Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession

May 16, 2004

2h 1m

★ 7.0

Overview

A documentary on the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the US, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974, the LA-based channel's eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.

Genres

History

Documentary

Production Companies

Maja Films

Fresh Produce Films

Independent Film Channel

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession Trailers

Cast

Self

Quentin Tarantino

Self

Robert Altman

Self

Jim Jarmusch

Self

Paul Verhoeven

Self

Alexander Payne

Self

James Woods

Self

Henry Jaglom

Self

Jacqueline Bisset

Self

Kris Kristofferson

Self

Theresa Russell

Self

Vilmos Zsigmond

Self

Penelope Spheeris

The author of the film decides to leave the country where she lives, in connection with the outbreak of the dramatic events, and return home to Armenia in search of a worthy example and solutions on how to live on. Paradjanov's house becomes a place of inspiration and a point of no return to toxic reality.

6.4

Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq

Feb 5, 2014

Of all the great ballerinas, Tanaquil Le Clercq may have been the most transcendent. With a body unlike any before hers, she mesmerized viewers and choreographers alike. With her elongated, race-horse physique, she became the new prototype for the great George Balanchine. Because of her extraordinary movement and unique personality on stage, she became a muse to two of the greatest choreographers in dance, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. She eventually married Balanchine, and Robbins created his famous version of Afternoon of a Faun for her. She had love, fame, adoration, and was the foremost dancer of her day until it suddenly all stopped. At the age of 27, she was struck down by polio and paralyzed. She never danced again. The ballet world has been haunted by her story ever since.

6.9

Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams

Mar 1, 2006

A woman and her daughter struggle to make their way through the aftermath of the Balkan war.

0.0

March 1945: Duel at the Cathedral

Mar 2, 2015

Cologne is the largest city that the G.I.s will take during the war. Nazi propaganda has declared the city to be defended to the last cartridge. Witness the US troops first hand on their advance from the outskirts of the city to the banks of the Rhine and the fascinating research of the Cologne journalist and film historian Hermann Rheindorf.

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0.0

Celoživotní zápas Gustava Frištenského

May 7, 2019

No overview available.

9.0

Mirza Ghalib

Feb 2, 1988

This is the about the most admired poet in the History of Urdu and Persian writings, Mirza Ghalib

8.0

The Golden Age of Songs From Our Childhood

Dec 25, 2020

This 135-minute documentary offers to reopen this magical parenthesis which has seen the birth of a whirlwind of artists with very different styles. From Chantal Goya to Annie Cordy, from Pierre Perret to Carlos. They knew how to bring each in their own way generations of children into their poetic universe.

6.5

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Sep 17, 2021

From the 1960s to the 1980s, evangelist Jim Baker and his ambitious wife, Tammy Faye, rose from humble beginnings to build an empire based on big-time evangelical Christianity--only for the couple to fall from grace because of some all-too-human sins.

7.3

Imelda

Nov 23, 2003

A "beyond the shoes" documentary on the former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos.

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0.0

Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable

Oct 25, 2013

Ben Stiller, Mike Myers, Seth Meyers and Michael Ian Black have a roundtable comedy discussion.

5.2

Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity

Mar 8, 2014

Born to Fly pushes the boundaries between action and art, daring us to join choreographer Elizabeth Streb and her dancers in pursuit of human flight.

7.4

Vessel

Mar 9, 2014

A fearless sea captain, Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, sails a ship through loopholes in international law, providing abortions on the high seas, and leaving in her wake a network of emboldened activists who trust women to handle abortion on their own terms.

7.0

That Guy Dick Miller

Mar 7, 2014

Documentary about veteran character actor Dick Miller, whose career in and outside of Hollywood has spanned almost 200 films across six decades, featuring a diverse range of interviews with directors, co-stars, and contemporaries.

7.2

Sly

Sep 16, 2023

His love of film began as an escape from a rocky childhood. From underdog to Hollywood legend, Sylvester Stallone tells his story in this documentary.

7.2

83

Dec 23, 2021

On the 25th of June 1983, the Lord’s Cricket Ground witnessed one of the biggest underdog stories in the history of sports. Fourteen inspired players - led by a man's self-belief and conviction - fought against all odds and orchestrated India’s greatest sporting triumph by beating the two-time World Champions West Indies.

6.0

Many Beautiful Things

Oct 17, 2015

In an age when women were incapable of joining the artistic dialogue, Lilias Trotter managed to win the favour of celebrated critics.

7.5

The French Revolution

May 10, 1989

A history of the French Revolution beginning from the decision of the king to convene the Etats-Generaux in 1789 in order to deal with France's debt problem. Part one spans the event until August 10, 1792 (when the King Louis XVI lost all authority and was imprisoned). Part two carries the story through the end of the terror in 1794.

6.0

The Comeback

May 12, 1980

After an absence of five years, six times Mr Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a comeback and attempts to take the World Body Building Championship for the 7th time.

6.5

Monsieur Truffaut Meets Mr. Hitchcock

Aug 5, 1999

When Francois Truffaut approached Alfred Hitchcock in 1962 with the idea of having a long conversation with him about his work and publishing this in book form, he didn't imagine that more than four years would pass before Le Cinéma selon Hitchcock finally appeared in 1966. Not only in France but all over the world, Truffaut's Hitchcock interview developed over the years into a standard bible of film literature. In 1983, three years after Hitchcock's death, Truffaut decided to expand his by now legendary book to include a concluding chapter and have it published as the "Edition définitive". This film describes the genesis of the "Hitchbook" and throws light on the strange friendship between two completely different men. The centrepieces are the extracts from the original sound recordings of the interview with the voices of Alfred Hitchcock, Francois Truffaut, and Helen Scott – recordings which have never been heard in public before.

7.0

Yakuza Eiga, une histoire du cinéma yakuza

Feb 12, 2009

The history of the Yakuza Eiga at the TOEI studio is roughly outlined. Real Yakuza and also their connections to the movie business are discussed, and many important actors and directors of the genres are interviewed. Former real yakuza boss turned actor Noboru Ando, Takashi Miike, Sonny Chiba and many more get a chance to speak.