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The Best Episodes of Arena

Every episode of Arena ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Arena!

Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. Voted by leading TV executives in Broadcast as one of the top...
Genre:Documentary

Best Episodes Summary

"Screen Goddesses" is the best rated episode of "Arena". It scored 8/10 based on 73 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 12/22/2012. This episode scored 0.6 points higher than the second highest rated, "Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century".

  • Screen Goddesses
    8.0/1073 votes
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    #1 - Screen Goddesses

    Season 38 Episode 9 - Aired 12/22/2012

    Documentary about the early female movie stars: Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe - immortal goddesses made by Hollywood to reign over the silver screen.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century
    7.4/108 votes
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    #2 - Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century

    Season 23 Episode 4 - Aired 5/15/1998

    Arena explores the rise of the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra from his early family background to overwhelming showbusiness success. Interviews with friends, family and associates reveal a star-studded career in music and film.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Masters of the Canvas
    7.0/101 votes
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    #3 - Masters of the Canvas

    Season 1992 Episode 2 - Aired 1/31/1992

    Paul Yates and Peter Blake on their fascination with masked wrestler Kendo Nagasaki.

    Director: Mary Dickinson

    Writer: N/A

  • Television: When Is A Play Not A Play?
    6.5/106 votes
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    #4 - Television: When Is A Play Not A Play?

    Season 3 Episode 30 - Aired 4/17/1978

    A tribute to the British filmmaker Alan Clarke (1935-1990).

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #5 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/1975

    Premiere. Ronald Eyre reviews what's going on in the theatre, Kenneth Tynan talks to Laurence Olivier about Lilian Baylis and The Old Vic, and a film about David Hockney's sets for The Rake's Progress.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #6 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/8/1975

    George Melly looks at how they sold the 70's and a report on the opening of the Space Studios.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #7 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/15/1975

    An interview with Howard Barker, author of 'Stripwell', and an extract from same; commentary by Kenneth Tynan; and an investigation of 'Birds of Paradise'.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #8 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/22/1975

    Cartoonist Mel Caiman on the New Yorker magazine and its artists, Richard Hamilton at the Serpentine Gallery, and a new documentary exhibition from Jarrow.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #9 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/29/1975

    Peter Hall talks about the history and new South Band location of the National Theater, where he is artistic director.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #10 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/1975

    Features Observer critic William Feaver on Painting the End of the World, Bill Brandt's selection of landscape photography at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the best of science fiction illustration.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #11 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/1975

    Extract from a contemporary play and Kenneth Tynan opines.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #12 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/19/1975

    Shirley Conran is the guest columnist; fashion photographer Barry Lategan is filmed working; and Victorian painter Edward Burne-Jones' London exhibition.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #13 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/1975

    Deborah Norton reviews British stage events, a play extract, and Kenneth Tynan opines about the theatre.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #14 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/3/1975

    Guest columnist Terry Measham; a look into the work of painter and poet Charles Tomlinson.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #15 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/10/1975

    Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova rehearse for a BBC New Year Gala Performance; Kenneth Tynan draws a portrait of Albert Finney.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #16 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/17/1975

    Filmmaker Roger Graef and journalist Simon Jenkins discuss the destruction of historical buildings, in light of a recent SAVE campaign report and the conclusion of the European Architectural Heritage Year.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #17 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/7/1976

    Deborah Norton returns with reports, interviews and extracts from what is liveliest and best in the British theatrical scene.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #18 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/14/1976

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #19 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/21/1976

    Jonathan Miller introduces this week's look at what is most stimulating and enjoyable on the theatrical scene.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #20 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/28/1976

    A look at American photographer Paul Strand and recent trends in British photography.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #21 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/4/1976

    Arena goes to Scarborough for the British premiere of a new Alan Ayckbourn play "Just Between Ourselves".

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #22 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/11/1976

    Arena looks at aspects of community art and the work of painter Keith Grant, artist-in-residence at the New Charing Cross Hospital.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #23 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/18/1976

    Claire Bloom and Kenneth Tynan discuss extracts from Samuel Beckett's 'Happy Days', George Bernard Shaw's 'Too True to be Good', and Tennessee Williams' 'Sweet Bird of Youth'.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Art and Design
    NaN/100 votes
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    #24 - Art and Design

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/25/1976

    Arena talks with Robert Janz and Dante Leonelli about incorporating time into sculpture.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Theatre
    NaN/100 votes
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    #25 - Theatre

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/3/1976

    Arena brings extracts from Paris' contemporary theatre season, including Frank Wedekind's 'Lulu' and Marguerite Duras' 'Days in the Tree', and an interview with Delphine Seyrig.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A