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

James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket

1m 57s

Using rarely-seen archival footage from nine different countries, the film melds intimate interviews and eloquent public speeches with cinéma vérité glimpses of Baldwin and original scenes from his extraordinary funeral service in December 1987.

James Baldwin: Civil Rights Highlights

3m 23s

Features highlights of Baldwin's deep involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, including "The Fire Next Time," the March on Washington, the March from Selma to Montgomery and the Baldwin/Buckley Debate at Cambridge University -- all excerpted from the film, JAMES BALDWIN: THE PRICE OF THE TICKET.

James Baldwin: Writer, Teacher, Preacher

54s

Words -- both written and spoken -- were James Baldwin's greatest gift to America and to people of all races all over the world. He knew how to electrify readers, his insights about what it meant to be black in America were both intimate and accessible. He preached brotherhood, not violence, with searing honesty; his truth was laced with pain and anger. But he never lost hope.

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

1m 52s

After 60 years in show business, Mel Brooks has earned more major awards than any other living entertainer; he is one of 14 EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) winners. Yet, the comedy giant has energetically avoided a documentary profile being made, even issuing an informal gag order on his friends until now.

American Master Mel Brooks on Friend and Mentor Sid Caesar

1m 35s / TV-14

Comedic legend Sid Caesar passed away February 12, 2014, at the age of 91. Caesar was a friend and mentor to Mel Brooks and the two worked together through much of Brooks’ early career. See Brooks talk about Caesar’s genius for comedy in this film excerpt from American Masters “Mel Brooks: Make A Noise.”

Philip Roth: Unmasked

30s

American Masters explores the life and career of Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novelist Philip Roth, often referred to as the greatest living American writer. Reclusive and diffident, Roth grants very few interviews, but for the first time, allowed a journalist to spend 10 days interviewing him on camera.

Supported by