American Masters Pictures Movie Trailers
Most Popular American Masters Pictures Trailers
Total trailers found: 65
Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film Trailer (2006)
01 September 2006
Ric Burns unearths rarely seen footage and offers keen observations on the life and artistic influence of Andy Warhol.
Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth Trailer (2013)
13 May 2013
The compelling story of an extraordinary woman's journey from her birth in a paper thin shack in the cotton fields of Georgia to her recognition as a key writer of the twentieth Century.
Jerry Brown: The Disrupter Trailer (2022)
03 November 2022
Governor Jerry Brown has had a storied political life, and Marina Zenovich’s tremendous portrait of him captures the highs and lows, augmented by present-day interviews with her protagonist.
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story Trailer (1990)
23 July 1990
Biographical portrait of one of Broadway's most brilliant songwriters. Told through the use of archival material and interviews with the rich and famous that knew him, this portrait concentrates on his career and his public life events.
Groucho & Cavett Trailer (2022)
27 December 2022
Discover the enduring friendship between television personality Dick Cavett and his mentor iconic comedian Groucho Marx.
Private Conversations: On the Set of ‘Death of a Salesman’ Trailer (1986)
23 June 1986
Playwright Arthur Miller, director Volker Schlöndorff and actor Dustin Hoffman are seen creating the Roxbury Productions and Punch Productions teleplay Death of a Salesman (1985).
The Disappearance of Miss Scott Trailer (2025)
21 February 2025
The Disappearance of Miss Scott chronicles Hazel Scott’s meteoric rise as a jazz talent and major Hollywood star before being blacklisted during the Red Scare.
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise Trailer (2016)
14 October 2016
A celebration of Dr. Maya Angelou by weaving her words with rare and intimate archival photographs and videos, which paint hidden moments of her exuberant life during some of America’s most defining civil rights moments.
On Cukor Trailer (2000)
22 November 2000
Widely thought of as “a woman’s director,” legendary film director George Cukor is profiled with the use of film clips and interviews with his friends and colleagues to provide a picture of the director’s unique accomplishments and to trace the arc of his career.
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre Trailer (1989)
26 June 1989
A study of the Group Theatre, a company that changed the face of American drama. The Group was founded in 1931 by Cheryl Crawford, Harold Clurman and Lee Strasberg, who were strongly influenced by the naturalistic acting of Konstantin Stanislavski’s Moscow Art Theatre.
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart Trailer (2017)
14 October 2017
On March 11, 1959, Lorraine Hansberry’s 'A Raisin in the Sun' opened on Broadway and changed the face of American theater forever.
Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret Trailer (1990)
27 August 1990
A leading acting teacher who trained some of the most famous performers of the stage and screen, Sanford Meisner was a founding member of the Group Theatre.
Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around Trailer (2024)
16 December 2024
Discover the story behind singer Brenda Lee’s iconic songs and explore how her early fame and life of poverty shaped her artistry across pop, rock ‘n’ roll and country.
This Is Bob Hope... Trailer (2017)
29 December 2017
During his career, Bob Hope was the only performer to achieve top-rated success in every form of mass entertainment.
Woody Allen: A Documentary Trailer (2011)
20 November 2011
An intense portrait of the iconic filmmaker, writer, actor, comedian and musician Woody Allen: his life, family and friends; his writing and directing habits, and his relationship with performers.
Sketches of Frank Gehry Trailer (2006)
12 May 2006
First and foremost, Frank Gehry is an artist. Described as a young child as having golden hands, Frank begins his creation through sketch.
Becoming Helen Keller Trailer (2021)
19 October 2021
The life and legacy of Helen Keller, including how she used her celebrity to advocate for human rights and social justice for women, the poor and people with disabilities.
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It Trailer (2021)
18 June 2021
Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become one of a select group who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award.
James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket Trailer (1989)
14 August 1989
James Baldwin was at once a major 20th century American author, a Civil Rights activist and, for two crucial decades, a prophetic voice calling Americans, black and white, to confront their shared racial tragedy.
Itzhak Trailer (2017)
05 October 2017
From Schubert to Strauss, Bach to Brahms, Mozart to…Billy Joel, Itzhak Perlman’s violin playing transcends mere performance to evoke the celebrations and struggles of real life.
Janis: Little Girl Blue Trailer (2015)
09 September 2015
Janis Joplin is one of the most respected and iconic rock & roll singers of all time, a tragic and misunderstood figure who captivated millions of listeners and blazed new creative trails before her death in 1970 at age 27.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore Trailer (2025)
20 June 2025
In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old.
Norman Rockwell: Painting America Trailer (1999)
02 May 1999
A documentary about American artist Norman Rockwell, featuring his biography accompanied with opinios
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life Trailer (2021)
26 August 2021
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.
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues Trailer (2004)
23 June 2004
The authoritative documentary on Country Music's most influential figure.
Bunky Echo-Hawk: The Resistance Trailer (2020)
05 October 2020
Exploration of how the reality and resistance of Native Americans inspires the work of Pawnee artist Bunky Echo-Hawk, igniting discussions about environmentalism and Native American rights, among other topics.
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Trailer (2019)
23 August 2019
An immersive look at the eventful life and brilliant artistic career of visionary American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991).
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage Trailer (2019)
13 September 2019
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage is a warm and revealing portrait of the charismatic, groundbreaking actor’s journey from his native Puerto Rico to the creative hotbed of 1960s New York City, to prominence on Broadway and in Hollywood.
A Song for Cesar: Beware a Movement That Sings Trailer (2021)
14 October 2021
Song for Cesar is a documentary film with a unique view of the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement.
LennoNYC Trailer (2010)
25 September 2010
This documentary takes an intimate look at the time Lennon, Yoko Ono and their son, Sean, spent living in New York City during the 1970s.
W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause Trailer (2026)
19 May 2026
Explore the life and legacy of notable Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois. From his birth, just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation; to his death, on the eve of the March on Washington in 1963, his legacy as an activist continues to resonate today.
Mailer on Mailer Trailer (2000)
04 October 2000
Norman Mailer frankly discusses American culture, politics, literature, and his own tumultuous life.
Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind Trailer (2003)
03 April 2003
Joni Mitchell's career as a singer-songwriter and painter is extensively profiled in this in-depth documentary, which originally aired as part of the PBS American Masters series.
Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin Trailer (2018)
11 June 2018
The extraordinary life story of science fiction and fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) who, in spite of remaining for many years on the sidelines of the mainstream literature, managed to be recognized as one of the most remarkable US writers of all time, due to the relevance of her work and her commitment to the human condition.
By Sidney Lumet Trailer (2015)
13 July 2015
An analysis of director Sidney Lumet's work (12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead) in his own words, based on a five-day interview recorded shortly before his death.
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am Trailer (2019)
21 June 2019
This artful and intimate meditation on the legendary storyteller examines her life, her works, and the powerful themes she has confronted throughout her literary career.
The Ten-Year Lunch Trailer (1987)
28 September 1987
The story of the legendary wits who lunched daily at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City during the 1920s.
Lillian Gish: The Actor's Life for Me Trailer (1988)
11 July 1988
Called "the first lady of the silent screen," Lillian Gish was the archetypal silent film heroine — the delicate damsel in distress, stranded on a swift-moving ice floe, cowering before a sadistic brute.
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy Trailer (2000)
03 December 2000
For more than 30 years, Lucille Ball was one of the most recognized and loved entertainers in the world.
Ailey Trailer (2021)
23 July 2021
Alvin Ailey was a visionary artist who found salvation through dance. Told in his own words and through the creation of a dance inspired by his life, this immersive portrait follows a man who, when confronted by a world that refused to embrace him, determined to build one that would.
Unladylike2020 Trailer (2020)
19 June 2020
Upending expectations and challenging the definition of womanhood, these “first women” found themselves at the forefront of progressive movements, organizing campaigns and leading paths to cultural change.
Starring Dick Van Dyke Trailer (2025)
12 December 2025
Starring Dick Van Dyke explores how the prolific performer became a star on stage, television and film for nearly eight decades.
Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined Trailer (2024)
17 September 2024
Explore the story of Dominican-American poet and novelist Julia Alvarez, who burst onto the literary scene and blazed a trail for a generation of Latino authors.
Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds Trailer (2001)
04 November 2001
In a prolific career that spanned seven decades, Richard Rodgers wrote over 900 songs for more than 70 shows - a body of work unmatched by any other theatrical composer in American history.
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely Trailer (2023)
22 September 2023
Follow the 50-year career of preeminent First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams. See how his landmark cases—from the Pentagon Papers to Citizens United to Clearview AI—helped define free speech as it is known today.
Ballerina Boys Trailer (2021)
04 June 2021
Discover Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (The Trocks), an all-male company that for 45 years has offered audiences their passion for ballet classics mixed with exuberant comedy.
Rothko: Pictures Must Be Miraculous Trailer (2019)
25 October 2019
Mark Rothko, a master of abstract expressionism, created 835 paintings during his five-decade career.
Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire Trailer (2024)
05 October 2024
"Sometimes I'm afraid the tale might be forgotten. Sometimes I'm afraid it is forgotten already." Told primarily through his own eloquent words, the film seeks to understand the man behind the searing and widely read memoir Night.
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me Trailer (2017)
11 September 2017
A star-studded roster of interviewees (including Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal) pay tribute to the legendary, multi-talented song-and-dance man.
The Incomparable Mr. Buckley Trailer (2024)
05 April 2024
See how one of the architects of the modern conservative movement rose to prominence as a public intellectual and influenced generations of politicians—including Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater.
Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse Trailer (2025)
21 February 2025
Explores the life and career of cartoonist Art Spiegelman including the creation and ground-breaking impact of his Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel MAUS.
Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny Trailer (2025)
18 September 2025
Hannah Arendt was one of the most fearless writers of the 20th century, and her report of the Adolf Eichmann trial coined the phrase, “the banality of evil.
Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes Trailer (2023)
12 March 2023
The Drum Waltzes explores the life and music of legendary drummer, activist Max Roach, his creative peaks, personal struggles and re-inventions from the Jim Crow to Civil Rights eras, from heady days of post-war jazz to hip hop and beyond.
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World Trailer (2026)
03 July 2026
From a lonely childhood to literary fame, her life was shaped by devotion to nature, paying attention, and the long journey toward learning to love and to be loved.
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible Trailer (2025)
10 June 2025
A biographical, musical, illuminating journey into the work and vision of Sun Ra, exploring his jazz roots, endless innovations, and ceaseless artistic and social quests.
Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood Trailer (1999)
23 January 1999
Paying homage to two of Hollywood's central icons, the film creates an unparalleled portrait of two very different personalities amidst the demise of the studio system.
Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands Trailer (2022)
08 February 2022
A documentary exploring the life, career, art and legacy of Marian Anderson.
Garry Winogrand: All Things Are Photographable Trailer (2018)
18 September 2018
Freyer Artist. Iconoclast. Man of his time. All Things are Photographable is a revealing documentary portrait of the life and work of acclaimed photographer Garry Winogrand – the epic storyteller in pictures of America across three turbulent decades.
Words from a Bear Trailer (2019)
29 January 2019
A visual journey into the mind and soul of Pulitzer Prize–winning author Navarro Scott Momaday, relating each written line to his unique Native American experience representing ancestry, place, and oral history.
Vaudeville Trailer (1997)
27 November 1997
Vaudeville is a 1997 PBS documentary under its American Masters program. Using film clips and photos, the art and history of vaudeville (1890-1930s) is illustrated.
