chalaowens

I've twice tried to get thru episode 1. Never made it. My view so far:

Athe scenery and costume design has held my attention. The rest is as bland as toast.,

The Hotel's interior lacks the warmth and charisma which makes hotels inviting and enjoyable.

Average acting with jumpy scripts and uninventive direction.

This is not PBS quality.

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.

The History Channel meets PBS quality in this outstanding film/documentary series that defines the perfect boundaries of mixing the two genres. As an amateur history buff, I was amazed by the depth of information presented in the script and by the program's accomplished consultants. The acting and staging brought realism to new heights. Most outstanding, for me at least, was Justin Salinger's portrayal of U. S. Grant., both as a soldier and a man Salinger breathed life into his character with expressions and nuances that characterized Grant himself. Can't say enough good things about the grit and determination of his portrayal.