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.

53m 3s

Pedro E. Guerrero's Photographs Help Architect See a Problem

1m 20s

In 1952 Frank Lloyd Wright built a spiraling cement-block house in Phoenix, AZ, for his son, David. When it was complete, Pedro E. Guerrero photographed the interior and exterior. Wright was troubled by the constant circulating that he saw in the photos, but hadn't seen on the drawing board. The architect came up with a solution. The story is told by Guerrero, who worked with Wright for years.

Alexander Calder: Works Photographed by Pedro E. Guerrero

2m 19s

Photographs of Alexander Calder's mobile and stabile sculptures in open landscapes, at Lincoln Center in New York City, and in Spoleto, Italy, show how Pedro E. Guerrero captured the art works' relationship to space, to the workers who created them, and to the public that observed them. Guerrero and Professor Joan Marter, who knew both Calder and Guerrero, provide commentary on Calder and photos.

Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero and Sculptor Louise Nevelson

2m 33s

Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero describes the working style and art works of New York City sculptor Louise Nevelson, with whom he collaborated. Her black-on-black works were particularly challenging to photograph. He photographed her and her art works in her apartment, work studios, and on public installation sites and in museums.

Althea - Preview

2m 24s

This is the story of Althea Gibson (1927-2003), a truant from the rough streets of Harlem, who emerged as the unlikely queen of the highly segregated tennis world in the 1950s. She was the first African American to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals (precursor of the U.S. Open) — a decade before Arthur Ashe. Interviewees include Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt and Billie Jean King.

Althea Gibson at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills

1m 49s

Althea Gibson is seen in home movies at the esteemed West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, a mecca of tennis and national championships. The footage was taken by Bob Davis, her practice partner, who recalls how the setting was both alien and marvelous to them. Nick Bollettieri, Hall of Fame Tennis Coach, also comments on the elite nature of the club.

Althea: Race in the Sport of Tennis

1m 21s

Althea Gibson was one of the country's best tennis players at a time when, because of her race, she wouldn't be granted membership to most tennis clubs. Though race concerned the tennis world, it didn't concern Gibson as much. According to Arvelia Myers, Althea Gibson’s friend and tennis professional, and tennis champion Billie Jean King, Gibson just wanted to the right to play and compete.

Filmmaker Interview with Rex Miller: Making "Althea"

2m 45s

A photograph of his mother standing next to Althea Gibson, and his mother's pride at having played once against the tennis champion, are the origins of Rex Miller's interest in Gibson. Gibson's tennis achievements initially drew Miller to tell her story, but he was also intrigued by her other accomplishments, including recording a jazz album, earning a college degree, acting in a John Ford film.

Harper Lee Live Q&A: Joy Brown and Mary McDonagh Murphy

30m 11s

Questions about Harper Lee, her history and her new novel Go Set a Watchman are answered in a live Q&A with Harper Lee: American Masters filmmaker Mary McDonagh Murphy and Lee’s friend and benefactor Joy Brown. American Masters Executive Producer Michael Kantor moderated the panel that took place July 13, 2015, at Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center.

Harper Lee: From Mockingbird to Watchman

13m

Harper Lee: American Masters director Mary McDonagh Murphy met author Harper Lee on June 30, 2015, in Monroeville, Alabama, before the release of Lee’s second novel, Go Set a Watchman, on July 14, 2015. In an American Masters exclusive, Murphy reports on meeting Lee and interviews Lee’s lawyer, Tonja B. Carter, Lee’s current literary agent, Andrew Nurnberg and Lee’s friend, Wayne Flynt.

Harper Lee - Preview

1m 49s / TV-PG

One of the biggest American bestsellers of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) was thought to be the first and only novel by Harper Lee, until now. On July 14, Go Set a Watchman will be released, featuring characters from Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Now, a newly updated version of Mary McDonagh Murphy’s 2012 documentary, Harper Lee: Hey, Boo, airs July 10 on PBS (check local listings).

Dick Van Patten Interview

2m 29s

On June 6, 2012, Dick Van Patten was interviewed for American Masters – Mel Brooks: Make A Noise (2013). In this never before seen outtake, Van Patten recalls the first time he met Mel Brooks in a Sunday tennis match with Mel, Carl Reiner, Alan Alda, and Gene Wilder. Van Patten, known for his roles in Mel Brooks’ Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Spaceballs, and High Anxiety.

Dancer Julie Kent on Beauty and Humanity

1m 58s

Julie Kent, principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre, joined the company in 1985 and will retire in 2015 after the company's spring season at Lincoln Center. In this film excerpt, she recalls a note she was given by Natasha Makarova before her debut in the ballet Bayadère. Makarova wrote, "Someone once said beauty can save the world. What a great responsibility you have on your shoulders.”

Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre Soloist

1m 16s / TV-PG

Misty Copeland joined American Ballet Theatre in 2001 and is its third African-American female soloist and the first in two decades. Ric Burns’ documentary on the 75-year history of the preeminent ballet company includes rehearsal footage and interviews with Copeland. American Ballet Theatre: A History premieres Friday, May 15 at 9 pm on PBS (check local listings).

The Language of Ballet: French and Fit for a King

2m 41s

The language of the ballet is in French; it all began in France with King Louis XIV in the 17th century. Wherever ballet is studied, the names of the steps are in French: tendu, grande battement, pirouette, tour en l’air, etc. Discover how ballet began and how it represented class and social position in aristocratic courts.

Seeking Perfection in Ballet

2m 55s / TV-PG

In this film outtake, Daniil Simkin, a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, performs excerpts from Benjamin Millepied's "Everything Doesn’t Happen at Once" (2009). Kevin McKenzie, artistic director of American Ballet Theatre, Simkin, and Susan Jaffe, a former American Ballet Theatre dancer (1980-2002), speak about ballet dancers' constant search for perfection.

American Ballet Theatre: A History

3m 31s

Encore broadcast. Ric Burns’ film on the 75-year history of the preeminent ballet company combines rehearsal footage, virtuoso performances and interviews with ABT's key figures including Alicia Alonso and the late Donald Saddler and Frederic Franklin; Susan Jaffe and Julie Kent, Misty Copeland, Gillian Murphy, Marcelo Gomez, choreographer Alexei Ratmansky and Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

The Choreographers of American Ballet Theatre

2m 1s

"Every single choreographer of importance in 20th century made their mark in the first decade of American Ballet Theatre," explains current artist-in-residence, choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. Dance critic Anna Kisselgoff and former dancers Donald Saddler and Alicia Alonso describe the unique status of ABT as a multi-choreographer company since its founding 75 years ago.

How Ballet Dancers Partner and Rehearse

American Ballet Theatre principal dancers Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes rehearse a section of Pillar of Fire by Antony Tudor. They describe their partnering work and friendship that has formed while dancing together in the company since 1997. This is an outtake from American Ballet Theatre: A History, premiering May 15 on PBS (check local listings).

Ric Burns: Filmmaker Interview on American Ballet Theatre

10m 3s

In this filmmaker interview, Ric Burns describes what camera techniques he used to capture the ephemeral nature of dance on film, as well as how he came to discover ballet through the process of filmmaking. The documentary American Ballet Theatre: A History premiered on American Masters in May 2015.

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