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The Plot Thickens
The Plot Thickens

The Plot Thickens

—Documentaries about movies and the people who make them.
6 seasonsEntertainment, Documentary
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Season 111 of 11 Episodes

  • A young film buff grows up in N.Y., learning to obsess over the movies the way his father obsesses over art; Peter lies his way into the most prestigious acting class in the world and unexpectedly finds his calling as a director.

  • Peter meets Polly Platt, his closest creative collaborator - and soon, his young wife; they drive across the country to break into the movie business, starting with a low-budget directing gig for Roger Corman; Peter finally meets Orson Welles.

  • Peter challenges himself to film an "unfilmable" book and creates "The Last Picture Show;" the accolades pour in, including comparisons to Orson Welles himself; Peter risks losing his family after an affair with his leading lady, Cybill Shepherd.

  • Following "The Last Picture Show," Peter directs two more major hits; but when his wife leaves him, his next three movies are high-profile flops; his relationship with Cybill is splashed across the tabloids.

  • Feeling betrayed, Orson Welles humiliates Peter on national television; Peter heads overseas to shoot a new movie, filming in secret to evade government censors; while his career starts to recover, he starts an affair with his new leading lady.

  • Alone for the first time, Peter finds love in an unexpected place: the Playboy Mansion; his romance with Dorothy Stratten ignites his creativity; but Peter's life is changed by a devastating murder and a series of disastrous financial decisions.

  • Grief-stricken for years, Peter finally goes back behind the camera and ends up shooting one of his most popular films, but he sues the studio before the movie is released; Peter once again becomes the press' target after he marries Dorothy's sister.

  • Peter Bogdanovich interviews director Howard Hawks in the Palm Springs desert in April 1972; Hawks talks about how he got started in showbiz and provides insight into many of his movies.

  • Peter Bogdanovich sits down with one of his filmmaking heroes, Alfred Hitchcock, for a wide-ranging conversation about his films; Hitchcock shares stories about being arrested as a child, appearing in his own movies, and why he doesn't like eggs.

  • Highlights from Peter Bogdanovich's interviews with three of Hollywood's biggest movie stars, who talk about the unique challenges of working with director and legendary curmudgeon John Ford.

  • Alicia Malone hosts a conversation with Peter Bogdanovich and Ben Mankiewicz, who share memorable stories and answer questions from listeners about Season 1.
The Plot Thickens

More about The Plot Thickens

Documentaries about movies and the people who make them.

Starring

Ben Mankiewicz, Peter Bogdanovich, Julie Salamon

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