Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood
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About
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood is a 2011 BBC documentary series written, directed and presented by Paul Merton. The three-part series traces the rise of the American film-making industry in Hollywood through from the early years of film-making to the foundation of the major motion-picture studios and the new class of the film star.
Cast
Seasons
Episodes
Season 1
Part 1
Hollywood is still a sleepy California backwater of orange groves about to be transformed by filmmakers from the East Coast in search of sunny locations and wide open spaces. During this explosive early period, one of Hollywood's most influential and controversial directors was D.W. Griffith. Within the space of a few short years, he went from making short 'cliffhangers' to three-hour epics as Hollywood cinema became a worldwide entertainment medium. Paul Merton retrieves cinema's founding DNA and explores Griffith's career and the beginnings of the star system, which created screen idols like Mary Pickford, star of many of Griffith's movies.
Part 2
Paul Merton's journey through early Hollywood reaches the 1920s when in prohibition America the cinema industry was on a collision course with its public because of a run of drink, drugs and sex scandals. Having cynically used the popular press to promote its stars and keep their reputations spotless, it now faced a media obsessed with exposing the dark and decadent side of their glamour. The programme tells the story of the rise and fall of the lost comic genius of silent Hollywood - Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - who was charged with the murder of a young actress after an illegal drinks party went wrong. Paul Merton makes a powerful case that Arbuckle was an innocent man, an unfortunate victim of a new type of fame created by the Hollywood studios which had been turned against them. In their rush to clean up their act they were prepared to make the genial Arbuckle a sacrificial victim.
Part 3
Paul Merton traces the rise of the studios through the story of MGM - the biggest dream factory of them all, which boasted of 'more stars than the heavens'. Metro Goldwyn Mayer's studio system was perfected by its young producer Irving Thalberg, the boy genius of Hollywood's silent era. The programme shows how he challenged the power previously wielded by the director of a film, taking on a much more creative role as the producer. This involved dealing with some of the most notorious egos in movie-making, such as that of flamboyant director Erich Von Stroheim. It was famously said of Thalberg that he didn't just make movies - he 're-made' them. He may have turned MGM into what Paul Merton calls 're-take valley' but Thalberg never put his name on any of his films, even the original Ben Hur or Mutiny on the Bounty - which may explain why you might never have heard of this remarkable man who did more than anyone to steer 1930s Hollywood from the silent to the sound era.
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Looking for a place to watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood online for free? You've landed on the right page. Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood is a well-rated English documentary series from 2011 that you can stream right now on Bowood.TV in high quality, no signup required.
About Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood is a 2011 BBC documentary series written, directed and presented by Paul Merton. The three-part series traces the rise of the American film-making industry in Hollywood through from the early years of film-making to the foundation of the major motion-picture studios and the new class of the film star. Across 1 season and 3 episodes, originally airing on BBC Two.
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood Cast and Characters
The cast features Paul Merton. Their performances are a major reason Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood Online
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▶ Watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood NowWhy People Are Watching Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is a tone and style that's hard to find elsewhere. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood
Where can I watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood online for free?
You can watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood have?
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood has 3 episodes across 1 season. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.
Is Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood good? What's the rating?
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood holds a 7.0/10 rating based on 1 reviews — well above average.
Who is in the cast of Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood?
The main cast includes Paul Merton.
Is Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood available in English?
Yes — Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.
When was Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood released?
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood first aired in 2011.
Do I need an account to watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood for free?
You can watch Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood online for free on Bowood.TV. All 3 episodes across 1 season are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood have?
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood currently has 1 season and a total of 3 episodes. The series status is "Ended", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.
What is Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood about?
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood is a 2011 BBC documentary series written, directed and presented by Paul Merton. The three-part series traces the rise of the American film-making industry in Hollywood through from the early years of film-making to the foundation of the major motion-picture studios and the new class… It belongs to the Documentary genre.
In which language is Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood originally available?
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood first released?
Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood first premiered on May 27, 2011 (2011). The series has since concluded its run.
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