The Dream Merchants: 1920-1928 (15 Nov. 2010)

Writer:

Jon Wilkman

Stars:

Christopher Plummer, Peter Bogdanovich, Richard D. Zanuck

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Plummer	...	Narrator (voice)
Peter Bogdanovich	...	Himself - Director, Film Historian
Richard D. Zanuck	...	Himself - Producer (as Richard Zanuck)
Susan Fox-Rosellini	...	Herself - Great Granddaughter of William Fox
Robert Osborne	...	Himself - Journalist, Film Historian
Steven J. Ross	...	Himself - Film Historian
Gore Vidal	...	Himself - Author
Marc Wanamaker	...	Himself - Film Historian, Photo Archivist
Cari Beauchamp	...	Herself - Film Historian
Leonard Maltin	...	Himself - Critic and Film Historian
Jeanine Basinger	...	Herself - Film Historian
Daniel Selznick	...	Himself - Grandson of Louis B. Mayer (as Daniel Mayer Selznick)
Anthony Slide	...	Himself - Film Historian
Tony Maietta	...	Himself - Film Historian
David Stenn	...	Himself - Film Historian

Storyline

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Details

Release Date:

15 November 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Beyond the Rainbow (1922)

User Reviews

Nothing New but Mildly Entertaining

Moguls & Movie Stars: The Dream Merchants (2010)

*** (out of 4)

Third entry in TMC's look at the history of Hollywood looks in on the years between 1920 and 1928. In this time it's said that this was Hollywood most creative period and we had a wide range of stars from comedians like Keaton and Chaplin to more horrific acts like Lon Chaney. Also on hand were the more sexual stars like Rudolph Valentino and of course Claire Bow who would make a splash do to that certain "It" she had. Along the way Hollywood must form to some new rules as the publicity of the Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle trial had put a black cloud over them. If you've seen the previous two entries in the series then you're going to know going in that this isn't the most complete look at Hollywood or the most detailed history lesson. Yes, it's hard to believe that you'd try to cram such an important decade into just 55-minutes and in the end we're left with an entertaining entry but you can't help but be amazed at some of the legendary films that don't even get mentioned here. Many people have said it but it seems MOGULS & MOVIES: A HISTORY OF Hollywood appears to be aimed at those unfamiliar with the history of cinema. This entry points the finger at many legends but it really doesn't give too much detail. The sequence on Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd runs just a few minutes and everyone knows that's simply not enough time. Greta Garbo and her legend is discussed and we even get to hear about her "lost months" where she was out of the public eye and MGM made sure no one knew why.