American Masters

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.

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Michael Tilson Thomas on what he learned from James Brown

2m 17s

Michael Tilson Thomas talks about the James Brown song that caused him to pull the car over as a teenager in Los Angeles and how he uses that song to this day when training young conductors.

The toy behind Michael Tilson Thomas's love of dissonance

1m 59s

Meet Toodles, the toy behind Michael Tilson Thomas's love of dissonant music. The Grammy-winning conductor, pianist and composer helped set the standard that an American orchestra should champion modern American music. "American Masters—Michael Tilson Thomas: Where Now Is" premieres nationwide Friday, October 23 at 9 p.m. on PBS.

The time Walter Winchell condemned an American Nazi rally

2m 53s

In 1939, 20,000 Nazi sympathizers staged a rally in Madison Square Garden in New York City with Nazi imagery displayed next to a portrait of George Washington. Walter Winchell couldn’t allow the event to go unnoticed by the American people and condemned it on his national radio program. Later, he criticized aviator Charles Lindbergh and the America First Committee for it's blatant anti-Semitism.

Walter Winchell and the "trial of the century"

2m 6s

In 1932, a child was kidnapped and murdered. It was the son of Charles Lindbergh, an American hero for being the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic. The resulting trial became one of the biggest stories of the century and Walter Winchell showed up every day. But he didn’t just cover the story, he became a part of it, pioneering the blending of news and entertainment that we see to this day.

Walter Winchell Trailer

2m

Meet Walter Winchell, the newspaper columnist, radio commentator and television personality who pioneered the fast-paced, gossip-driven, politically charged journalism that dominates today. At his peak, his audience was 50 million. Stanley Tucci portrays Winchell in a new American Masters documentary.

LENNONYC - Promo

36s

This fall, as the world remembers John Lennon on what would have been his 80th birthday, and the 40th anniversary of his death, American Masters presents LENNONYC, a film that takes an intimate look at the time Lennon, Yoko Ono and their son, Sean, spent living in New York City during the 1970s. October 9th at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Elton John describes John Lennon's final performance

1m 40s

Elton John speaks about a performance he gave with John Lennon at Madison Square Garden, which turned out to be Lennon's last. Elton John describes what he says is "the greatest ovation I've ever heard for anybody in my whole life."

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Nikole Hannah Jones

2m 15s

She created the 1619 Project on slavery for The New York Times Magazine and discusses how her work frequently explores the structural inequality created by racism in the U.S. “Journalism is one of the greatest and most empowering professions in the world,” she says. This extended interview is in addition to her appearance in our Unladylike2020 episode on newspaper editor Charlotta Spears Bass.

American Masters has been nominated for an Emmy®!

1m

For over 30 years, American Masters has illuminated the stories of our cultural giants. We are honored to announce our Emmy® nomination in the category of “Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.” Congratulations to all of the incredible filmmakers, producers, directors, partners and colleagues who help us bring inspiring documentaries to our audiences each year.

An Interview with Activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham

1m 50s

Activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham, a member of the Ferguson Uprising and co-founder of Campaign Zero, discusses how issues of social justice are interconnected, and how those who benefit from privilege have the responsibility to fight for the rights of those impacted by systemic inequalities.

Why Fran Lebowitz Always Sought Advice From Toni Morrison

3m 9s

Cultural critic Fran Lebowitz says there's a specific reason why she would ask her good friend Toni Morrison for advice. In these outtakes from "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I am," she also talks about the time someone asked if she and Morrison were related. A film by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Director Interview with Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

1m 37s

"Toni Morrison is an extraordinary subject in front of the camera," says director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. In this interview, he talks about how he met Morrison and what it took to make this film. Photo: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

When Toni Morrison Won The Nobel Prize

2m 34s

In this excerpt from "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am," Toni Morrison tells the story of going to Stockholm to accept the Nobel Prize. "I like the Nobel Prize. Because they know how to give a party," she said. A film by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Toni Morrison On Writing Without the "White Gaze"

2m 29s

In this excerpt from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Toni Morrison talks about writing without the “white gaze.” She says, “I have spent my entire writing life trying to make sure that the white gaze was not the dominant one in any of my books.” A film by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

The Story Behind the Title of the Novel "The Bluest Eye"

1m 27s

In this excerpt from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Toni Morrison recalls the time a Black childhood friend, who was 11 at the time, told her that she had been praying for blue eyes for two years. “This kind of racism hurts. This is not lynchings and murders and drownings. This is interior pain.” A film by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

For Your Emmy® Consideration

1m

Who has changed America? These carefully crafted programs illuminate the stories of our cultural giants. American Masters empowers independent producers to tell compelling, unvarnished stories. American Masters presents these five documentaries for your Emmy® consideration in the category of “Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series.”

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