Celebrities & Athletes

Biography - Barack Obama

When he called himself "a skinny kid with a funny name" at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, his political star was already on the rise. By the time he decimated the competition in 2004 race for the Illinois Senate, he was the bona fide golden child of a Democratic party desperately in need of a winner. In many ways, the story of Barack Obama is a uniquely American tale of the 21st century, where racial lines are blurry and the most interesting chapter is just beginning.

Biography - Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon (A&E DVD Archives)

Bruce Lee was an amazingly prolific, influential, and graceful man, and his mark on the world have been assured even if he hadn't made a single film. But those five films he made as an adult (he was a child actor in Hong Kong before returning to the U.S.), along with his untimely death, have captured the imagination of generations of martial arts fans. Because of his high profile, though, Lee's life has been well documented over the years--so this A&E Biography proves somewhat redundant, despite its quality. The Immortal Dragon may be more accurate than other offerings--Dragon, the Lee bio that starred Jason Scott Lee (no relation, but a remarkable resemblance), is probably the most entertaining--but there aren't enough revelations here to make it indispensable. At a scant 50 minutes, The Immortal Dragon may not have enough time to fulfill on its initial promise. How unlike Lee. --Randy Silver

He fought his way from the mean streets of Hong Kong to international superstardom. With blazing fists and a burning passion, he became one of the most celebrated kung-fu masters of all time. In classic films like Fists of Fury and Enter the Dragon, he created the martial arts action genre that has become a favorite of moviegoers worldwide. But just as he reached the height of fame, he was struck down by a mysterious ailment or was it the curse that supposedly follows his family? This fascinating program examines the short, meteoric life of Bruce Lee. Exclusive interviews with friends and family including his late son Brandon and extensive footage from home movies, screen-tests and his legendary films help reveal the man behind the myth of the Immortal Dragon.

Biography - Barack Obama (Election Update Edition)

This cable-television biography about the life of Illinois senator Barack Obama was made before he began campaigning to be the Democratic party's candidate for the 2008 presidential race. Still, the program suggests Obama has one or another kind of profound, Anerican destiny as a mixed-race activist who never comfortably fit into one or another group, and had to look deep into his own roots to understand his identity. The son of a white American mother and black Kenyan father, Obama was abandoned by the latter when he returned to his native country to work for its improvement. Raised by his mother--whom Obama credits with teaching him many of his values--and his grandmother, Obama lived in Hawaii as a child but moved to Indonesia for a few years when his mom remarried. There, Obama saw cyclical poverty and the underlying factors that perpetuate it before returning to Hawaii. Interviews with childhood friends and his sister describe Obama's restlessness before attending Harvard law school and propelling himself into a life of public service and community activism. Often accused of lacking enough political experience to qualify him for the White House, Obama comes across in this show as a visionary and experienced consensus-builder who can reach across opposing points of view. The program ends with details about Obama's entry into the U.S. Senate and his rise in the Democratic party, but a post-program coda catches us up with the history of his recent campaign. --Tom Keogh

When he called himself "a skinny kid with a funny name" at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, his political star was already on the rise. By the time he decimated the competition in 2004 race for the Illinois Senate, he was the bona fide golden child of a Democratic party desperately in need of a winner. In many ways, the story of Barack Obama is a uniquely American tale of the 21st century, where racial lines are blurry and the most interesting chapter is just beginning.

Biography - Johnny Depp

His boyish charms have enchanted a young audience while his acting talents have captivated the older crowd leaving little doubt as to the superstar status of Johnny Depp. This entry into the Biography series takes a look at Depp's life and career drawing on comments from a number of his personal friends and associates.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 733961752793 Manufacturer No: AAE-75279

Biography - Bob Dylan (A&E DVD Archives)

A special feature-length portrait of the kid from Hibbing, Minnesota, who became "the voice of a generation" in the turbulent 1960s. Follows Dylan's journey from folk troubadour to rock'n'roll trailblazer, and looks at his struggles to raise a family, his surprising conversion to Christianity, and the songs that made him a cultural icon by the age of 25.

Biography - John Wayne: American Legend

He transcended conventional stardom to earn a place as a true American icon. His 250 films shaped a vision of American manhood. Twenty years after his death, John Wayne remains one of the most influential actors in history. The rugged, straight-shooting characters he portrayed have become a symbol of the American spirit. Born Marion Michael Morrison in Iowa, he was introduced to Hollywood as an undergraduate at USC, where he worked as a set laborer on the Fox lot. Soon he was on camera, appearing in numerous films before landing his breakthrough role in the 1939 John Ford classic, Stagecoach. JOHN WAYNE chronicles the life and career of this Hollywood giant through generous clips and intimate interviews with friends, family and colleagues, including Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Charlton Heston. Discover how he was more than 200 movies into his career before he finally won an Oscar and see excerpts from his poignant final role in The Shootist when, after more than a decade battling the disease, he portrayed an old gunfighter dying from cancer. From the studio lot to leading man, celluloid hero to American legend, this is the moving story of "The Duke."

Biography - Audie Murphy: Great American Hero

He was America's greatest World War II hero, at one point singlehandedly holding off 250 German soldiers and six tanks. But despite winning acclaim and stardom, he could never escape the pain and trauma of the conflict that made him a hero. From his diffi

Biography - The Osmonds: Pure and Simple

Suffice it to say that the stories related in A&E's Osmonds: Pure and Simple are all but squeaky clean. There are no secret drug problems, no criminal activities, and no one-night-stands with groupies. In fact, there's nothing the least bit scandalous to be found in the entire 50-minute program (except perhaps, those horrendous '70s outfits). What there is, however, are tales of spirit, growth, and triumph, all of which occur while the spotlight shines on one of the most popular families in show biz.

Four decades are covered, and the story begins, of course, with the marriage of the Osmond parents, who raised nine children in Salt Lake City's Mormon community. It was on a family trip to Yellowstone that the boys discovered their distinctive harmony and decided to form a quartet. Their parents opted not to pressure the boys into using their talents but allowed the group to make its own decisions--they decided to be entertainers. The program provides a well-written history of the group's rise from Disneyland Barbershop Quartet to their seven-year run on The Andy Williams Show in the mid-1960's, and through the pop chart successes that provided a launch pad for the solo careers of both Donny and Marie.

It's probably obvious that there's a happy ending to the program, which is filled with interviews featuring every member of the joyful clan and provides a fairly broad overview of this show business force. There's also plenty of clips from The Donny and Marie Show (both the 1970s and 1990s versions), which allow us to revel in this nostalgia along with the family that created it. --Zach Lively

Profile of the singing brothers who burst upon the pop scene in the seventies on the "Andy Williams Show", and went on to sell more than 80 million records and break countless hearts. Includes interviews with Alan, Donny, George, Jay, Jimmy, Merrill, Olive, Wayne, and Marie Osmond.

Biography - Lance Armstrong: Racing for His Life (A&E DVD Archives)

After beating ominous odds and conquering cancer, Lance Armstrong returned to cycling and won the Tour de France - five times. His courage, stamina, and charisma made him an international celebrity and a symbol of hope to millions.

In 1996, 25-year-old Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer which had spread to his abdomen, lungs, and brain - he was given a fifty-fifty chance of survival. Join Biography for the inspiring story of Lance's comeback, from diagnosis to rehabilitation to victory. Candid interviews with Armstrong's mother, wife, coach, and closest friends attest to the incredible courage and drive of the Texan who triumphed, despite brain surgery and four punishing rounds of chemotherapy. Striking footage of Lance in action testifies to his talent and his magic.

Lance Armstrong: Racing For His Life offers an in-depth profile of one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen.

Biography - Legends of the Silver Screen

They have dazzled audiences for generations--now meet the real men and women behind the stardust. BIOGRAPHY® PRESENTS: LEGENDS OF THE SILVER SCREEN reveals the true glamour ambition and sex appeal of the cinematic icons who have defined stardom through the ages.This sweeping collection from the acclaimed BIOGRAPHY® series features original screen tests behind-the-scenes footage rare home movies and unforgettable clips from some of the greatest movies of all time. Explore the fascinating personalities of American cinema's greatest stars from childhood innocence to international fame. Family friends and colleagues recall private moments in these intimate portraits separating fact from fiction to illuminate the most personal side of lives lived under the spotlight.Burning love broken marriages blacklisting Oscars® personal triumphs and crushing defeats are all chronicled in eight definitive films with incisive detail unfolding the remarkable lives of these beloved legends both on-screen and off.Bonus Disc Hollywood: An Empire of Their Own Runtime: 650 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 733961770667 Manufacturer No: AAE-77066