American Masters Episode Guide

Episode Guide

American Masters: Season 23 (2009)

• Season 23 Episode 8: Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women

  Louisa May Alcott, author of 'Little Women,' leads a double literary life by writing under the pseudonym A.M. Barnard, and that identity remains until the 1940s.

  Brand New Episode Next on: Monday 28th December 9:00pm EST - KYNE (PBS)
• Season 23 Episode 7: Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound

  Joan Baez begins singing and writing songs as a teenager playing in Cambridge, Mass., coffeehouses and becomes a conscience of a generation.

• Season 23 Episode 6: Trumbo

  Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo was convicted and jailed for refusing to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

• Season 23 Episode 5: Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes

  Behind-the-scenes of the radio show 'A Prairie Home Companion,' created by humorist and commentator Garrison Keillor.

  Next on: Wednesday 30th December 8:00pm EST - WMPT (PBS)
• Season 23 Episode 4: Neil Young: Don't Be Denied

  Neil Young traces his musical journey from the 1960s to the present and his success with Buffalo Springfield, Crazy Horse and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

• Season 23 Episode 3: Hollywood Chinese

  Actors, writers and directors discuss how Chinese people have been portrayed in film over the past 90 years.

• Season 23 Episode 2: Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts

  A year in the career and life of composer Philip Glass includes his annual ride on the Coney Island 'Cyclone' and the world premiere of his new opera in Germany.

• Season 23 Episode 1: Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About

  Director and choreographer Jerome Robbins transformed Broadway with shows such as 'West Side Story' and 'Fiddler on the Roof'; narrator Ron Rifkin.

  Next on: Saturday 2nd January 3:00pm EST - WMPTDT2 (WMPT-DT2) (PBS)

American Masters: Season 22 (2008)

• Season 22 Episode 10: The Brothers Warner, An American Masters Presentation

  A family biography of the four Warner brothers who founded and ran the Warner Bros. studio during its first decades.

• Season 22 Episode 9: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: A Living Tradition: 1998-2008

  Box office smashes 'Superman,' 'Batman' and 'The Matrix' all become franchises; the Harry Potter series captivates the world.

• Season 22 Episode 8: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: Age of Anxiety: 1950-1969

  When television arrives, Warner Bros. introduces new technology and new stars; showdown between Harry and Jack Warner.

• Season 22 Episode 7: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: Starting Over: 1970-1990

  As television arrives, Warner Bros. employs new technology and new stars; showdown between Harry and Jack Warner; 'Woodstock' signals a new era.

• Season 22 Episode 6: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: War and Peace: 1937-1949

  Warner Bros. becomes home to Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and others; after World War II films reflect off-screen anxiety of blacklists.

• Season 22 Episode 5: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: A Rising Power: 1923-1937

  Four brothers incorporate their motion picture company on April 4, 1923; James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson dominate the gangster genre.

• Season 22 Episode 4: You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story: A Rising Power: 1923-1949

  Four brothers incorporate their new motion picture company on April 4, 1923; after World War II, films reflect the off-screen anxiety of blacklists.

• Season 22 Episode 3: Marvin Gaye: What's Going On

  Singer Marvin Gaye combined gospel, rhythm and blues, soul and jazz, challenging the face of popular music.

• Season 22 Episode 2: Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

  Author Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most celebrated figures of the Harlem Renaissance.

• Season 22 Episode 1: Pete Seeger: The Power of Song

  Everyone from Bob Dylan to the Dixie Chicks relays the story of folk singer Pete Seeger, often misunderstood by critics because of his views on peace, civil rights and ecology.

American Masters: Season 21 (2007)

• Season 21 Episode 9: Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character

  Carol Burnett survives a difficult childhood to become the star of a TV variety show that entertains America for more than a decade.

  Next on: Thursday 31st December 8:30pm EST - GPTV (PBS)
• Season 21 Episode 8: Good Ol' Charles Schulz

  The Peanuts characters represent facets of cartoonist Charles Schulz's personality as well as his perspectives on the 20th century.

• Season 21 Episode 7: Orozco: Man on Fire

  Muralist José Clemente Orozco, a leader of the Mexican Renaissance, inspires President Franklin Roosevelt to hire painters to work on public walls during the Great Depression.

• Season 21 Episode 6: Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends

  Tony Bennett, born in New York's Little Italy, enjoys an international career, selling 50 million records and winning 15 Grammy Awards.

• Season 21 Episode 5: John James Audubon: Drawn From Nature

  John James Audubon realized his dream of publishing 'The Birds of America,' a collection of 435 life-size prints.

• Season 21 Episode 4: David Hockney: The Colors of Music

  David Hockney's inventive stage designs have transformed opera into an exciting thing to watch as well as hear.

• Season 21 Episode 3: Les Paul: Chasing Sound

  Guitarist Les Paul, inventor of overdubbing and multi-track recording, still performs at New York's Iridium Jazz Club at the age of 92.

• Season 21 Episode 2: Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

  Ahmet Ertegun created a new genre of music which combined the African-American music of 1940s Washington, D.C., with the European sensibility.

American Masters: Season 20 (2006 - 2007)

• Season 20 Episode 8: Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens

  Photographer Annie Leibovitz talks about her influences and work ethic, and maintaining a balance between her career and motherhood.

• Season 20 Episode 7: Sketches of Frank Gehry

  Architect Frank Gehry's designs blur the line between art and architecture, evident at the Guggenheim Museum and the Experience Music Project; director Sydney Pollack.

• Season 20 Episode 6: Andy Warhol

  One of the founders of Pop Art in the 1950s, Andy Warhol exhibits an obsession with youth, culture and consumerism, prompting his fame as an enigmatic artist.

• Season 20 Episode 5: Walter Cronkite: Witness to History

  Although he stepped down as CBS anchor 25 years ago, Walter Cronkite's legacy continues today.

• Season 20 Episode 4: Marilyn Monroe: Still Life

  Photographers Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Inge Morath and painter Andy Warhol create images of Marilyn Monroe.

• Season 20 Episode 3: Woody Guthrie: Ain't Got No Home

  Woody Guthrie's prolific and uniquely patriotic music gives a voice to millions of downtrodden citizens; narrator Peter Coyote.

  Next on: Monday 28th December 12:00am EST - WETA (PBS)
• Season 20 Episode 2: The World of Nat King Cole

  Archival performances, home movies and interviews illustrate singer Nat King Cole's achievements during a 30-year music and television career.

• Season 20 Episode 1: John Ford/John Wayne: The Filmmaker and the Legend

  Director John Ford wins six Academy Awards and transforms actor John Wayne into a national icon.

  Next on: Saturday 2nd January 11:20pm EST - WTTW (PBS)

American Masters: Season 19 (2005)

• Season 19 Episode 7: No Direction Home: Bob Dylan

  Martin Scorsese's film biography of Bob Dylan includes archival footage of the singer's childhood and life on the road.

• Season 19 Episode 6: Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the Sea

  Ernest Hemingway remains one of the most widely read and widely written about American authors.

• Season 19 Episode 5: Willa Cather: The Road Is All

  'O Pioneers!' author Willa Cather destroyed much of her personal correspondence and kept her life a mystery.

• Season 19 Episode 4: Bob Newhart: Unbuttoned

  Actor Bob Newhart began his career doing local radio sketches and stand-up comedy before television sitcoms.

• Season 19 Episode 3: George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey

  George Stevens Jr. pays tribute to his father's career as a film director and producer.

• Season 19 Episode 2: Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice

  The female ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock fuses African songs with gospel, blues, jazz and hip-hop.

• Season 19 Episode 1: James Dean: Sense Memories

  The film personae of actor James Dean echo some of his own life experiences and contribute to his legacy.

American Masters: Season 18 (2003 - 2005)

• Season 18 Episode 8: Julia! America's Favorite Chef

  Chef Julia Child changes the way people cook, eat and think about food.

• Season 18 Episode 7: Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues

  Musicians, musicologists and family members discuss the life of singer Hank Williams.

• Season 18 Episode 6: Henry Luce and Time-Life's America: A Vision of Empire

  Photographs, news footage, readings from essays and first-hand accounts describe the life and career of Time co-founder Henry Luce.

• Season 18 Episode 5: Judy Garland: By Myself

  Actress Judy Garland tells her own story through recordings she made while preparing to write her autobiography.

• Season 18 Episode 4: Balanchine

  Audio and video clips spotlight George Balanchine, the transplanted Russian dancer, choreographer and co-founder of the Ballet Society, which became the New York City Ballet.

• Season 18 Episode 3: Cary Grant: A Class Apart

  Bristol-born Cary Grant performs in an English vaudeville troupe, which takes him to New York in 1920, then he takes various jobs before achieving Hollywood success.

• Season 18 Episode 2: James Brown: Soul Survivor

  Performance clips and interviews with Little Richard, Al Sharpton, Dan Aykroyd depict the life and career of singer James Brown.

• Season 18 Episode 1: Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan and the Blacklist: None Without Sin

  The relationship between director Elia Kazan and playwright Arthur Miller ruptures after Kazan appears before the House of Un-American Activities Committee in 1952.

American Masters: Season 17 (2002 - 2003)

• Season 17 Episode 8: The Education of Gore Vidal

  Archival footage, movie clips and interviews with author George Plimpton and historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. depict the life and career of writer Gore Vidal.

• Season 17 Episode 7: Robert Capa: In Love and War

  War photographer Robert Capa's pictures and writings depict his life.

• Season 17 Episode 6: Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied

  Film clips and interviews depict the life and career of blues musician Muddy Waters.

• Season 17 Episode 5: Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind

  Singer Joni Mitchell's musical innovations.

• Season 17 Episode 4: Alice Waters and Her Delicious Revolution

  Chef Alice Waters creates Chez Panisse restaurant and rocks the international culinary world with her ideas on nutrition and environment.

• Season 17 Episode 3: Juilliard

  Prestigious performing arts school Juilliard permits a full year of filming within, which reveals the creative process and the essence of discipline and dedication required to achieve excellence.

• Season 17 Episode 2: Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces

  Lon Chaney establishes himself as a makeup artist, a director and an actor in silent films.

• Season 17 Episode 1: Willie Nelson: Still Is Still Moving

  Concert footage and interviews depict the life and career of Willie Nelson.

American Masters: Season 16 (2001 - 2002)

• Season 16 Episode 8: Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer

  Entertainer Gene Kelly incorporates American athleticism into dance.

• Season 16 Episode 7: Ralph Ellison: An American Journey

  Film footage and interviews depict the life and career of author Ralph Ellison.

• Season 16 Episode 6: Merce Cunningham: A Lifetime of Dance

  The career of choreographer Merce Cunningham.

• Season 16 Episode 5: Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records

  Entrepreneur Sam Phillips creates Sun Records, giving Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and others their start.

• Season 16 Episode 4: Quincy Jones: In the Pocket

  Entertainer Quincy Jones fuses various forms of music.

• Season 16 Episode 3: Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest of Sounds

  Composer Richard Rodgers' musicals include 'Oklahoma,' 'The King and I' and 'The Sound of Music.'

• Season 16 Episode 2: F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams

  Interviews depict author F. Scott Fitzgerald's life and career.

• Season 16 Episode 1: Goldwyn

  Goldwyn's contributions to film; narrator Dustin Hoffman.

American Masters: Season 15 (2000 - 2001)

• Season 15 Episode 8: Coming to Light: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indians

  Photographer Edward S. Curtis' pictorial history records the traditional lives of American Indian tribes.

• Season 15 Episode 7: Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye

  Photographer Alfred Stieglitz demonstrates the expressive power of pictures and modernism in America.

• Season 15 Episode 6: Conversations With Gregory Peck

  Actor Gregory Peck has a dialogue with audience members.

• Season 15 Episode 5: Bob Marley: Rebel Music

  Interviews, film footage and concert clips chronicle musician Bob Marley's career.

• Season 15 Episode 4: Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

  Carol Burnett, Fran Drescher, other comedic actresses, relatives and filmmaker Pamela Mason Wagner chronicle Lucille Ball's talent, business acumen and ascent into legend.

• Season 15 Episode 3: George Cukor: On Cukor

  Robert Trachtenberg chronicles fellow filmmaker George Cukor's career through archival movie clips and interviews with the director's friends and colleagues.

• Season 15 Episode 2: Mailer on Mailer

  The career of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Mailer extends to activist, critic and exponent of American existentialism.

• Season 15 Episode 1: Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows

  Filmmaker Bruce Ricker chronicles the career of Clint Eastwood from early B-movie cameos to major feature films.

American Masters: Season 14 (1999 - 2000)

• Season 14 Episode 6: Isaac Stern: Life's Virtuoso

  Archival footage and interviews profile violinist Isaac Stern.

• Season 14 Episode 5: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

  Lee Grant narrates a profile of Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier.

• Season 14 Episode 4: Paul Taylor: Dancemaker

  Dancer Paul Taylor travels with his company to India, works on Broadway and creates a dance.

• Season 14 Episode 3: Ella Fitzgerald: Something to Live For

  Performance clips and interviews profile musician Ella Fitzgerald; narrator Tony Bennett.

• Season 14 Episode 2: Norman Rockwell: Painting America

  Steven Spielberg, authors, photographers and models offer personal perspectives on the artist Norman Rockwell's life and career.

• Season 14 Episode 1: Hitchcock, Selznick & the End of Hollywood

  Gene Hackman narrates an examination of the filmmaking partnership of Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick.

American Masters: Season 13 (1996 - 1999)

• Season 13 Episode 7: Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley

  Archival clips and interviews tell of four successful female songwriters.

• Season 13 Episode 6: Dashiell Hammett. Detective. Writer.

  Dashiell Hammett's life and career.

• Season 13 Episode 5: The Lives of Lillian Hellman

  Playwright Lillian Hellman's life and career.

• Season 13 Episode 4: Robert Rauschenberg: Inventive Genius

  Artist Robert Rauschenberg utilizes technology, vibrant colors and interactive pieces.

• Season 13 Episode 3: Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

  Singer Paul Robeson affirms political beliefs and fights for social justice.

• Season 13 Episode 2: The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story

  Filmmaker Susan W. Dryfoos profiles caricaturist Al Hirschfeld of The New York Times.

• Season 13 Episode 1: Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note

  Friends and colleagues reflect on composer Leonard Bernstein's influences and concerns.

American Masters: Season 12 (1997 - 1998)

• Season 12 Episode 6: Alexander Calder

  Abstract sculptor Alexander Calder creates the mobile and stabile.

• Season 12 Episode 5: Don Hewitt: 90 Minutes on 60 Minutes

  Newsman Don Hewitt creates the television news magazine.

• Season 12 Episode 4: Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart

  Clips and interviews chronicle singer Lou Reed's career with the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist.

• Season 12 Episode 3: Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy

  Filmmaker Billy Wilder writes, directs and produces more than 50 movies and wins six Academy Awards; narrator Walter Matthau.

• Season 12 Episode 2: Vaudeville

  Stage shows dominate four decades of American popular culture.

American Masters: Season 11 (1996 - 1997)

• Season 11 Episode 5: Isamu Noguchi: Stones and Paper

  Two cultures shape artist Isamu Noguchi's life and work.

• Season 11 Episode 4: Jack Paar: As I Was Saying ...

  Broadcast pioneer Jack Paar's career includes being host of an early version of 'The Tonight Show.'

• Season 11 Episode 3: Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde

  Emmanuel Rudnitsky's talents include photography, painting, collage, film, poetry, philosophy.

• Season 11 Episode 2: Danny Kaye: A Legacy of Laughter

  Interviews and film clips characterize the career of actor Danny Kaye.

• Season 11 Episode 1: Lena Horne: In Her Own Voice

  Ossie Davis, Alan King and others talk about singer Lena Horne's path to stardom.

American Masters: Season 10 (1995 - 1997)

• Season 10 Episode 5: Nichols and May: Take Two

  Television highlights and interviews profile the comedy team of Mike Nichols and Elaine May.

• Season 10 Episode 4: Buckminster Fuller: Thinking Out Loud

  Buckminster Fuller, creator of the geodesic dome, is an architect, engineer, inventor and philosopher.

• Season 10 Episode 3: Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light

  Interviews, audio recordings and photographs profile photographer Richard Avedon.

• Season 10 Episode 2: William Styron: The Way of the Writer

  Interviews and excerpts spotlight Pulitzer Prize winner William Styron's ideas and scope.

• Season 10 Episode 1: Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval

  Interviews with colleagues, friends and family show writer Rod Serling's creativity and ambition.

American Masters: Season 9 (1994 - 1995)

• Season 9 Episode 4: Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul

  Interviews, archival materials and dramatized vignettes depict Edgar Allan Poe, with Treat Williams, John Heard, Rene Auberjonois.

• Season 9 Episode 3: Placido Domingo: A Musical Life

  Tenor Placido Domingo's creativity proceeds from zarzuela to performing with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic.

• Season 9 Episode 1: Rediscovering Will Rogers

  Narrator Edwin Newman chronicles Will Rogers' contributions with newsreel footage, radio broadcasts, photographs, home movies.

American Masters: Season 8 (1994)

• Season 8 Episode 2: Martha Graham: The Dancer Revealed

  Martha Graham's career as dancer, choreographer, teacher and ballet-company director spans many decades.

American Masters: Season 6

• Season 6 Episode 9: Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter's Journey

  Oscar-winning screenwriter Waldo Salt ('Midnight Cowboy,' 'Serpico,' 'Coming Home').

• Season 6 Episode 8: Ray Charles: The Genius of Soul

  Film, interviews and performance clips profile Ray Charles and celebrate his music.

• Season 6 Episode 7: Robert Motherwell & the New York School: Storming the Citadel

  Robert Motherwell helps shift modern art from Paris to New York in the '40s.

• Season 6 Episode 6: Menuhin: Family Portrait

  Interviews, footage and photos profile violinist Yehudi Menuhin as prodigy, musician, husband, father and teacher.

• Season 6 Episode 5: Frederic Remington: Truth of Other Days

  Gregory Peck narrates a portrait of 19th-century Western artist Frederic Remington.

• Season 6 Episode 4: Sarah Vaughan: The Divine One

  A profile of Sarah Vaughan from childhood shows her accomplishments in jazz and popular music.

• Season 6 Episode 3: A. Einstein: How I See the World

  Interviews and archival film show scientist, humanitarian and philosopher Albert Einstein.

• Season 6 Episode 2: Miracle on 44th Street: Portrait of the Actors Studio

  A portrait of the Actors Studio features Paul Newman, James Dean and many more.

• Season 6 Episode 1: Helen Hayes: First Lady of the American Theatre

  Jason Robards narrates a profile of Helen Hayes, with interviews and film clips.

American Masters: Season 5

• Season 5 Episode 8: John Cage: I Have Nothing to Say & I'm Saying It

  Composer John Cage combines silence and unique sounds.

• Season 5 Episode 7: Sanford Meisner: Theater's Best-Kept Secret

  Sanford Meisner, a founder of the Group Theatre, trains actors, writers and directors.

• Season 5 Episode 6: John Hammond: From Bessie Smith to Bruce Springsteen

  Record producer John Hammond's career influences five decades of U.S. music.

• Season 5 Episode 5: Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter

  A profile of newsman Edward R. Murrow recalls his live radio broadcasts and his TV programs ('See It Now,' 'Person to Person,' 'CBS Reports').

• Season 5 Episode 4: Cole Porter: You're the Top

  Interviews and film clips recall the musical legacy of Cole Porter ('I Get a Kick Out of You,' 'Be a Clown').

• Season 5 Episode 3: Martin Scorsese Directs

  Martin Scorsese ('Taxi Driver,' 'Raging Bull') works on a production. Includes interviews with associates.

• Season 5 Episode 2: John Cassavetes

  Actors in John Cassavetes movies ('Husbands,' 'A Woman Under the Influence') discuss the filmmaker's legacy.

• Season 5 Episode 1: Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer

  Film clips and interviews recall the legacy of director/writer Preston Sturges.

American Masters: Season 4 (1989)

• Season 4 Episode 10: Milos Forman: Portrait

  Czechoslovakian-born Milos Forman directs 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' 'Hair' and 'Amadeus.'

• Season 4 Episode 9: Harold Lloyd

  Film comedian Harold Lloyd forms a partnership with Hal Roach. Narrator: Lindsay Anderson.

• Season 4 Episode 8: W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult

  Peter Riegert portrays photographer W. Eugene Smith in a dramatized documentary with archival footage and interviews.

• Season 4 Episode 7: Mort Sahl: Loyal Opposition

  Political satirist Mort Sahl's career spans presidential administrations from Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush.

• Season 4 Episode 6: Jasper Johns: Ideas in Paint

  Friends and critics of artist Jasper Johns comment on his work and its impact on U.S. art.

• Season 4 Episode 5: Celebrating Bird: Triumph of Charlie Parker

  Saxophonist Charlie Parker excels, but destructive habits cause his untimely death.

• Season 4 Episode 4: James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket

  Writer James Baldwin speaks of the pain and struggle of African-Americans.

• Season 4 Episode 3: Satchmo

  A profile of Louis Armstrong examines the roles of culture and personality in the creative process as well as barriers facing black artists.

• Season 4 Episode 2: Stella Adler: Awake & Dream!

  Stella Adler, champion of method acting, discusses years teaching and performing.

• Season 4 Episode 1: Harold Clurman: Life of Theatre

  Clurman introduces method acting to the United States and helps form the Group Theatre.

American Masters: Season 3

• Season 3 Episode 8: Broadway's Dreamers: Legacy of the Group Theatre

  Joanne Woodward interviews former members of the 1930s Group Theatre, with archival footage of actors and teachers.

• Season 3 Episode 7: Neil Simon: Not Just for Laughs

  Associates and friends discuss playwright Neil Simon's artistic evolution and accolades.

• Season 3 Episode 6: Saint-Gaudens: Masque of the Golden Bowl

  A film portrait of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens traces his career's development.

• Season 3 Episode 5: Rivera in America

  The subjects of Mexican artist Diego Rivera's San Francisco, Detroit and New York murals spark controversy.

• Season 3 Episode 4: Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul

  Detroit gospel singer Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

• Season 3 Episode 3: Andre Kertesz of the Cities

  A profile of the photographer examines his renowned work, including the 'Distortions' series.

• Season 3 Episode 2: A Duke Named Ellington

  Ellington forms a publishing company, lands a gig at the Cotton Club and gains world renown.

• Season 3 Episode 1: Lillian Gish: Actor's Life for Me

  A profile of Lillian Gish includes clips from 'The Birth of a Nation' and 'The Wind.'

American Masters: Season 2 (1987)

• Season 2 Episode 10: Buster Keaton: Hard Act to Follow

  The comedian starts in vaudeville at age four, achieves subsequent fame as a silent screen star, then loses a lucrative job because of alcoholism, marital troubles and problems with studio executives. In the late 1940s, Keaton re-emerges as a star.

• Season 2 Episode 9: 10-Year Lunch: Wit & Legend of the Algonquin Round Table

  A ritual meeting of 1920s wits impacts strongly on American humor.

• Season 2 Episode 8: Unanswered Prayers: Life & Times of Truman Capote

  A study of Truman Capote's literary genius examines the person behind the image.

• Season 2 Episode 7: Negro Ensemble Company

  Ossie Davis narrates the company's 20-year history, featuring performance footage and interviews.

• Season 2 Episode 6: Maurice Sendak: Mon Cher Papa

  The illustrator's love of Mozart and other classical music.

• Season 2 Episode 5: George Gershwin

  A profile of George Gershwin explores his career as a popular and classical composer.

• Season 2 Episode 4: Nik & Murray

  The 35-year-long collaboration of two modern dance choreographers, Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis.

• Season 2 Episode 3: Rubinstein Remembered: 100th Anniversary Tribute

  Music, film clips, home movies and interviews profile pianist Arthur Rubinstein.

• Season 2 Episode 2: Directed by William Wyler

  A profile of the director features interviews with Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand and Laurence Olivier.

• Season 2 Episode 1: Isaac in America

  The profile of Yiddish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer includes interviews and readings by Judd Hirsch.

American Masters: Season 1

• Season 1 Episode 9: Eugene O'Neill: Glory of Ghosts

  A profile of the Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist includes Jason Robards, Zoe Caldwell, Blythe Danner and Tony Lo Bianco enacting excerpts from O'Neill's most famous plays.

• Season 1 Episode 8: Thomas Eakins: Motion Portrait

  Profile of the painter features archival interviews with models, his works and re-enacted scenes of his life.

• Season 1 Episode 7: Aaron Copland: Self-Portrait

  A film biography with performances, interviews, and documentary material celebrates the composer's 85th birthday.

• Season 1 Episode 6: James Levine: Life in Music

  The artistic director of the Metropolitan Opera is seen rehearsing, coaching and conducting.

• Season 1 Episode 5: Long Night of Lady Day

  Film and television appearances of jazz singer Billie Holiday illustrate her career from the 1930s to the late '50s.

• Season 1 Episode 4: Charlie Chaplin: My Happiest Years

  Outtakes from the Mutual Film Company begin a profile of the comedian. Narrator: James Mason.

• Season 1 Episode 3: Katherine Anne Porter

  A profile of the author weaves interviews with dramatizations of her short stories.

• Season 1 Episode 2: Philip Johnson

  An interview with the 80-year-old architect.

• Season 1 Episode 1: Private Conversations

  The filming of 'Death of a Salesman' features author Arthur Miller, Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich.

American Masters:

• Andy Warhol

  Andy Warhol moves into directing films, then produces hundreds of portraits of living superstars during his Post-Pop period.

• Buster Keaton: Hard Act to Follow

  The comedian starts in vaudeville, moves to films and becomes a silent screen star.

• Buster Keaton: Hard Act to Follow

  Keaton re-emerges as a star in the late 1940s after several lean years.

• Buster Keaton: Hard Act to Follow

  Keaton struggles with alcoholism, a failed first marriage and other problems.

• Charlie Chaplin: Great Director

  Chaplin's early efforts as an independent filmmaker.

• Charlie Chaplin: Hidden Treasures

  Movies that Chaplin made for fun or abandoned are mixed with scenes from 'City Lights' and 'Modern Times.'

• A Duke Named Ellington

  Ellington composes modern jazz, ballets and sacred music as the big band sound fades.

• Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter

  A profile of Edward R. Murrow recalls his programs ('See It Now,' 'Person to Person').

• Georgia O'Keeffe

  An interview with painter Georgia O'Keeffe contains her home-movie footage and photos of her life with photographer Alfred Stieglitz.

• Harold Lloyd

  Lindsay Anderson narrates a profile of comedian Harold Lloyd, from youth in Nebraska to silent-screen success and partnership with Hal Roach.

• Harold Lloyd

  Lindsay Anderson narrates a profile of comedian Harold Lloyd, from youth in Nebraska to silent-screen success and partnership with Hal Roach.

• Menuhin: Family Portrait

  A profile of violinist Yehudi Menuhin includes interviews and footage of him as a prodigy.