Timewatch: The Empire State Story
01:25 am - 02:15 am, Thursday, April 30 on BBC Four (9)
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About this Broadcast
The Empire State Story
Season 2000, Episode 1
The history of the Empire State Building, commissioned by General Motors as a rival to the Chrysler Building, with personal accounts from a steelworker involved in its construction and, in a story which remarkably mirrors the tragic events of September 11, a widow whose husband died in 1945 when his plane crashed into the 79th floor. The programme also explores the life of public relations king Al Smith, the former governor of New York who once represented the public face of the impressive building, the world's tallest for 40 years
subtitles
16x9
Education/Science/Factual Topics
General
More Information
Did You Know..
Samuel West
(Narrator)
Born:
June 19, 1966
in
London
Best Known For:
His roles in Howards End and Hornblower.
Early-life:
Samuel Alexander Joseph West was born in south London on June 19, 1966, to thespians Prunella Scales and Timothy West. He has a younger brother, Joe, and an older half-sister, Juliet, from his father's first marriage. His childhood was spent either at home with his mother or visiting his father on location around the globe. His parents discouraged him from becoming an actor, and at first it seemed their ploy worked when he concentrated on studying science at school. He planned to study physics at Oxford University, but switched to English.
Career:
West had a small part in TV series Nanny when he was 13, but didn't become hooked on acting until appearing with Oxford University's theatre group. He went on to appear in a TV adaptation of the Chronicles of Narnia as Prince Caspian, but 1992's Howards End was his big break, earning him a Bafta nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Since then he's appeared in A Feast at Midnight, Carrington, Persuasion, Jane Eyre, Stiff Upper Lips, Hornblower, Iris, and Van Helsing. He also starred in the critically acclaimed play ENRON in 2009 and alongside his father in Caryl Churchill's two-hander A Number, in 2011. In 2012 he appeared as grumpy angel Zac Gist in ITV1's fantasy drama Eternal Law. More recently he featured in Hyde Park on Hudson and Mr Selfridge.
Quote:
'The problem with being fashionable is you become unfashionable.'
Trivia:
In 2005 West became the artistic director of Sheffield Theatres, eventually leaving two years later when the city's Crucible was closed for refurbishment. He's also directed a number of plays.
Jonathan Gili
(Director)
Laurence Rees
(Series editor)
