Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History

"Getting The Knack" chronicles the controversial career of power pop stars, The Knack. Viewers will witness a compelling tale of instant stardom and spectacular failure, a story marked by heroin addiction, alcohol abuse, vicious inner-band feuding and massive critical backlash. "Getting The Knack" explores the group's career via candid interviews with the original band, producers Mike Chapman and Jack Douglas, Sharona Alperin, (the inspiration behind their biggest hit), Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, Rick Springfield, Elliot Easton of The Cars, Devo's Bob Mothersbaugh, comedian Weird Al Yankovic and many more. Narrated by Cherie Currie of The Runaways, "Getting the Knack" is augmented by scores of rare photos and previously unseen archival footage providing a no-holds barred look at the rise and fall and ultimate resurrection of the group.

Becoming Queen chronicles the majestic rise of rock's most flamboyant and revolutionary outfit. Fronted by Freddie Mercury, Queen blended stylistic elements of hard rock, opera, and Tin Pan Alley to create their own unique tapestry of musical magic. Featuring extensive interviews with friends, members of pre-Queen outfits, Smile and Ibex/Wreckage, musical peers, rare archival interviews with Queen, scores of previously unseen photos and vintage memorabilia.

Narrated by the legendary Shirley Jones, this installment of the Hollywood Singing and Dancing series shines a light on the musicals of the 1970s, a time when the very look of the genre was changing. Highlights include clips from squeaky-clean family fare such as Fiddler on the Roof, as well as more envelope-pushing options like Cabaret, Grease, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair.

The history of the comic book superhero, Superman, in his various media incarnations.

Chronicles the rise of four young musicians from their formative years to their transformation into a worldwide phenomenon. Witness the group's tale told by the people who were there when it began - the childhood friends, fellow musicians, roadies, bodyguards, producers, and the band themselves. Covers all the years with David Lee Roth, and concentrates mostly on the club days and the first world tour. Includes interviews with many people who were very close to the band.

"The VAN HALEN Story: The Early Years", chronicles the rise of four young musicians from their formative years to their transformation into a worldwide phenomenon. Hear the group's gripping tale told by the people who were there when it all began childhood friends, fellow musicians, roadies, bodyguards, producers, and the band themselves. Rare footage and never-before-seen photos help to further document their remarkable story.

The Led Zeppelin Story documents the colorful and outrageous history of rock's heaviest band. This unique DVD features candid interviews with long-time tour manager Richard Cole, members of The Yardbirds, Bad Company, The Ramones, Foreigner, Vanilla Fudge, engineer Andy Johns, ex-girlfriends, Lori Mattix and Pamela Des Barres and more. Rare archival interview footage with John Bonham, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and manager Peter Grant, along with rare photos spanning the "New Yardbirds" era through the breakup of Led Zeppelin illustrates their fascinating story.

This is a two-hour in-depth exploration into the Hollywood musicals of the 1940s.

During the 1950s, musical masterpieces that have yet to be equaled were produced in Cinemascope with stereophonic sound. These two episodes explore how the post-war years were alive with bold experimentation in musical film. Later in the decade, Rock & Roll became the musical choice of the younger generation and movie musicals followed suit. Highlights of this 2-part program include: Films based on smash Broadway musicals become the rage. A pretty starlet with no musical training named Marilyn Monroe takes the country by storm in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." With favorites from the previous decade continue to delight audiences: Rock & Roll films, songs and musical numbers.

Documentary looking at the history of Hollywood musicals in the 1960s. This decade saw independent film companies becoming more prominent as the bigger Hollywood studios, who produced the mainstream musicals, experienced a decline. This brought the emergence of more realistic story lines and the use of contemporary music like rock 'n' roll. This programme features songs from the musicals 'West Side Story' (1961), 'The Music Man' (1962), 'Mary Poppins' (1964), 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' (1964), 'Funny Girl' (1968), 'Oliver!' (1968) and 'Sweet Charity' (1969).