New to DocPlay in May

Early Ken Burns documentaries about American icons that have been upscaled to HD land next month on DocPlay.

But any hopes that DocPlay’s acquisition of Burns’ back catalogue was a forerunner to it streaming his latest series on the American Revolution have yet to be realised.

May’s additions of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and The Roosevelts follow April’s debuts of Jazz and Mark Twain and March’s The West and The National Parks (some of these are in native HD, others are upscaled SD).

Burns’ The American Revolution hopefully will be in 4K. It was showcased at the London TV Screenings but DocPlay has yet to secure the rights.

It may face competition from Sky, which snapped up Burns’ previous series, Leonardo da Vinci.

In the meantime, DocPlay has just added another 4K exclusive, Becoming Led-Zeppelin, ahead of three more exclusives in May:

• The Amazon Review Killer (May 5): This shocking true-crime story of serial killer Todd Kohlhepp explores his troubled upbringing, and examines how his Amazon reviews often linked to his violent crimes.
• Female Spies (May 5): A six-part archive-driven series on the heroics and villainy of WWII spies, with women at the centre of high-risk operations.
• Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (May 26): Star-studded tribute to Liza Minnelli overcoming personal and professional challenges following the death of her mother, Judy Garland, in the 1970s.

Other DocPlay newcomers in May include:

• The Carnival (May 1): Amid bushfires, the pandemic and punters’ changing tastes, the family behind the Bells Family Carnival fight to preserve the attraction’s century-long legacy.
• Dear Zachary (May 8): This 2008 doco begins as a loving scrapbook tribute to the director’s dead friend before careening into a harrowing and provocative true-crime drama.
• The Hidden Spring (May 12):  A son and his dying father connect 4000 kilometres apart.