Titans: The Rise of Hollywood

We thought we knew a lot about the origins of movies, having watched the 13-episode series "Hollywood" narrated by James Mason. But each episode of "Titans", especially those covering the 1890s to mid-1910s, had us saying "I never knew that." By focusing on the business perspective--innovators who had a feeling that motion pictures could be big, but struggled to figure out how--the series explains how and why the innovations happened.

The docudrama is narrated as oral history by an older Adolf Zukor. The dynamics between the competitors/collaborators are often fascinating. The final episode or two, covering the end of the silent era, get bogged down by details about corporate wheeling and dealing, which can be hard to follow. Nevertheless, the earlier portions more than make up for it.

Clearly the inspiration for this was "Movies and Money" by David Putnam, a book which I heartily recommend for anyone interested in the subject.

I heartily loved this show. Even though I'm no fan of the French I do have to say however it's pretty cruel to not acknowledge that it was the Lumiere Brothers who invented the projector to Eddisons "viewing box".

Proper "features" also needed funding and it was Credit Suisse who made the first. But when it gets into the story of Carl Laemmle I became hooked.

It is also ultimately very uplifting as it shows what entrepreneurs and imagination and energy can achieve. Really loved this.

As far too many reviewers have noted, the acting is mediocre at best. No one is going to win an Oscar or Emmy for their acting here (although I don't think it's nearly as terrible as many seem to think).

But, if you're focussed on how good (or bad...) the acting is, you're going to miss out on what this series really is: History.

As a historical account of Hollywood and the major studios and stars, it's excellent.

Ignore the acting quality, focus on the history, and you'll appreciate this series more.

As a life long cinephile I will watch anything related to the history of the movies.

For the most part, I enjoyed this, particularly the stuff with Carl Lemmle and Universal, but to not mention D. W. Griffith even once, (not even as of the four creators of United Artist) is just weird. Not to mention paring down the Warner Brothers from 4 to only 3.

I'm also not sure how "Tess of the Storm Country" (1922) could ever be considered the first feature film, when "Les Miserables", "Cabiria", and of Course, "Birth of A Nation" (1915) all precede it by many years.

But overall there is more good than bad and still worth a watch for film buffs.

This series fulfilled it's purpose -an overall view into the studio heads who created Hollywood. And it did that by putting the true life events front and center, not the serie's sets, the wardrobe, and characters' acting skills.

My husband, who is not a film buff, was totally intrigued, especially by the genius and skills of Mary Pickford. Besides mastering acting, writing and producing, Mary managed United Artists studios, too. Fascinating woman.