American Masters

History Series / 11 Seasons

American Masters, committed to producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.

1h 51m / TV-14

Ted Williams in Korea

1m 25s

In 1952, Ted Williams took a short break from his famed baseball career with the Boston Red Sox to serve in the Korean War as a fighter pilot for the Marines. His incredible crash landing of his plane in February 1953 shows the daily danger he faced during his service.

Interview with Director Alexandra Dean

3m 23s

Director Alexandra Dean shares all the articles, photos and letters stashed away in her home that piece together the true story of Hedy Lamarr. Find out what Dean found frustrating during her research and who helped her put all the pieces together right before she almost gave up.

Actress Gillian Jacobs on Hedy Lamarr

1m 53s

In this behind the scenes clip, actress Gillian Jacobs talks about how she first learned about Hedy, and how important it is to recognize the contributions of the many trailblazing women in STEM, because so many of them have been erased and dismissed.

Hedy Lamarr and Howard Hughes' Relationship

2m 41s

Hedy Lamarr and aviation tycoon Howard Hughes were romantically involved and bonded over their love of invention. Hughes gave her complete access to his team of scientists to help her execute her inventions. Lamarr designed a new wing shape for Hughes' planes to make them more aerodynamic. This, as revealed in the film, is only the tip of the iceberg when it came to Lamarr’s pre-war inventions.

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story - Trailer

1m 13s

Hedy Lamarr never publicly talked about her life as an inventor and so her family thought her story died when she did. However, in 2016, director Alexandra Dean and producer Adam Haggiag unearthed four never-before-heard audio tapes of Lamarr speaking on the record about her incredible life, finally giving her the chance to tell her own story.

Itzhak in theaters March 9 in New York City

1m 58s

Itzhak, a film centered on the life of musician Itzhak Perlman, opens in theaters March 9. Alison Chernick’s enchanting documentary looks beyond the sublime musician to see the polio survivor whose parents emigrated from Poland to Israel, and the young man who struggled to be taken seriously as a music student when schools saw only his disability.

Against All Odds: Meet the Woman Behind American Masters

5m 29s

Susan Lacy, creator of American Masters, reflects on the beginnings of the series, and how she secured a primetime slot in the summer of 1986. As a young, tenacious staffer at WNET, she saw the promise of telling the compelling stories of artists and “those who create and achieve against all odds.”

Lorraine Hansberry on being young, gifted and black

1m 41s

With her health failing, Lorraine Hansberry left the hospital to speak to the teenage winners of a national writing contest. She described the young writers as "young, gifted and black" - the words that inspired the Nina Simone song of the same name - and urged them to represent their community in their work.

Lorraine Hansberry's Inspiration for "A Raisin in the Sun"

2m 29s

Lorraine Hansberry drew inspiration from personal experience when she sat down to write a play about a working class family on the South Side of Chicago. See how she worked to find the words to describe their hopes and struggles, and how she pressed on to complete "A Raisin in the Sun."

Lorraine Hansberry speaks out against injustice

2m 3s

As "A Raisin in the Sun" broke new ground on Broadway, Lorraine Hansberry raised her voice for activism. Hear Lorraine Hansberry's speech of "sighted eyes and feeling heart" against injustice and racism.

The Groundbreaking Broadway Casting of "A Raisin in the Sun"

3m

Sidney Poitier, Lloyd Richard and Ruby Dee reflect on the unprecedented casting of black actors in the Broadway debut of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun."

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart - Trailer

2m 42s

Explore the inner life and works of the activist, playwright and author of "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry. Narrated by actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson and featuring the voice of Tony Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose as Hansberry.

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