The BEST episodes of Biography season 1997

#1 - F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dreamer

Season 1997 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/14/1997

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), the “Great American Dreamer” whose literary classics include “The Great Gatsby” and “Tender Is the Night.” Interviewed: Garrison Keiller and three Fitzgerald biographers.

#2 - Vincent Price: The Versatile Villain

Season 1997 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/12/1997

Horror legend Vincent Price is profiled.

#3 - Joan of Arc: Virgin Warrior

Season 1997 - Episode 102 - Aired 9/22/1997

The life of the teenage peasant girl who, convinced that she was sent by God to liberate France from the English, became the game-changer in the Hundred Years' War.

#4 - Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace

Season 1997 - Episode 101 - Aired 11/2/1997

The life and work of the Indian revolutionary who led 300 million people to independence from Britain.

#5 - Thurgood Marshall: Justice for All

Season 1997 - Episode 99 - Aired 2/18/1997

#6 - Joseph Kennedy: Father of an American Dynasty

Season 1997 - Episode 98 - Aired 7/28/1997

Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969) is profiled in a program on the political dynasty's ambitious patriarch, a financier, movie producer and ambassador to Great Britain who fathered America's first Irish-Catholic President and two senators.

#7 - Dalai Lama: The Soul of Tibet

Season 1997 - Episode 93 - Aired 12/26/1997

The BIOGRAPHY of the Dalai Lama explores the life and times of Tibet's political and spiritual leader. Born the fifth of seven children in a small rural village, the Dalai Lama was proclaimed leader of the Tibetan people after demonstrating that he was the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. In 1950, the life of the Dalai Lama changed suddenly when the Chinese communists invaded Tibet and prohibited the practice of religion. Flung into exile, the Dalai Lama has spent his years in neighboring India tirelessly negotiating for the cultural autonomy for his people. Rewarded for his efforts, the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. A man of great charm, wit, intelligence and humility, the Dalai Lama has become one of the world's most admired men and a great leader in the tradition of pacifistic resistance.

#8 - Anastasia: Her True Story

Season 1997 - Episode 77 - Aired 11/24/1997

When the Communists took over Russia in 1917, the royal family was executed the year after, 1918. But in later years, many said that the youngest princess escaped. The program looks at recent evidence which clears up many questions surrounding the fate of the young woman, as well as the identity of the Anastasia claimer in New York City in 1928. Was she the genuine princess or a fake?

#9 - Hail Caesar: Justinian

Season 1997 - Episode 69 - Aired 10/10/1997

Justinian struggles to reunite the Roman Empire.

#10 - Hail Caesar: Constantine

Season 1997 - Episode 68 - Aired 10/9/1997

Constantine grants Christians freedom of worship.

#11 - Hail Caesar: Hadrian

Season 1997 - Episode 67 - Aired 10/8/1997

Emperor Hadrian strengthens Rome.

#12 - Hail Caesar: Nero

Season 1997 - Episode 66 - Aired 10/7/1997

Unstable Nero flees Rome in disguise and disgrace.

#13 - Hail Caesar: Augustus

Season 1997 - Episode 65 - Aired 10/6/1997

Caesar Augustus stabilizes Rome; Pax Romana.

#14 - Hail Caesar: Julius Caesar

Season 1997 - Episode 64 - Aired 10/5/1997

Considered an upstart, Julius Caesar becomes the first Roman emperor.

#15 - Ivan the Terrible: Might and Madness

Season 1997 - Episode 61 - Aired 9/29/1997

He was the first Tsar of Russia. He killed his own son and even had several of his wives murdered. He resorted to torture, exile, and imprisonment to repress those who stood against him. But the ruler known as "Ivan the Terrible" also established sweeping reforms that helped bring his nation out of the Dark Ages.

#16 - Ayatollah Khomeini: Holy Terror

Season 1997 - Episode 14 - Aired 9/11/1997

A profile of Ayatollah Khomeini, the theocratic Iranian revolutionary leader. “He was no fanatic,” says Mike Wallace. “He knew exactly what he was doing.” Also interviewed: Mideast expert Fouad Ajami; New York Times correspondent Elaine Sciolino.

#17 - Larry Flynt: Fighting Dirty

Season 1997 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/15/1997

From bootlegger to convict, to millionaire pornographer, to born-again Christian, to paraplegic gunshot-victim, Larry Flynt's life so far has been anything but ordinary. As the founder and publisher of Hustler Magazine Flynt broke new ground in porn publishing, offering filth and debauchery of a sort hitherto only imaginable. In his life Larry Flynt has always courted controversy, and along the way he's made himself the enemy of millions. But Larry Flynt always seems to come out on top. This comprehensive portrait follows Flynt from his dirt-poor Appalachian childhood to his surprising role as a poster-boy for First Amendment rights. Rare footage documents the defining moments in his life, from the launch of Hustler in 1974 to his landmark Supreme Court victory over Moral Majority head Jerry Falwell. In a moving interview, Flynt recalls his long and painful recovery from the assassination attempt that nearly took his life, and the tragic death of his wife. From selling moonshine to his dad to the controversial film that cemented his place in folklore, this is the controversial saga of Larry Flynt.

#18 - Lucrezia Borgia: Pretty Poison

Season 1997 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/2/1997

Born the illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia--later Pope Alexander VI--Lucrezia Borgia was three times married to further her father's political ambitions. Her first marriage had been annulled and her second husband was murdered on orders from her brother. The third of these was in 1501, to Alfonso son of the Duke of Este, who inherited the Duchy of Ferrara, where she established a brilliant court of artists and men of letters, and devoted herself to the patronage of art and education. But what of her reputation for wantonness and crime? She has been called the most depraved woman in history. As Lucrezia grew up in Roman society, rumors about her were rampant. Did she have incestuous affairs, with her father, the pope, and her brothers? Was pricking enemies with an arsenic-drenched ring her favorite method of disposing men? Or was Lucrezia a victim of her family's ruthless quest for power, exploited for her beauty and kindness? Is her reputation more legend than fact?

#19 - Noah and the Ark: Voyage to a New Beginning

Season 1997 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/18/1997

With humanity perched on the brink of destruction, his righteousness saved the world. Although most people know the story of the Flood and Noah's Ark, few know details about Noah, the man. sailor, vintner, farmer, healer, and prophet-is said to have lived for 950 years. This remarkable BIOGRAPHY® traces the holy man's life, illuminating little-known facts and exploring his role as the central figure of the renowned tale of destruction and rebirth. Uncover Noah's extraordinary story through interviews with renowned historians, biblical excerpts and period accounts, stunning location footage from the Holy Land, and rare paintings and artifacts. NOAH & THE ARK offers a fascinating investigation into the life of one of the Bible's most celebrated men, a figure who foresaw a terrible end and a new beginning for mankind.

#20 - Eliot Ness: Untouchable

Season 1997 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/22/1997

"The Untouchables,'' based on his book, mythologizes treasury agent Eliot Ness.

#21 - Rasputin: The Mad Monk

Season 1997 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/10/1997

He was an uneducated peasant who gained a reputation as a faith healer. His strange behavior and incredible influence over the imperial family made him notorious his death made him a legend. Gregory Rasputin dominated the final years of imperial Russia.

#22 - Timothy McVeigh: Soldier of Terror

Season 1997 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/8/1997

This profile of Timothy McVeigh, the former U.S. Army sergeant convicted of the Oklahoma City bombing, traces his early life in Pendleton, N.Y., and his military hitch, including his service in the Persian Gulf War. Chris Bury narrates.

#23 - Andrew Cunanan

Season 1997 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/17/1997

Andrew Cunanan was a serial murder who killed fashion designer Gianni Versace, and at least four other people, before committing suicide in a Miami houseboat.

#24 - Julia Child: An Appetite for Life

Season 1997 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/14/1997

A spicy look at the renowned TV chef and French cooking expert. Traces her life from privileged childhood to her cooking career, which didn't begin until she attended the Cordon Bleu at age 35.

#25 - Judy Garland: Beyond the Rainbow

Season 1997 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/23/1997

"Judy: Beyond the Rainbow" profiles entertainer Judy Garland (1922-69) in a blend of movie and TV clips and revealing interviews. Among those commenting: daughter Liza Minnelli, Mickey Rooney, June Allyson, Ann Miller.