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

The origins of Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier"

2m 9s

The iconic anti-war song "Universal Soldier" was written with the question on Buffy Sainte-Marie's mind: "Who's responsible for war?" In Sainte-Marie's frank answer, we all have an individual responsibility.

How Buffy Sainte-Marie won an Oscar for "Up Where We Belong"

1m 39s

When Jack Nitzsche became stumped while scoring the film "An Officer and a Gentleman," he turned to his friend Buffy Sainte-Marie for help. Buffy played him the melody for her song "Up Where We Belong," which took on "a life of its own." The iconic song eventually went on to win several major awards, including the award for Best Original Song at the 55th Academy Awards in 1983.

Buffy Sainte-Marie brought Indigenous representation to TV

1m 55s

When Buffy Sainte-Marie was asked to play a lead role in the TV series "The Virginian," she also insisted that all of the Indigenous parts be played by Indigenous people—sparking a revolutionary conversation on representation that we are still having today.

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On

3m 10s

Experience the story of the Oscar-winning Indigenous artist from her rise to prominence in New York’s Greenwich Village folk music scene through her six-decade groundbreaking career as a singer-songwriter, social activist, educator and artist.

When journalist Jason Fine first met Brian Wilson

1m 21s

Jason Fine first convinced his boss at Rolling Stone to let him cover Brian Wilson's burgeoning solo career in 1997. Since then, Fine and Wilson have enjoyed a lasting friendship.

Brian Wilson visits his high school

2m 41s

In this outtake from "American Masters—Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road," Brian Wilson stops at Hawthorne High School, his alma mater, where the current principal helps right a wrong in his grades.

Rare studio footage of the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations"

1m 14s

This archival footage from 1966 shows Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys working on "Good Vibrations" in the studio. "Back at that time, there's a lot of upbeat, up-tempo songs but Brian brought in this haunting harmony," said producer and songwriter Linda Perry.

Watch Brian Wilson produce a song

4m 24s

See musical genius Brian Wilson at work producing his song, "Honeycomb." "Start with a background track, then you do the background vocals, then you do the leads," said Wilson of his process.

Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road

2m 4s

Explore the life and career of the singer, songwriter and co-founder of The Beach Boys. The film traces the legendary performer’s journey of reflection on a drive through Los Angeles with his longtime friend and Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine.

When Joe Papp asked Meryl Streep to take over the theater

1m 41s

Meryl Streep was touched, but perplexed when Joe Papp asked her to take over The Public Theater after his passing. "What he wanted was bigger than what could be, which was sort of always what was true with him," said Streep.

The origins of Shakespeare in the Park

2m 25s

Joe Papp built a stage on a 35 foot portable truck so he could bring Shakespeare to other communities. "I found myself directing all the plays on the mobile unit, because I felt this was the thing I wanted to be closely identified with, to bring Shakespeare to these communities," said Papp. When the truck fell apart in Central Park, Shakespeare in the Park found its permanent home.

Papp turned a dilapidated building into The Public Theater

2m 14s

In his search for a home for new American theater, producer Joseph Papp saved a historic building in "ruins" from demolition. It was once the Astor Library, which became the first free public library in New York, and had been converted into a place for homeless Jewish people after World War II. In the 1960s, the building would evolve into a permanent space for The Public Theater.

Representation in theater was important to Joe Papp

3m 19s

When developing Free Shakespeare in the Park, it was important to Joe Papp that people felt represented in the theater. "Joe wanted to fill the stage with the same kind of people he was gonna fill the audience with. All the people of the city," said James Earl Jones, a frequent collaborator of Papp's.

Joe Papp in Five Acts

1m 42s

Joe Papp, founder of The Public Theater, Free Shakespeare in the Park and producer of groundbreaking plays like "Hair," "A Chorus Line" and "for colored girls," created a 'theater of inclusion' based on the belief that great art is for everyone.

Why Joe Papp thinks the theater should be free for all of us

1m 3s

Inspired by public libraries, Joe Papp made it his mission to have theater be accessible to the public. "I just don't do shows," he said. "They must have meaning."

The meaning of Aloha

2m 10s

Paul Strauch, Duke's former surf teammate, recounts a conversation he had with Duke about the power of the word "Aloha." "Alo" translates to "in the presence," and "ha" is "the breath of life." "[Aloha] was a symbol of intense greeting and respect." This is an outtake from "Waterman—Duke: Ambassador of Aloha."

How Duke broke the swimming world record in Hawaii

2m 40s

The Amateur Athletic Union held its first swim race in Hawaii in 1911, where Duke Kahanamoku shattered the world record by whole seconds. "Hawaiians came into this excited for national recognition, but Duke gave them the world spotlight."

Duke's incredible rescue mission while on a surfboard

2m 41s

On June 14, 1925, the Thelma boat was capsized in Newport Beach, California. Duke Kahanamoku heroically rescued eight of the men on the boat, and recovered the bodies of the many others who perished. "Duke saw people suffering and struggling and said, 'I can do something.' He just assumed responsibility, and jumped right in the water."

Overcoming the distinct challenge of indoor swimming

2m 27s

After smashing the Amateur Athletic Union's world record in 1911, Duke Kahanamoku was brought from Hawaii to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to prove his talents in another race. But Duke found his mind and body shocked by his first time swimming in an indoor pool. Though he lost this race, he would go on to win many more. "The building blocks of a waterman is humility," says surfer Laird Hamilton.

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