Robert Osborne Movies
Known to thousands as the congenial host who introduces old movies from the cozy confines of a stately looking reading room, TV personality and film historian Robert Osborne began working as a host for Turner Classic Movies at the network's inception in 1994. Born in Washington in 1934, Osborne originally worked as a contract actor for Desilu studios, with minor parts on shows like The Beverly Hillbillies. The young actor also had a strong interest in writing about the industry, having studied journalism in college, and after several years working on set, eventually decided to combine his areas of interest. He became an increasingly active writer, taking on a column for the Hollywood Reporter in 1982, and continued contributing to books, magazines, and newspapers over the coming decades, in addition to his ongoing hosting duties on TCM. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide- 2008
By any standard, Walter Mirisch qualifies as one of the most electric, dynamic and resoundingly successful producers in the history of American cinema - and the irony of this is the fact that he operated almost completely outside the Hollywood system. In this documentary special, Mirisch engages in a lengthy and revealing, reflective conversation with Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne. In the discussion, Mirisch relays how he began as a low-budget producer for Monogram, then took a position with Allied Artists and worked his way up to executive producer, meanwhile forging priceless relationships with such talent as the directors Billy Wilder, William Wyler and Norman Jewison. When an opportune moment arrived, Mirisch then struck out on his own, assisted by two of his brothers, and founded The Mirisch Company; he then drew on the prior relationships established with the said directors and others of their ilk to turn out hit, after hit, after hit - from Blake Edwards's A Shot in the Dark, to the Billy Wilder-directed Best Picture-winner The Apartment, to the Norman Jewison-directed Best Picture winner In the Heat of the Night. Here, Mirisch tells his amazing, anecdote-laced story to Osborne, reflecting on the highs, the lows, and everything in between. He also reflects on what he recognizes as the fundamental nature and origins of his success. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Mirisch, Robert Osborne, (more)
- 2006
They're called trailers, because originally they trailed the feature presentation. But before long, movie marketers learned there was a better chance of grabbing the audience's attention before the film. Trailers have since gone on to become one of the quintessential elements of movie-going, as illustrated in this documentary from Michael J. Shapiro and Jeff Werner. Featuring interviews with Joe Dante, Leonard Maltin, voice-over artist Don LaFontaine and several others, Coming Attractions: The History of the Movie Trailer traces a century of movie previews. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Osborne, Joe Dante, (more)
