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.

Watch Latest: S39 E1

1h 23m / TV-14

By Sidney Lumet - Trailer

2m

Journey through the life’s work of the socially conscious director of “Serpico,” “12 Angry Men” and “Network” in a never-before-seen interview. With candor, humor and grace, Sidney Lumet reveals what matters to him as an artist and as a human being..

Marking Man's Time on Earth at General Motors

1m 32s

Eero Saarinen believed that "architecture is not just here to give space and shelter, but architecture also has the purpose of marking and enhancing man's time on earth." Nowhere was he able to illustrate that more boldly than at the General Motors Technical Facility in Warren, MI.

Eero Saarinen's Design of the CBS Building in New York City

1m 34s

The CBS Building in New York City, or Black Rock, is an imposing 38-story building of black marble. Leaning away from the glass and concrete construction of the time, Saarinen wanted to create something with a dense, strong feeling.

Conquering gravity with Saarinen at the TWA Flight Center

2m 46s

At TWA, we tried to design a building in which the architecture itself would express the drama and excitement of travel. In a way, this is man's desire to conquer gravity.

How Eero Saarinen Imagined the Ingalls Rink at Yale

1m 53s

In a time of modernist architecture, Eero Saarinen broke the mold by creating emotionally compelling buildings. When designing the Ingalls Rink for Yale's hockey team, Saarinen used suspended cables to create a fluid-looking roof and a truly unique space.

Eero Saarinen's Revolutionary Design of the Dulles Airport

2m 47s

In designing the Dulles International Airport, Eero Saarinen re-imagined a jet-age world, solving the problem of growing terminals by bringing the passenger to the plane with a "mobile lounge."

Eero and Eliel Saarinen Compete for St. Louis

1m 44s

The famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis came out of an architectural competition, where both Eliel and his son, Eero, entered designs. Confusion over a telegraph addressed to "E. Saarinen" led to a celebration for Eliel, when it was actually Eero who had won the competition. The design won Eero critical recognition and helped launch his career as an architect of renown.

Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future - Trailer

2m 22s

Explore the life of Eero Saarinen (1910-1961), whose visionary buildings include National Historic Landmarks such as St. Louis’ iconic Gateway Arch and the General Motors Technical Center in Michigan. Travel with his son, director of photography Eric Saarinen, as he visits the sites of his father’s work on a cathartic journey, showcasing the architect’s body of timeless work for the first time.

Phil Rosenthal Discusses Norman Lear's Impact

1m 9s

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: Just Another Version of You

2m 18s

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).

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