Episode list

Gloria Swanson and old French film stars gather to watch Sunset Boulevard (1950) and talk about the silent era.

Guests watch and discuss Robert Aldrich's The Big Knife (1955).

Rudolph Valentino's life and death are discussed with three of his collaborators and other specialists.

The Riom trial is one of the great political trials of French history. It was decided in July 1940 by the leaders of the Vichy regime, whose aim was to convince the French of the evils of the democratic regime, and more specifically of the Popular Front, denounced as responsible for the army's defeat in May-June 1940... They also wanted to demonstrate that the reforms of the "National Revolution" and the policy of collaboration with the occupying forces were the only way to save France. As a result, the leading figures of the Third Republic - Léon Blum, Edouard Daladier, Guy La Chambre and General Gamelin - were brought before a supreme court of justice. The trial began in February 1942, but was suspended in April. Indeed, it was confusing the accusers. Blum and Daladier even questioned Marshal Pétain's legitimacy.