American Masters
Since its premiere in 1986, American Masters has been the only PBS series committed to developing and producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.
CLIPS (464)
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S34 E1: How Miles Davis Recorded "Kind of Blue"Miles Davis didn't provide sheet music for his musicians during the recording of ...Miles Davis didn't provide sheet music for his musicians during the recording of his iconic album "Kind of Blue." He said that "I didn't write out the music for 'Kind of Blue.' But brought in sketches ... -
S33 E12: How N. Scott Momaday Connected with his Kiowa AncestryIn this clip from American Masters — N. Scott Momaday: Words From a Bear, the ...In this clip from American Masters — N. Scott Momaday: Words From a Bear, the writer discusses how riding his horse on the same plains as his ancestors opened up his imagination. -
S33 E12: Indigenous Groups at the Forefront of Climate ActionN. Scott Momaday, Jeff Bridges, and Robert Redford discuss the historic role ...N. Scott Momaday, Jeff Bridges, and Robert Redford discuss the historic role Indigenous groups have played in fighting to protect our planet -
S33 E12: The First Native American to Win the PulitzerWhen N. Scott Momaday won the Pulitzer Prize for his book "House Made of Dawn," ...When N. Scott Momaday won the Pulitzer Prize for his book "House Made of Dawn," it was a victory for the entire Native American community. Hear Jeff Bridges, Joy Harjo, Robert Redford and James Earl ... -
S33 E11: Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb on Creating Abstract ArtWhen a New York Times art critic reviewed Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb's ...When a New York Times art critic reviewed Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb's work, the artists responded with a letter that became a manifesto on abstract art. In it, they stressed being in favor of ... -
S33 E11: How Abstract Expressionism Changed American ArtIn post World War II New York City, a new group of artists including Mark ...In post World War II New York City, a new group of artists including Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, & Clyfford Still started a movement known as Abstract ... -
S33 E11: Why Mark Rothko Came to AmericaBorn Marcus Rothkowitz in Dvinsk, Russia, on September 25, 1903, Rothko ...Born Marcus Rothkowitz in Dvinsk, Russia, on September 25, 1903, Rothko emigrated to Portland, Oregon, with his family at age 10. Learn more in this clip from American Masters —Rothko: Pictures Must ... -
Remembering Diahann CarrollRemembering Diahann CarrollRemembering Diahann Carroll -
S33 E10: How Raúl Juliá got his sister into Studio 54Raúl Juliá's younger sister Maria recalls the story of going to the exclusive ...Raúl Juliá's younger sister Maria recalls the story of going to the exclusive New York City club Studio 54 with her famous older brother. -
S33 E10: How Raúl Juliá Influenced Esai MoralesEsai Morales looks back at the legacy of his friend and co-star Raúl Juliá, ...Esai Morales looks back at the legacy of his friend and co-star Raúl Juliá, and discusses what made him acting and the energy he had as a performer. -
S33 E10: Edward James Olmos on Raúl JuliáIn an outtake from Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage, Edward James Olmos ...In an outtake from Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage, Edward James Olmos recalls watching his friend Raúl Juliá spontaneously perform Shakespeare on tabletops in bars. -
S33 E10: Ben DeJesus Sheds Light on Latino StoriesDirector of Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage Ben DeJesus discusses the ...Director of Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage Ben DeJesus discusses the importance of Raúl Juliá's story and his cultural impact as a performer and activist. -
S33 E10: Raúl Juliá and Meryl Streep Go Head-to-HeadTwo of the greatest actors of their generation unleash their powers in this clip ...Two of the greatest actors of their generation unleash their powers in this clip from Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage that features rare, archival footage of Joseph Papp's 1978 Shakespeare in the ... -
S33 E10: Rita Moreno & Edward James Olmos on the discriminationRubén Blades, Andy Garcia, and others discuss how Raúl Juliá overcame ...Rubén Blades, Andy Garcia, and others discuss how Raúl Juliá overcame discrimination to make a name for himself as an actor — without losing his Puerto Rican accent or changing his name — ... -
Toni Morrison In MemoriamAmerican Masters mourns the loss of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author ...American Masters mourns the loss of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. Inspired to write because no one took a “little black girl” seriously, she published 11 acclaimed ... -
2019 Emmy Award Nominees ReelThe National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has nominated American ...The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has nominated American Masters for an Emmy Award in the category of “Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.” -
S33 E9: Ursula K. Le Guin's Passionate Acceptance SpeechAuthor Ursula K. Le Guin shares her National Books Award with all the writers ...Author Ursula K. Le Guin shares her National Books Award with all the writers "who were excluded from literature for so long." -
S33 E9: Learn About Ursula K. Le Guin's Predecessor to Harry PotterWatch to learn why Neil Gaiman thinks Harry Potter wouldn't have existed without ...Watch to learn why Neil Gaiman thinks Harry Potter wouldn't have existed without Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, a fantasy novel she published in 1968 featuring a wizard school. -
In Memoriam: Harold PrinceIn this 1997 interview outtake from American Masters – Leonard Bernstein: ...In this 1997 interview outtake from American Masters – Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note, Hal Prince talks about the intense collaborative nature of the musical form. -
S33 E7: Choral Music Conductor Robert Shaw Was Self-TaughtRobert Shaw became popular in an intensely competitive business where musical ...Robert Shaw became popular in an intensely competitive business where musical pedigree is highly valued. And yet, he was not a gifted singer and lacked formal training as a keyboardist and conductor. -
S33 E7: Robert Shaw Was an Early Champion of Civil RightsRobert Shaw's integrated chorales were among the first to break the color ...Robert Shaw's integrated chorales were among the first to break the color barrier in the American South. He took his inspiring music on the road, bringing his ensembles to small towns across America ...
