Arena (1975)
Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. Voted by leading TV executives in Broadcast as one of the top 50 most influential programmes of all time, it has run since 1 October 1975 with over five hundred episodes made, directed by the likes of Martin Scorsese, Alan Yentob, Roly Keating, Frederick Baker, Volker Schlondorff and Vikram Jayanti. Arena's subjects are a roll-call of the world's best known cultural figures from the 20th and 21st centuries, from singers Bob Dylan and Amy Winehouse to academics Edward Said and Eric Hobsbawm, from writers Jean Genet and V S Naipaul to artists Francis Bacon and Louise Bourgeois. The current series editor is Anthony Wall.
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Episode 1 - Woody Guthrie
Release Date: 1988-01-08Woody Guthrie was born into a family made rich by the Oklahoma oil boom. But by the time he was eight years old, his mother was in an insane asylum and his father had lost every penny. His personal life was a catalogue of tragedy and disease, yet he had a vision that inspired two generations of Americans. The dustiest of the Dust Bowlers, Guthrie made his own life into a myth. He appointed himself spokesman for the poor and oppressed and through his songs turned their life into his own. This classic film is full of the songs of Woody Guthrie and contains rare footage of him performing. Guthrie's story is told in his own words and includes extended interviews with friends and family.
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Episode 3 - The Dandy-Beano Story
Release Date: 1988-01-1550th anniversary tribute to the Beano and Dandy comics. (Synopsis from BFI Film & TV Database)
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Episode 5 - The Emperor
Release Date: 1988-02-05Performance of Jonathan Miller's production for the Royal Court Theatre, of Ryszard Kapuscinski's "The Emperor", adapted for the stage and television by Michael Hastings and Jonathan Miller. Drama about the last days of Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia before his final overthrow.
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Episode 6 - Woody Guthrie
Release Date: 1988-01-08 -
Episode 7 - An Andalucian Journey
Release Date: 1988-03-04A journey through southern Spain to meet the Andalucian gypsy families who keep alive the traditions of flamenco.
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Episode 8 - Robert Mapplethorpe
Release Date: 1988-03-18Profile of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, to accompany the exhibition of his work at the National Portrait Gallery.
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Episode 9 - The English Thoroughbred
Release Date: 1988-03-25Documentary on the thoroughbred horse. Horses include Oh So Sharp, Dancing Brave, Adjal and Reference Point.
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Episode 10 - Byrne About Byrne
Release Date: 1988-04-01John Byrne, author of TUTTI FRUTTI, writes and directs his own film autobiography.
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Episode 11 - Ten Green Bottles
Release Date: 1988-11-25Tenth anniversary edition of the programme, featuring clips from some of the pro grammes of the last ten years.
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Episode 12 - Clint Eastwood
Release Date: 1988-12-02Interview with Clint Eastwood about his career, his work as a director and the evolution of the Eastwood persona.
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Episode 13 - Moving Across The World On Horses
Release Date: 1988-12-09Documentary about the work of Michael Ondaatje, including a dramatisation of his ideas.
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Episode 14 - History Boys On The Rampage
Release Date: 1988-12-16Report about the Field Day Theatre Company's production of Making History on tour in Northern Ireland.
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Episode 15 - Robert Mapplethorpe
Release Date: 1988-03-18