. BIOGRAPHY; takes a behind-the-scenes tour of his remarkable life, from his first role on Broadway to his emotional acceptance of the Oscar; for lifetime achievement. - Anastasia: Her True StoryE77
Anastasia: Her True StoryWhen the Communists took over Russia in 1917, the royal family was executed the year after, 1918. But in later years, many said that the youngest princess escaped. The program looks at recent evidence which clears up many questions surrounding the fate of the young woman, as well as the identity of the Anastasia claimer in New York City in 1928. Was she the genuine princess or a fake? - R.H. Macy: Merchant PrinceE78
R.H. Macy: Merchant PrinceChronicles 19th-century retail pioneer R.H. Macy's Nantucket boyhood and seafaring days, as well as his business failures and triumphs. Highlights include details of the first New York City Macy's department store and the empire it inspired. Commentary and photographs are featured. - Dalai Lama: The Soul of Tibet
E93Dalai Lama: The Soul of TibetThe BIOGRAPHY of the Dalai Lama explores the life and times of Tibet's political and spiritual leader. Born the fifth of seven children in a small rural village, the Dalai Lama was proclaimed leader of the Tibetan people after demonstrating that he was the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. In 1950, the life of the Dalai Lama changed suddenly when the Chinese communists invaded Tibet and prohibited the practice of religion. Flung into exile, the Dalai Lama has spent his years in neighboring India tirelessly negotiating for the cultural autonomy for his people. Rewarded for his efforts, the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. A man of great charm, wit, intelligence and humility, the Dalai Lama has become one of the world's most admired men and a great leader in the tradition of pacifistic resistance. - Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of PeaceE95
Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of PeaceMahatma Gandhi---the charismatic leader of India's independence movement---is profiled. Included: his upbringing, legal career, message of nonviolent resistance and assassination. Also: interviews with Gandhi's grandson; the Dalai Lama; journalists; and academics. - Joseph Kennedy: Father of an American DynastyE98
Joseph Kennedy: Father of an American DynastyJoseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969) is profiled in a program on the political dynasty's ambitious patriarch, a financier, movie producer and ambassador to Great Britain who fathered America's first Irish-Catholic President and two senators.
