The Plot Thickens

A young film buff grows up in New York, learning to obsess over the movies the way his father obsesses over art. Peter lies his way into the most prestigious acting class in the world, where he unexpectedly finds his calling as a director.

Peter meets Polly Platt, his closest creative collaborator -- and soon, his young wife. The newlyweds drive across the country to break into the movie business, starting with a low-budget directing gig for Roger Corman.

Peter challenges himself to film an "unfilmable" book and creates one of the seminal movies of the 1970s: The Last Picture Show. But Peter risks losing his family after an affair with his leading lady, Cybill Shepherd.

Following The Last Picture Show, Peter makes two more major hits: What’s Up, Doc? and Paper Moon. But then his wife leaves him, his next three movies are high-profile flops, and his relationship with Cybill is splashed across the tabloids.

Feeling betrayed, Orson Welles humiliates Peter on national television. So Peter heads overseas to shoot a daring new movie, filming in secret to evade government censors.

Alone for the first time, Peter finds love in an unexpected place: the Playboy Mansion. His passionate romance with Playmate Dorothy Stratten ignites his creativity, but his life is forever changed by her devastating murder.

Grief-stricken for years, Peter finally goes back behind the camera and ends up shooting one of his most popular films. But he sues the studio before the movie is released, further endangering his career.

Peter Bogdanovich interviews director Howard Hawks in the Palm Springs desert in April 1972. Hawks tells Peter how he got started in showbiz and provides insight into many of his best movies.

Peter Bogdanovich sits down with one of his filmmaking heroes, Alfred Hitchcock, for a wide-ranging conversation about Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Rear Window and more.

Highlights from Peter Bogdanovich's interviews with three of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars, who talk about the unique challenges of working with director and legendary curmudgeon John Ford.

TCM host Alicia Malone hosts a conversation with Peter Bogdanovich and Ben Mankiewicz, who share memorable stories and answer questions from listeners about Season 1 of The Plot Thickens.