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Edward Asner

Self - Host…

Rudy Vallee

Self

James G. Stewart

Self - Sound Recordist

Murray Spivack

Self - Sound Effects

Pandro S. Berman

Self - Producer

Katherine Brown

Self - Story Editor
(as Kay Brown)

Joseph F. Biroc

Self - Camera Operator
(as Joseph Biroc)

Vernon Harbin

Self - RKO Archivist

Katharine Hepburn

Self

Dorothy Jordan

Self - Widow of Merian C. Cooper

Fay Wray

Self

Zoe Porter

Self - Secretary to Merian C. Cooper

Ray Harryhausen

Self - Special Effects

Bert Granet

Self - Writer

Linwood G. Dunn

Self - Optical Effects
(as Linwood Dunn)

Edward Eliscu

Self - Lyricist: 'Flying Down to Rio'

Gene Raymond

Self

Merian C. Cooper

Self
(archive footage)
(uncredited)

Did you know

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Trivia
Interviews were filmed with Cary Grant (filmed only a few months before his death), Joel McCrea, James Stewart, Frank Capra, Ann Miller, Joan Leslie, Ida Lupino, Loretta Young, Eve Arden, Victor Mature, Paulette Goddard, Burgess Meredith, Joseph Cotten, Harriet Nelson, Buddy Rogers, Cornel Wilde, Maureen O'Hara, Simone Simon, Kim Hunter, and Dorothy Lee, but due to time and budget constraints, were not included in the final cut of this miniseries. Laurence Olivier, Jean Arthur, Olivia de Havilland and Claudette Colbert all declined to be interviewed.

Quotes
Fay Wray: He said: 'You're going to have the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood... '

Connections
Features Kismet (1920)

A must-see for anyone who considers themselves a film expert or fan of classic Hollywood.

This is the first of six episodes about the history of RKO Studios. And, for anyone who considers themselves to be a film expert or lover of classic Hollywood, you MUST see this BBC-produced series! Unfortunately, that won't be so easy since it is NOT out on video or DVD...but fortunately it has been posted on YouTube. It is also fortunate that by 1987, a decent number of folks associated with the early days were still alive and participated in the documentary.

Episode one, not surprisingly, is about the founding of the studio and the early teething pains they encountered as well as their few successes (such as KING KONG and FLYING DOWN TO RIO). It features a lot of interviews with writers, directors, producers and a few stars...as well as narration by Ed Asner.

Overall, a terrific time capsule and a film worth seeing.