American Masters

History Series / 14 Seasons

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

1h 23m / TV-14

How Amy Tan met her husband Lou

1m 14s

According to Amy Tan's husband, Lou, it was "cluelessness at first sight." At first, Tan wasn't attracted to Lou because of his big muscles. "I always feel that the amount of muscle mass detracts from the mass in the brain."

The author of “Crazy Rich Asians” describes Amy Tan’s impact

2m 33s

Kevin Kwan, the author of “Crazy Rich Asians,” describes how Amy Tan was the first Asian American author he read and how she paved a way forward for other writers of color to tell their stories.

Amy Tan’s first job was writing astrology

2m 12s

Amy Tan’s first job was “making up” astrology for her friend’s astrology hotline business. She later wrote ad copy, direct mail, and became a technical writer for a telecommunications company: “all the subjects I had absolutely no interest in,” Tan recalls. She turned to writing fiction in the search for more meaningful work and learned a lot about herself in the process.

Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir

2m 14s

An intimate portrait of the groundbreaking writer that interweaves archival imagery, including home movies and personal photographs, animation and original interviews to tell the inspiring story of Tan’s life and career.

What pushed Oliver Sacks’ brother towards psychosis?

1m 7s

The physician and writer Oliver Sacks had a brother who started to experience psychosis as a young man. This experience was a great influence on Sacks, who would go on to devote his life to treating, documenting, and humanizing people with mental disorders.

Why did Oliver Sacks love the periodic table so much?

1m 11s

The renowned physician and writer Oliver Sacks was known for his amazing empathy for other people. But his first “friends” as a child, as he described, were not people but numbers, minerals, metals, and plants. He loved these things throughout his life and even incorporated them into his wardrobe.

What made physician Oliver Sacks unique?

1m 26s

Journalist Robert Krulwich explains that the storytelling abilities of neurologist Oliver Sacks had the significant effect of "storying people back into the world" – people who otherwise would have been isolated and overlooked by the rest of society because of their neurological challenges.

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life

2m 2s

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life explores the life and work of the legendary neurologist and storyteller, as he shares intimate details of his battles with drug addiction, homophobia, and a medical establishment that accepted his work only decades after the fact.

Doc Severinsen's fitness routine

2m 14s

On top of being a musical icon and legendary trumpeter, Doc Severinsen makes sure he hits the gym everyday. Follow his daily workout routine, including the preworkout meal he swears by: 'cowboy oatmeal'.

The best of Doc Severinsen's eccentric outfits

2m 37s

Each night he appeared on The 'Tonight Show with Johnny Carson', Doc Severinsen would walk out dawning the most eccentric, loud and gawkish clothing items – all of which he sourced himself.

Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story

1m 48s

After more than 30 years as the colorful bandleader of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, master trumpeter Doc Severinsen continues to defy nature well into his 90s with a grueling schedule of touring, performing and teaching. An engaging new documentary, Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story, traces the life and groundbreaking career of the unstoppable musical icon.

Twyla Tharp's famous "Eight Jelly Rolls" Dance

55s

Choreographed by Twyla Tharp in 1971, "Eight Jelly Rolls" has become a canonical work in American dance history. The style exhibited in the performance combines elements from classical ballet, jazz, tap, athletics, hip-hop, and also includes music by Jelly Roll Morton.

Tharp and Baryshnikov's "totally unexpected" collaboration

4m 32s

In the 1970's, choreographer Twyla Tharp and Mikhail Baryshnikov collaborated, resulting in a dance that was "totally unexpected" for the classically trained ballet star from Russia. Archival footage shows Baryshnikov in "Push," which starts in a modern "slouch" style and continues with "all he's got." "It can only have happened between the two of us at that moment in time," Tharp recalls.

What's it like choreographing a dance for Zoom?

2m 3s

Choreographer Twyla Tharp choreographed a new dance specifically for Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic while most people were advised to stay at home. Tharp, along with dancers Misty Copeland and Herman Cornejo discovered an unexpected technical challenge in trying to communicate virtually that made this project even more difficult.

Twyla Tharp's very valuable college decision

1m 17s

When choreographer Twyla Tharp arrived at Barnard College she was immediately disappointed with their dance offerings. So she directed her own dance studies using New York City as her classroom. In addition, a second concentration the college turned out to be "very valuable" for Tharp's career.

The time Twyla Tharp setup a performance in Central Park

1m 48s

Archival footage shows one of Twyla Tharp's dances in Central Park amongst football games, bicyclists, police on horseback, and picnickers. The location made it impossible to have a separation between audience members and performers. And Tharp learned some valuable things about choreography and distance from the experience.

The time Twyla Tharp pushed David Byrne to his limits

2m 58s

In 1981, Twyla Tharp commissioned David Byrne of the Talking Heads to write music for a Broadway show featuring Tharp's modern choreography. Not only did Tharp push the well-trained dancers to their limits, she pushed David Byrne, he says, more than anyone had before.

Twyla Moves

2m 36s

Twyla Moves explores the life of legendary dancer, director and choreographer Twyla Tharp. Jumping from historical footage to the present day, the film traces her influential career while providing an intimate look at her famously rigorous creative process.

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