Plot Synopsis

Hosted and curated by Howard Suber, one of the founders of the UCLA Film Archive, THE POWER OF FILM is a six-episode documentary series that explores some of the greatest American classic films from the past century by diving deep into the art of storytelling by examining the defining principles and inner workings of beloved films. Directed by Laura Gabbert and based on Suber's 2006 book of the same name, the series debuted on Thursdays at 8pm ET on TCM beginning Thursday, January 4, 2024, with each one-hour installment focusing on a different theme:

"Popular and Memorable" (Thursday, January 4 at 8pm ET): A large proportion of the most commercially successful American films are quickly forgotten. A tiny fraction, however, are truly memorable, lasting from one generation to another. Using iconic scenes from many of these classic films, this series explores films that were both popular and memorable. In this episode, Howard Suber asks why this small minority continues to have such power.

"Trapped" (Thursday, January 11 at 8pm ET): Nearly all memorable stories, whether told in movies or in real life, are about traps. The most memorable are generally about the loss, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph the central character must engage in to escape their trap.

"Character Relationships" (Thursday, January 18 at 8pm ET): There's no such thing as an interesting character; there are only interesting character relationships. But, as is true for religions, myths, and the longest-lasting dramas, the structure of most memorable dramatic plots centers on a single individual, around whom all the most important action and the other characters revolve.

"Heroes and Villains" (Thursday, January 25 at 8pm ET): Memorable films tend to be a compensation for what we don't see much of in the real world - justice, commitment, and altruism. Film drama frequently treats the central characters as if they were heroes or villains, but often the two are very much alike.

"The Power of Paradox" (Thursday, February 1 at 8pm ET): In almost every memorable film, things are not what they seem, and learning the truth about characters and situations creates much of the tension in the film. Often, the truth of the film is quite paradoxical, which is what makes us want to keep watching.

"Love and Meaning" (Thursday, February 8 at 8pm ET): Although it's often said that in order to succeed, a Hollywood film has to have a happy ending, when you look at the most memorable love stories it's astonishing how many of them end with the separation or death of one or both lovers. Often, the paradox underlying the film helps explain why they stick in our memories.