The Story of Film: An Odyssey
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About
A worldwide guided tour of the greatest movies ever made and the story of international cinema through the history of cinematic innovation.
Cast
Seasons
Episodes
Series 1
Birth of the Cinema
Mark Cousins tells the story of cinema, starting in this episode with the birth of the movies, telling the glamorous, surprising stories of early moviemaking and the first film stars.
The Hollywood Dream
Movies in the Roaring Twenties: Hollywood became a glittering entertainment industry with star directors like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. But the gloss and fantasy was challenged by movie makers like Robert Flaherty, Eric Von Stroheim and Carl Theodor Dreyer, who wanted films to be more serious and mature. This was a battle for the soul of cinema. The result: some of the greatest movies ever made.
The Golden Age of World Cinema
The 1920s were a golden age for world cinema. The programme visits Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Shanghai and Tokyo to explore the places where movie makers were pushing the boundaries of the medium. German expressionism, Soviet montage and French impressionism and surrealism were passionate new film movements, but less well known are the glories of Chinese and Japanese films and the moving story of one of the great, now largely forgotten, movie stars, Ruan Lingyu.
The Arrival of Sound
The coming of sound in the 1930s upends everything. We watch the birth of new types of film: screwball comedies, gangster pictures, horror films, westerns and musicals, and discover a master of most of them, Howard Hawks. Alfred Hitchcock hits his stride and French directors become masters of mood.
Post-War Cinema
Mark Cousins explores how the trauma of war led to more daring creations for cinema, focusing on the darkening of American film and the drama of the McCarthy years. Screenwriters Paul Schrader and Robert Towne discuss the era and Stanley Donen - director of Singin' in the Rain - talks about his career.
Sex & Melodrama
Sex and melodrama in the movies of the fifties: James Dean, On the Waterfront and glossy weepies. We travel to Egypt, India, China, Mexico, Britain and Japan to find that movies there were also full of rage and passion. Exclusive interviews include associates of Indian master Satyajit Ray; legendary Japanese actress Kyoko Kagawa, who starred in films by Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu; and the first great African director, Youssef Chahine.
European New Wave
The explosive story of film in the late fifties and sixties: The great movie star Claudia Cardinale talks exclusively about Federico Fellini; in Denmark, Lars von Trier describes his admiration for Ingmar Bergman; and Bernardo Bertolucci remembers his work with Pier Paolo Pasolini. French filmmakers plant a bomb under the movies, and the new wave it causes sweeps across Europe.
New Directors, New Form
The dazzling 1960s in cinema around the world: In Hollywood, legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler reveals how documentary influenced mainstream movies. Easy Rider and 2001: A Space Odyssey signal a new era in America cinema. We discover the films of Roman Polanski, Andrei Tarkvosky, and Nagisa Oshima. Black African cinema is born, and we talk exclusively to the Indian master director Mani Kaul.
Where does The Story of Film: An Odyssey rank today?
The Story of Film: An Odyssey is #2010 on the Bowood.TV Daily Streaming Charts today.
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About The Story of Film: An Odyssey
A worldwide guided tour of the greatest movies ever made and the story of international cinema through the history of cinematic innovation. Across 1 season and 15 episodes, originally airing on Channel 4.
The Story of Film: An Odyssey Cast and Characters
The cast features Mark Cousins (as Presenter / Narrator) and Mario Cordova (as Narratore). Their performances are a major reason The Story of Film: An Odyssey has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch The Story of Film: An Odyssey Online
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▶ Watch The Story of Film: An Odyssey NowWhy People Are Watching The Story of Film: An Odyssey
There's a reason The Story of Film: An Odyssey keeps showing up on "must-watch" lists. 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 The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Where can I watch The Story of Film: An Odyssey online for free?
You can watch The Story of Film: An Odyssey 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 The Story of Film: An Odyssey have?
The Story of Film: An Odyssey has 15 episodes across 1 season. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.
Is The Story of Film: An Odyssey good? What's the rating?
The Story of Film: An Odyssey holds a 7.7/10 rating based on 64 reviews — well above average.
Who is in the cast of The Story of Film: An Odyssey?
The main cast includes Mark Cousins and Mario Cordova.
Is The Story of Film: An Odyssey available in English?
Yes — The Story of Film: An Odyssey was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.
When was The Story of Film: An Odyssey released?
The Story of Film: An Odyssey first aired in 2011.
Do I need an account to watch The Story of Film: An Odyssey on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch The Story of Film: An Odyssey without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
Similar Series You Might Like
If you enjoyed The Story of Film: An Odyssey, check out Mistři českého animovaného filmu, Kde bydlely princezny, The Movies That Made Us, British Film Forever, and Pokračování příště.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Story of Film: An Odyssey for free?
You can watch The Story of Film: An Odyssey online for free on Bowood.TV. All 15 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 The Story of Film: An Odyssey have?
The Story of Film: An Odyssey currently has 1 season and a total of 15 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 The Story of Film: An Odyssey about?
A worldwide guided tour of the greatest movies ever made and the story of international cinema through the history of cinematic innovation. It belongs to the Documentary genre.
In which language is The Story of Film: An Odyssey originally available?
The Story of Film: An Odyssey 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 The Story of Film: An Odyssey first released?
The Story of Film: An Odyssey first premiered on September 3, 2011 (2011). The series has since concluded its run.
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