MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992– )

The history of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Samuel Marx, June Allyson

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Patrick Stewart	...	Himself - Host (3 episodes, 1992)
Samuel Marx	...	Himself (3 episodes, 1992)
June Allyson	...	Herself (2 episodes, 1992)
Lew Ayres	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)
Freddie Bartholomew	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)
Jackie Cooper	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)
George Gibson	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)
Helen Hayes	...	Herself (2 episodes, 1992)
Van Johnson	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)
Roddy McDowall	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)
Ricardo Montalban	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Herself (2 episodes, 1992)
Dorothy Raye	...	Herself (2 episodes, 1992)
Mickey Rooney	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)
Dorothy Tuttle	...	Herself (2 episodes, 1992)
William Tuttle	...	Himself (2 episodes, 1992)

Storyline

This series surveys the history of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios from its creation and rise in the 1920's, its pinnacle in the 30's and 40's to it's decline in the 1950's.

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Plot Keywords:

movie studio | company history | hollywood | film history | tv mini series | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 March 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amikor az oroszlán elbődül

Company Credits

Production Co:

Point Blank Productions, Turner Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

360 min 366 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The 3-part documentary originally contained a lot of footage of Fred Astaire when it was broadcast on PBS and Turner Classic Movies. The newly released DVD has re-edited the segments in part 3 and deleted all (almost all) the Astaire footage, including clips of him dancing with Gene Kelly and Lucille Bremer - both from Ziegfeld Follies, and solo in Royal Wedding, as Debbie Reynolds shares a story about meeting him and being invited to watch him rehearse.

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Crazy Credits

Following the last ending credit of "Part Three" is displayed the following dedication text: Dedicated to the memory of Samuel Marx and Freddie Bartholomew

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Connections

Features The Pirate (1948)

User Reviews

Finally...a documentary that adequately covers the history of this great studio.

Back in 1972, Dick Cavett narrated a documentary about the history of MGM. Unfortunately, it was crammed into only 50 minutes and seemed way too short for so much material. Well, fortunately, twenty years later, Turner Entertainment made what is the definitive documentary--"MGM: When The Lion Roars". Narrated by Patrick Stewart, it's chock full of wonderful clips and interviews with a bazillion stars. It really is extraordinary and very complete--and a must-see for insane cinemaniacs like myself.

By the way, does anyone know why most of Fred Astaire's clips were excised from the DVD release?! IMDb says this is so but never really explains this. Were there legal reasons or did someone hate Mr. Astaire?! What gives?!