Tag Archives: American Masters

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes Feeling Heart Debuts on PBS

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Judith Trojan

“We had her voice for as long as we really needed it, if we were wise enough to listen.” Actress/activist Ruby Dee makes that startlingly prophetic statement (Dee died in June 2014) about her lifelong friend and colleague at the … Continue reading →

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Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive Debuts on American Masters

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Judith Trojan

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before”… from The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849). All Hallows’ Eve will soon be upon us, so what better time … Continue reading →

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Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning Rebroadcast on PBS

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Judith Trojan

As we nervously anticipate the Federal cuts in funding for women’s and low-income services, health care, the arts, public TV production and programming, I salute tonight’s timely PBS rebroadcast of Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning.  This powerful documentary debuted on … Continue reading →

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Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise Debuts on PBS

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Judith Trojan

I think it would be virtually impossible to make a lackluster film about writer, singer, dancer, actress, poet, director and social activist Maya Angelou. An electrifying presence in every medium she mastered, Dr. Angelou passed away in 2014. She was revered especially in … Continue reading →

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By Sidney Lumet Launches New Season of American Masters

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Judith Trojan

“I’m not directing the moral message, I’m directing that piece and those people, says esteemed film and TV director Sidney Lumet in American Masters: By Sidney Lumet. “If I do it well, the moral message will come through.” Lumet died in 2011; but, … Continue reading →

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The Highwaymen Were Friends Till the End

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Judith Trojan

“They had a ball together,” recalls producer/director Jim Brown about the legendary subjects of his latest film. If you’re a fan of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings or Kris Kristofferson, you might want to kick back and spend an hour watching … Continue reading →

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Mike Nichols Launches American Masters 30th Anniversary Season

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Judith Trojan

It would be difficult for any filmmaker, no matter how seasoned, to encapsulate the life story and creative accomplishments of someone as prolific and beloved as director, writer, comedian, actor, producer Mike Nichols (1931-2014) in a 60-minute documentary. I’m sure that Nichols’ friends and … Continue reading →

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Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer’s Journey Debuts on American Masters

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Judith Trojan

Before Mexican-American photographer Pedro E. Guerrero died in September 2012 at age 95, he agreed to be filmed by filmmakers Raymond Telles and Yvan Iturriaga. Their hour-long film profile, incorporating Guerrero’s gracious commentary, American Masters–Pedro E. Guerrero:  A Photographer’s Journey, finally debuts on … Continue reading →

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American Ballet Theatre: A History Celebrated on American Masters

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Judith Trojan

Even if you don’t know the difference between a jeté, plié or pirouette, you still might enjoy American Ballet Theatre: A History,  debuting nationally on the PBS series American Masters tonight, Friday, May 15, 2015, 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. ET. (Check local listings … Continue reading →

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August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand Debuts on PBS

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Judith Trojan

“He wrote about the frustration and the glory of being black.”  This curtain-raising assessment of playwright August Wilson by his friend and colleague, actor/writer/director Ruben Santiago-Hudson, pretty much sets the tone for August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand. The latest installment in … Continue reading →

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