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Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

The public vote for the greatest icon of the 20th century.

Exploring the achievements of the greatest figures of the 20th century. The public vote for their favourites, ultimately deciding who is the greatest icon of them all.

Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century: Series 1: Episode 4: Entertainers

Entertainers

Episode 4

Episode 4: Entertainers

Series 1

BBC Two - Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, Series 1, Entertainers

Kathleen Turner examines Charlie Chaplin, Billie Holiday, Marilyn Monroe and David Bowie.

Exploring the achievements of the greatest figures of the 20th century. Kathleen Turner looks at Charlie Chaplin, Billie Holiday, Marilyn Monroe and David Bowie.

The fourth in the series, this episode charts the story of entertainment in the 20th century. This episode sees Hollywood star Kathleen Turner examine the achievements and legacies of four of the century's greatest entertainers. The story of entertainment in the 20th century ranged from vaudeville clowns to Space Oddities, and everything in between. This was 100 years where technological developments changed the face of entertainment forever - giving rise to our first movie stars, recording artists, and creating a cult of celebrity. In short, the 20th century was the 100 years in which we fell in love with the people who entertained us. These stars were each innovative and groundbreaking, but because we were the ones who placed them on their pedestal by going to see their films, buying their records or putting their posters on our walls, they belonged to us in a way that almost no other icons could.

The four icons examined by this documentary were not only towering figures in their industries, but people who rebelled against the establishment, threatening to tear down social barriers which had been in place for generations. Each was seen as a threat by people who should have had the power to silence them, but were so adored by their fans that their unique talents instead went down in history.

Kathleen examines the lives of Charlie Chaplin, Billie Holiday, Marilyn Monroe and David Bowie. She uncovers their greatest achievements and explores their legacies.

Chaplin spent much of his childhood in poverty, before becoming the world's first international movie star. Chaplin took on the powers of the studio system, before using his most famous film, the Great Dictator, to send a powerful message about the dangers of fascism.

Raised in abject poverty, Holiday's unique singing technique saw her become one of the world's great recording artists before she chose to shine a light on one of the darkest corners of humanity when she released Strange Fruit.

Marilyn Monroe used her image to propel her from starlet status to that of arguably the most iconic film star in the world. She pushed to expand the flimsy roles offered to her, fought the powerful studios for more creative control, and she took control of her image in a way that was revolutionary.

David Bowie landed on the London music scene and, with the help of Ziggy Stardust, transformed it at once giving rise to an army of young, previously disenfranchised fans. He challenged stereotypes of gender and sexuality and would carry on challenging society both socially and artistically for the next 45 years.

At the end of the programme, the public can vote for the greatest entertainer of the century who, along with the finalists from the other categories, is put through to the live final at the end of the series.

Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century: Series 1

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