This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Biography is exactly the right word to describe this A&E series, which was hosted by various artists over its run. Every episode I have seen was well researched and interesting, but on a series that takes on a new subject every week, one's interest will depend on how much one cares to learn about a particular person, who can range from actors, writers, directors, or even military & political figures, etc.Many episodes are included as extras on various DVDs from Fox Films, so one can see portraits of Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell, Vincent Price, among others. If the show can make people you didn't think you'd care about worthy of viewing, you know it's doing something right!

Biography that airs on A&E network has been basically it's main show since it's inception in 1987 and their best and most looked forward to show every week. So much so that A&E has a spin off channel the Biography channel to air all of their old episodes of this show, that's how highly in demand the show is to the viewers.Biography of any show on TV is the best show at chronicling the life of celebrities whether they be political, acting, sports, or other field of work. You get the best view of what made them who they are today short of reading an autobiography book about them.They tend to interview people close to them or their peers to give their perspective on the subject of that episode.

During the heyday of the "Biography" series, from its onset through about 2004, A&E would usually present five Prime Time episodes weekly, and often a sixth.Afterward, a "Biography Network" was then formed, purporting to air the series 24 hours per day, but, alas, that network has not appeared in every region, such as here, for it's never been available for one and all to experience, but yet A&E then discontinued the series from its regular line-up except for showings at rather odd hours.Primary Hosts, Jack Perkins and Peter Graves and, later, Harry Smith introduce episodes during these early decades, often narrating, as well.During its first 12 or 15 years, Peter Graves specializes in his field of Entertainment, including subjects famous for film and television acting and directing, as well as music performing.Jack Perkins, meanwhile, introduces subjects famous in fields of History and World Leadership, Arts and Literature, Science and Invention, Sports, Business and Industry, as well as Newsmakers of notoriety. Harry Smith handles each category with equal aplomb amid his very busy schedule of hosting and narrating.In addition to the three principle narrators, others famous as news reporters also handle those reigns, as Bob Brown, Hugh Downs, Bill Kurtis or Mike Wallace.Often, famous celebrities in their own right narrate episodes, such as Shelley Fabares, Jodie Foster, Kevin Bacon, Eric Braeden, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover, Edward Herrmann, Hal Linden, Richard Kiley, Monte Markham, Bill Mumy or Tom Selleck, usually to spotlight other entertainers.Russell Buchanan specializes in narrating episodes featuring Country music stars, while others who often narrate include Zach Fine, Dave Hoffman, Thomas Miller, Don Morrow and Larry Robinson.Famous Guest Hosts also occasionally appear to introduce episodes during a theme week, such as Jerry Orbach or Kevin Bacon.At its very best, the series is thoroughly researched and well-produced, labeling captions for archive film clips and performers, and adding interesting trivia regarding the lives and careers of its subjects.But then a large production staff displays a great deal of inconsistency, often from one episode to the next, as one star may have his or her film and television clips well-documented, and the next may be deprived this privilege for some strange reason.Well, I suppose that studios may hold a portion of the responsibility for not issuing adequate film clips or television or song clips to the "Biography" production staff, but the graphics also vary from one episode to the next, as well as the ending credits if you could manage to catch a glimpse of those as they roll by on those split-screen credits with promotional gimmicks overtaking the balance of the screen.And, of course, fans often know a great deal more about the lives and careers of their stars than any given episode may present for want of time and research.But, all-in-all, the series does offer a great number of episodes from various categories which you may wish to see and to revisit, so this is a good idea for a series, and often enjoyable, entertaining and informative to study although some subjects from its "Newsworthy" category may not qualify as deserving in everyone's better judgment.

Anyone who can portray herself so brilliantly in a movie of such brilliance should be applauded. I can't make it more evident the awe and respect I have for Patty Duke. She is beautifull inside and out and also actually looks like my Mom did alot.I would have to give it away to tell you how this movie helped me. The Call Me Anna book also is brilliant. Please join me in one hurrah for anyone who is willing, as an actor or actress, to go public on such an area of sensitive and stigmatic a subject.