ALL
Server

Biography

Season 7 · Episode 22 — Nicolae Ceausescu: The Unrepentant Tyrant

Feb 1, 1999 1h 0m
Documentary

For 24 years, he ruled his country with an iron hand. But the waves of freedom that swept Europe in 1989 cost him his life. Nicolae Ceausescu will be remembered as much for his sudden death as his long tenure as dictator of Rumania. Through extensive archival footage and interviews with those who served him, Biography chronicles the rise and fall of the man who was utterly consumed with a desire to be the best. See how, together with his wife, he fashioned an image of perfection for himself--and how he eliminated any who dared challenge it. Former communist activists share their memories of the young man who would become a despot, while Richard Nixon (in an interview conducted shortly before his death) talks about his dealings with the inflexible leader. And relive the events that finally toppled his regime and turned the people against him. From his childhood in rural Rumania to his execution by firing squad, this is the story of one of the most infamous tyrants of the 20th century.

Season 7 episodes

E1
David Berkowitz: Son of SamMar 23, 1998 · 1h 0m

For over a year, he held a city hostage to fear. When he was finally caught, the nation was shocked to discover that the "face of terror" w…

E2
Mao Tse Tung: China's Peasant EmperorMar 30, 1998 · 1h 0m

For 25 years Mao Zedong ruled one quarter of the world's population. This is the extraordinary story of a farmer's son who became a God in…

E3
Amelia Earhart: Queen of the AirApr 6, 1998 · 1h 0m

She was an uncommon heroine, a legendary aviator, and the focus of one of the greatest mysteries of all time. A daredevil of unimaginable p…

E4
Angela Lansbury: A Balancing ActApr 13, 1998 · 1h 0m

Trace the remarkable arc of Lansbury’s life and career, highlighting how she navigated early hardship, Hollywood typecasting, and later tri…

E5
Anne Frank: The Life of a Young GirlApr 20, 1998 · 1h 0m

Her Diary is one of the most widely read books in the world. Yet the time she spent hiding from the Nazis is but one chapter in her remarka…

E6
Beethoven: The Sound and the FuryApr 27, 1998 · 1h 0m

This musical genius was tormented by loneliness, heartbreak and the loss of his hearing. Yet his talent transcended his anguish and the mus…

E7
Colonel Sanders: America's Chicken KingMay 4, 1998 · 1h 0m

Explore the extraordinary life of Harland Sanders, the man behind Kentucky Fried Chicken, whose white suit and string tie became symbols of…

E8
Dwight D. Eisenhower: Commander-in-ChiefMay 11, 1998 · 1h 0m

Dwight D. Eisenhower lived a life marked by extraordinary success. A West Point graduate whose military know-how catapulted him through the…

E9
Ernest Hemingway: Wrestling With LifeMay 18, 1998 · 1h 0m

Ernest Hemingway's novels rank among the most influential and celebrated in history, while his life remains an obscure image shrouded in my…

E10
Evel Knievel: Hell on WheelsMay 25, 1998 · 1h 0m

Dive into the turbulent, high‑octane life of America’s most famous daredevil, tracing how Robert “Evel” Knievel transformed himself from a…

E11
Howard Carter: Triumph and TreasureJun 1, 1998 · 1h 0m

He made the find of the 20th century and discovered the most spectacular treasure the world had ever seen. For over 30 years, Howard Carter…

E12
Jackie Kennedy Onassis: In a Class of Her OwnJun 8, 1998 · 1h 0m

She won universal admiration for her dignity and control in the hours and days after her husband’s assassination. The years that followed o…

E13
Jim Jones: Journey into MadnessJun 15, 1998 · 1h 0m

Explore the chilling rise and tragic downfall of the charismatic yet deeply disturbed leader of the Peoples Temple. The episode traces Jone…

E14
John Wayne: American LegendJun 22, 1998 · 1h 0m

He transcended conventional stardom to earn a place as a true American icon. His 250 films shaped a vision of American manhood. Twenty year…

E15
P.T. Barnum: The Greatest Showman on EarthJun 29, 1998 · 1h 0m

Explore the dazzling rise of the man who reshaped American entertainment through imagination, audacity, and relentless promotion. The episo…

E16
Ray Kroc: Fast Food McMillionaireJul 6, 1998 · 1h 0m

From Beijing to Buenos Aires, McDonald’s is the most well‑known brand in the world—in fact, the Golden Arches are more recognizable than th…

E17
Satan: Prince of DarknessJul 13, 1998 · 1h 0m

He was the favorite angel who dared disobey God. Cast out from Heaven, he became mankind's tormentor, vowing to destroy the creation of his…

E18
Vincent Van Gogh: A Stroke of GeniusJul 20, 1998 · 1h 0m

Delve into the haunting brilliance and tragic life of one of history’s most influential artists. The episode traces Van Gogh’s journey from…

E19
Charles Lindbergh: Against the WindJan 7, 1999 · 1h 0m

Trace the dramatic life of the aviator who became an international hero overnight after completing the first solo nonstop flight across the…

E20
Fred Gwynne: More than a MunsterJan 18, 1999 · 1h 0m

Fred Gwynne: More than a Munster offers a warm, revealing portrait of the actor whose towering frame and gentle charm made Herman Munster u…

E21
John Wayne Gacy: A Monster in DisguiseJan 25, 1999 · 1h 0m

Examine the horrifying double life of one of America’s most notorious serial killers, presenting his crimes through a factual, victim‑cente…

E22
Nicolae Ceausescu: The Unrepentant TyrantFeb 1, 1999 · 1h 0m

For 24 years, he ruled his country with an iron hand. But the waves of freedom that swept Europe in 1989 cost him his life. Nicolae Ceauses…

E23
The Tiffanys: Mark of ExcellenceFeb 8, 1999 · 1h 0m

Explore the remarkable family behind America’s most iconic luxury brand, tracing how their name became synonymous with craftsmanship, innov…

E44
Dean Martin: Everybody Loves SomebodySep 4, 1995 · 1h 0m

Throughout his legendary partnership with Jerry Lewis and years of solo stardom, his laid‑back charm made everything look easy. Dean Martin…

E63
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidOct 20, 1995 · 46m

Their incredible exploits earned them a place in American legend. Their true fate remains one of the great mysteries of the Old West. Butch…

E67
Nostradamus: Prophet of DoomNov 6, 1995 · 47m

The episode examines the mysterious life and enduring legacy of Nostradamus, the 16th‑century French physician and astrologer whose cryptic…

Seasons