American Masters

History Series / 16 Seasons

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

1h 23m / TV-14

Gloria Naylor on the American Dream

1m 9s

Best known for "The Women of Brewster Place," Gloria Naylor speaks about the notion of the American Dream through three American classics: Nella Larsen’s "Passing," F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby," and John Steinbeck’s "The Grapes of Wrath." This never-before-heard interview is from Michael Epstein's "American Masters – Novel Reflections on the American Dream (2007)."

Norman Lear's Psychiatrist

1m 51s

Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Dar Williams on Joan Baez

1m 31s

American folk music icon Joan Baez began her career during the 1960s counterculture movement. Listen as Baez and fellow singer-songwriter Dar Williams share anecdotes about life on the road together and how they’ve influenced each other’s lives and art. This never-before-heard interview is from filmmaker Mary Wharton’s American Masters – Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound (2009).

Norman Lear on Network Censorship

1m 23s

Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Norman Lear's "Maude" on Tough Issues

31s

Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Nina Bernstein and June Norton on Ella Fitzgerald

47s

Before Ella Fitzgerald became the First Lady of Song and earned 13 Grammy Awards, she spent much of her teenage years as an orphan, finding odd jobs and, at times, living on the street. Journalist Nina Bernstein and Fitzgerald’s longtime friend June Norton discuss one of the singer’s most difficult periods.

Venus Williams on Women in Tennis

1m 14s

In this exclusive clip from the American Masters Digital Archive, Venus Williams reflects on the sacrifices made by trailblazers such as Althea Gibson and Billie Jean King, without whom, the game of women's tennis would not be where it is today.

Patti Smith on the Scene

1m 40s

In this never-before-heard interview from American Masters – Lou Reed: Rock-And-Roll Heart (1998) conducted by filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Patti Smith talks about how we live in a very label-conscious time and hopes one day for a label-free future.

Fran Drescher on Lucille Ball

1m 28s

American film and television comedian, model, actress, and producer Fran Drescher, star of the hit TV sitcom "The Nanny," reflects on how Lucille Ball used the character of Lucy to present a stylish, smart and independent woman who resonated with millions of women across America.

Bernadette Peters Talks about Mel Brooks

2m 43s

Bernadette Peters on meeting Mel Brooks and the impact of his humor: “As far as he would go with jokes, like in Blazing Saddleshe’ll get away with things because they were truly funny.” Peters was interviewed on September 4, 2012 for American Masters – Mel Brooks: Make A Noise (2013).

In Their Own Words Trailer

2m 27s

American Masters is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the launch of In Their Own Words: The American Masters Digital Archive and The American Masters Podcast, featuring previously unreleased interviews filmed for the documentary series: 2,156 tapes, approximately 1,388 digitized hours, 800-plus interviews and counting.

Gloria Steinem on Marilyn Monroe

2m 39s

Gloria Steinem discusses her experience watching Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. While Steinem believes the support system that resulted from the Women’s Movement has been a huge help to women, she wonders if this kind of support could have ultimately saved Marilyn from the society that devastated her and so many others.

The Highwaymen: 'The Mount Rushmore of Country Music'

3m 16s

In 1985, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson formed a country supergroup: The Highwaymen. In this excerpt from The Highwaymen: Friends Till The End, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and others talk about how coming together as a group was crucial to their individual careers and the American music industry.

The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End - Promo

2m 32s

Discover the story behind the pioneering outlaw country music supergroup that featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, told through vintage performances and new interviews about life on the road and in the studio.

Willie Nelson Sings 'Always On My Mind' at Nassau Coliseum

2m 33s

"Willie cut 'Always on my Mind.' He called me the night he cut it and he said, listen to this. I heard it over the phone and I went wow, that’s a smash. That band was the same band that toured with Highwaymen every night." - Mark Rothbaum, manager of The Highwaymen

How Kris Kristofferson Convinced Cash to Record His Songs

1m 3s

How did Kris Kristofferson convince Johnny Cash to record his songs when he was just a janitor? In this outtake clip from The Highwaymen: Friends Till The End, John Carter Cash recalls how Kris Kristofferson flew a helicopter into Johnny Cash's yard to convince him to record his songs.

Filmmaker Jim Brown: The Highwaymen Had a Message

47s

Director and producer Jim Brown talks about the making of The Highwaymen: Friends Til The End, a documentary about Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson, who pioneered and led the outlaw country movement.

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