Biographies: Documentaries About Notable Individuals
The following is a highly selective videography of biographical videos in the Media Resources Center. For more a more extensive listing of works about the life and work of notable individuals, see also individual subject videographies. For example:
Movie Biographies
Art History & Practice (for discussions of artists not listed below)
Dance
Environmental Design
Film History
Literary Biography and Criticism
A| B| C| D-E| F| G| H| I-J| K| L| M| N| O| P-Q| R| S| T| U-V| W-Z|
- [Akhmatova, Anna]The Anna Akhmatova File (Lichnoe delo Anny Akhmatovoy)
- Examines a contradictory age in which a sensitive, lyrical and much loved poet, Anna Akhmatova, stands up to the brutal repression of Josef Stalin. Although her works were banned and weren't published for 17 years, her poem 'Requiem' became the underground anthem for the millions who suffered under Stalin. Directed by Semyon Aranovich. 2007. 65 min. DVD 8914
- [Akiyoshi, Toshiko] Jazz is My Native Language: A Portrait of Toshiko Akiyoshi.
- A vibrant, fast-paced documentary which provides an in-depth look at the music and personal life of jazz composer/pianist/bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi. Includes performances of her work by her band and commentary by jazz critic Leonard Feather. 58 min. Video/C 3820
- [Allende, Isabel] Isabel Allende: An Extraordinary Life.
- When her daughter became ill and fell into a coma, Isabel Allende began to write the story of her family and the extraordinary events of which they were often the central element: about her mother, abandoned by her father and her mother's lover, Salvador Allende, who was elected president of Chile and was murdered during a coup that brought military dictatorship to Chile; and of her own immigration to California and her success as a writer. 1995. 52 min. Video/C 8669
- [Allison, Dorothy] Two or Three Things But Nothing for Sure
- A first person narrative by the author Dorothy Allison evoking her childhood in the poor white American South of the 1950's, her birth as a writer and feminist and her coming to terms with a family legacy of incest and abuse. Includes readings by the author from her works Two or three things I know for sure, Skin, and Trash. 1966. 12 min. Video/C 8703
- [Almodovar, Pedro] Otras Miradas
- In this program the Spanish motion picture producer, Pedro Almodovar, traces his colorful career from obscure independent filmmaker to his 1988 Oscar-nomination. He explores his unique creative perspective, particularly his frequent use of characters living on the fringes of traditional Spanish society. In Spanish (without subtitles). 58 min. Video/C 5094
- [Alto, Alvar] Alvar Aalto.
- Gives an overview of the work of Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, including examples of his architecture in private residences, industrial buildings, churches, government offices, campuses, university buildings, cultural centers and town plans in various parts of Finland. 199-?.Video/C 2952
- [Amundsen, Roald]Frozen Heart: A Film about Roald Amundsen.
- Roald Amundsen was his generations greatest polar explorer. He was the first man to reach the South Pole (1911) and quite possibly he was the first man to set a flag on the North Pole (1926). This revealing program tells Roald Amundsen's story of fierce duels at both poles ending in triumph, tragedy and controversy. Based on the book: Roald Amundsen / by Tor Bowmann-Larsen (Main Stack G585.A6.B65 1995). c1999. 90 min. Video/C MM143
- [Angelou, Maya] A Portrait of Maya Angelou.
- Thirty years later, Maya Angelou, poet, musician, and actress returns to Staryes, Arkansas, the rural southern town where she grew up. Hosted by Bill Moyers. 60 min. Video/C 539
- [Anthony, Susan B.] Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony.
- A film by Ken Burns. Presents the history of women's suffrage through the dramatic, often turbulent friendship between Elizabeth Stanton and Susan Anthony who were born into a world ruled entirely by men. By the time their lives were over, they had changed for the better the lives of a majority of American citizens. 93 min. 1999.
Part I: This first segment of a 2-part presentation covers the years from their youth up to the establishment of the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1868. 93 min. Video/C 6600
Part II: This final segment of a 2-part presentation covers the years from the establishment of the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1868 to the passage of the 19th amendment to the Constitution in 1919 which gave women the vote. 51 min. Video/C 6601
- [Artaud, Antonin]En compagnie d'Antonin Artaud (My Life and Times with Antonin Artaud)
- Presents the last two years of the life of French poet, madman, genius, and theatrical impressario, Antonin Artaud. Based on the diaries of Jacques Prevel, a poet who befriended Artaud in 1946 when he was released from an insane asylum. Special features: Documentary by Gerard Mordillat and Jerome Prieur (1933, 21 min.) "Jacques Prevel, de colere et de haine," an intimate portrait of the poet Jacques Prevel, a very close disciple of Artaud, based on the accounts of those close to him ; booklet including interviews with the directors and profiles of the participants ; optional subtitles ; scene selection. Issued with: Veritable histoire d'Artaud le Momo. 1993. 93 min. DVD 5094
- [Artaud, Antonin]Veritable histoire d'Artaud le Momo (True Story of Artaud the Momo)
- Artaud's friends and colleagues provide moving and extraordinary eyewitness testimony to his final years in this unique documentary. 1993. 93 min. DVD 5094
- [Avedon, Richard] Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light.
- Presents a biography of fashion and portraiture photographer, Richard Avedon. In 1946 a young Avedon startled postwar Paris with his fresh approach to fashion photography. Then, as now, his models are not statues, but alive with movement and vitality. Moving to Vogue, he continued to make fashion history; turning to portraiture, he became The New Yorker's first-ever staff photographer. 1995. 87 min. Video/C 8333
- [Baartman, Sara] The Life and times of Sara Baartman: "The Hottentot Venus"
- A documentary film on the life of a Khoi Khoi woman who was taken from South Africa in 1810 and exhibited as a freak across Britain. The image and ideas for "The Hottentot Venus" (particularly the interest in her sexual anatomy) swept through British popular culture. A court battle waged by abolitionists to free her from her exhibitors failed. In 1814, a year before her death, she was taken to France and became the object of scientific research that formed the bedrock of European ideas about black female sexuality. In English and French with English subtitles. c1998. 52 min. Video/C 6374
- [Baartman, Sara] The Return of of Sara Baartman.
- Chronicles the return of the remains of Sara Baartman, a Black woman who had been exhibited as a freak in early nineteenth-century Europe. Her remains were returned to South Africa from France, where they had been kept at the Museum of Man (Musee L'Homme). On April 29, 2002, Sara's remains were officially handed back to the South African people at an emotionally charged ceremony at the country's Embassy in Paris and, on August 9 (National Women's Day), she was ceremonially buried on the banks of the Gamtoos River. 2002. 52 min. Video/C MM400
- [Baker, Chet]Let's Get Lost.
- A profile of the life and work of the great jazz trumpet player Chet Baker, with reminiscences by his family, friends and fellow artists, plus performances by Chet Baker himself. 119 min. Video/C 4670
- [Baker, Ella]Fundi, the Story of Ella Baker.
- Shows the work of Ella Baker, a little known organizer in the Civil Rights Movement of the past fifty years. 63 min. Video/C 415
- [Balanchine, George]Balanchine: The Father of American Ballet
- Through rare archival audio and video footage, interviews, film, and photographs, this program traces Balanchine's life from his youth, through his work for Hollywood and Broadway, to his creation of the New York City Ballet. Features selections from many of his ballets, including Chaconne, Agon, Symphony in C, Apollo, A midsummer night's dream, and Western symphony. Originally broadcast in 1984 as episodes of the television programs Great performances and Dance in America. 115 min. DVD 2531
- [Balanchine, George]Dancing for Mr. B.: Six Balanchine Ballerinas.
- This documentary portrays six of Balanchine's celebrated American ballerinas and, through them, also illuminates the life of their mentor. A chronicle of forty years of the New York City Ballets. Also features archival footage from Balanchine's greatest ballets. c1989. 94 min. Video/C 1798
- [Baldwin, James] James Baldwin
- This program covers Baldwin's life, from his youth in Harlem to later years as an expatriate in Paris to his death in 1987. Interviews with the author, his contemporaries and critics create an intriguing portrait of Baldwin the man, the writer and avid civil rights activist. The program also explores Baldwin's views on the African-American experience as reflected in his writings. BBC, 1987. 54 min. Video/C 8899
- [Baldwin, James]James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket.
- Presents a look at the life and influence of author James Baldwin, at once a major twentieth 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. Through interviews with writers and friends, this documentary captures the passionate intellect and courageous writing of a man who was born Black, impoverished, gifted and gay. 1990. 87 min. DVD 3039; also VHS Video/C 1185
- [Baldwin, Roger Nash] Traveling Hopefully
- Presents an intimate portrait of Roger Baldwin, the ninety-seven-year-old founder of the American Civil Liberties Union. Praises Baldwin's contributions to that organization and to the preservation of American democratic justice. Includes interviews and archival and newsreel footage. 1981. 28 min. Video/C 350
- [Baraka, Amiri] In Motion: Amiri Baraka
- Talks with Amiri Baraka about his early days in Greenwich Village to his present literary and political activities. Focuses on the final 2 weeks before his sentencing at federal court on the charges of resisting arrest. A videowork by St. Clair Bourne. 1982. 58 min. Video/C 5200
- [Barbie, Klaus] Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie.
- Klaus Barbie was a Nazi war criminal who escaped and remained hidden for 40 years. This Academy Award winning documentary traces the 40-year hunt for Barbie which ended when he was brought to trial in 1987. 267 min. Video/C 1558
- [Bari, Judy] The Forest for the Trees.
- On May 29, 1990, Earth First! organizer Judi Bari's car was bombed in Oakland, California. Within three hours of the bombing, Bari was accused of transporting the explosives that had nearly killed her. Still in the hospital, she was arrested, and soon labeled a terrorist in the national media. The charges were later dropped. For the next twelve years, Bari and civil rights lawyer Dennis Cunningham would pursue a federal civil rights suit against the FBI and the Oakland police department. This documentary, directed by Cunningham's daughter, is an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at Bari's fight, an important instance of the false and damaging association of dissent with crime and terrorism. At the heart of the film is Bari, a folk hero with an electrifying onscreen presence, and the legal battle that few believed she could win. Director, Bernadine Mellis. 2005. 60 min. DVD 5893
- [Bates, Peg Leg] The Dancing Man: Peg Leg Bates
- Documentary on the life and work of tap dancer Peg Leg Bates, much of it told in his own words. Profusely illustrated with archival footage, including many scenes of Bates dancing at different times of his life on stage, in films, and on television. Bates' performing career is complemented by his work as the owner and operator of a resort in the Catskills, which welcomed blacks in the years before integration. Commentary by his contemporaries offer insights into the difficulties faced by early black performers, as they critique Bates' dancing and the impact of his success as a black performer and resort owner. c1992. 58 min. Video/C 8168
- [Bearden, Romare] Romare Bearden: Visual Jazz.
- An intimate and personal look at the life and work of the bold, brilliant artist Romare Bearden who created collages and paintings of humanity in which he sought to "redefine the image of man" in terms of the African-American experience. Film includes rare footage of Bearden at work. 1995. 28 min. Video/C 5563
- [The Beatles]
See Music/Rock Videography
- [Beauvoir, Simone de] Jean-Paul Sartre et Simone de Beauvoir
- Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) and Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), intimately discuss their work, their lives, and the role of public intellectuals in modern society. Asked why they have finally agreed to such an intimate look at their lives, Beauvoir explains that they are doing so, "out of friendship for our readers." Camera, Michel Brault; editing, Les Cineastes Associes; sound, Marcel Carrière. Interviewers: Claude Lanzmann, Madeleine Gobeil. Directed by Max Cacopardo. 1967. 60 min. DVD 4629
- [Beauvoir, Simone de] Simone de Beauvoir: Un Film (1978; in French with subtitles.)
- Simone de Beauvoir recalls the events and ideas of her life in conversations with Jean-Paul Sartre and Claude Lanzmann. 110 min. Video/C 1491
- [Beckett, Samuel] Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told
- The life of Irish novelist, poet and playwright Samuel Beckett is profiled in this two-part documentary from his Dublin childhood, to his days in Paris, to old age. Excerpts from a performance of the semi-autobiographical Krapp's Last Tape and previously unpublished letters tell the story, along with remembrances of Beckett's lifelong friend and publisher, Jerome Lindon, relatives and others who knew him. 1998. 105 min. Video/C 5626
- [Beckett, Samuel] Samuel Beckett: Silence to Silence
- Commentary, Declan Kiberd ; voice, David Warrilow ; narrator, Tony Doyle. Samuel Beckett's life and creative genius are portrayed through photographs, recitations of his works, and dramatizations of personal events in his life. 1986. 90 min. Video/C 5794
- [Bergman, Ingmar] Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work
- Documentary from Swedish television accompanying the DVD of Wild Strawberries. 90 min. DVD 1065
- [Bernstein, Leonard] Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note: The Definitive Look at the Man and His Music
- A definitive look at the life and career of Leonard Bernstein, world renowned composer, conductor, pianist and educator. Filled with archival footage including concert films, home movies, and clips from his Broadway hits. Includes interviews with his brother, children, collaborators and fellow conductors. 1998. 117 min. DVD 5575
- [Bertini, Francesca] The Last Diva: Italy's Most Famous Silent Film Star
- A documentary portrait of the Italian silent screen actress Francesca Bertini, with scenes from many of her classic films and interviews with notables of the Italian cinema such as the late Sergio Leone. 1982. 85 min. DVD 4575
- [Biko, Stephen] Biko: Breaking the Silence.
- Presents the story of Stephen Biko. Parts of the motion picture, Cry Freedom are shown. 1987. 55 min. Video/C 1236
- [Blake, William] William Blake.
- Presents the life and thought of William Blake as related to our contemporary situation. Tells how the English poet lived a visionary life, describing and painting heaven. Explains how his bizarre lifestyle kept him poor, obscure, and solitary, but filled his days with delight. 57 min. Video/C 618
- [Boas, Franz] Franz Boas, 1858-1942
- Examines the life of Franz Boas, anthropologist, scientist, explorer, to help the viewer better understand his accomplishments and philosophies. c1980. 60 min. DVD 4056 (preservation copy); also VHS Video/C 276
- [Böll, Heinrich] Heinrich Böll
- This film concentrates on Boll the man, rather than his literary work. His childhood and youth in Cologne, the city he was born in, were an important part of his development. The positive memories of his childhood provided Boll with a standpoint from which to view contemporary society. The film is concerned with these memories, which enabled Boll to become an accomplished writer. 1986. 29 min. Video/C 8417
- [Borges, Luis] The Inner World of Jorge Luis Borges.
- Jorge Luis Borges presents background for understanding his life and work. Includes interview with his mother, showing the source of his English literary influence. Discusses the difference in the shadowly outer life of a blind man, and the vivid inner reality apparent in his works. 28 min. Video/C 4472
- Harto the Borges. Video/C 7383
Borges para Millones. Video/C 5064
Borges and I. Video/C 7726
- [Bosch, Hieronymus] Hieronymus Bosch.
- Describes the life and work of Hieronymus Bosch, who lived from the mid-fifteenth century until 1516. Discusses the social, political and religious influences of his day and how they were reflected as themes in his paintings. The film also stresses Bosch's concern with the psyche and the bitter vision of the ways in which man sins. Particular focus on artworks collected by Philip II and housed in the Prado Museum. c1994. 38 min. Video/C 4040
- [Boulanger, Nadia] Mademoiselle: A Portrait of Nadia Boulanger
- Former students, now well-known contemporary composers, such as Virgil Thomson, Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, Louise Talma, David Diamond, Michel Legrand, Emil Naoumoff, and others, reminisce about Nadia Boulanger in this portrait of the influential music teacher. Also, in excerpts from an interview, she gives her thoughts on music. c1987. 56 min. Video/C 9945
- [Bowles, Paul] Let It Come Down.
- Against a backdrop of the exotic landscape of Morocco, the enigma of iconoclastic writer Paul Bowles begins to unravel. Interviews with the reclusive Bowles, who speaks with unprecedented candor about his work and his controversial private life, are intercut with the conflicting views of his detractors and supporters. Highlights of the film include exclusive footage of the last meeting of Bowles, William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg in New York; detailed treatment of Bowles' work as a composer and readings of his poetic works. 1998 72 min. Video/C 7029
- [Bowles, Paul] Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider.
- Filmed in Tangier, Morocco where Bowles has lived forthe last forty years, he speaks about his writing and music, his marriage to Jane Bowles, his ties to Moroccan culture, his use of drugs, and his writer and musician friends, including W.H. Auden, Tennessee Williams and Gertrude Stein. Includes interviews with Allen Ginsberg and Ned Rorem. 57 min. Video/C 4295
- [Bowles, Paul] Paul Bowles: Things Gone and Things Still Here.
- Paul Bowles is one of the last surviving representatives of a generation of artists whose work has shaped 20th century literature and music. This documentary traces Bowles' career as a novelist, translator, musicologist and composer for films and theater. It also discusses his marriage and relationship with Jane Auer, herself an author, and includes interviews with Bowles (who also reads from his writings) as well as interviews with colleagues. c1992. 60 min. Video/C 7829
- [Brakhage, Stan] Brakhage
- Stan Brakhage, possibly the most important filmmaker of the avant-garde, has consistantly redefined the shape of film art. Using excerpts from Brakhage's films, interviews with Brakhage, his friends, family, colleagues and critics, and archival footage of Brakhage spanning the past thirty-five years, this film explores the depth and breadth of the filmmaker's genuis and the influence his work has had on generations of other creators. 75 min. Video/C 6124
- [Brecht, Bertolt] Bertolt Brecht
- A narration in English of the biography of Bertolt Brecht, documented by photographs, newspaper clippings, personal correspondence and other archival material concerning the renowned poet. 1986 Video/C 974
- [Bridges, Harry] Harry Bridges: A Man and His Union.
- Sympathetic biographical overview of the life of the union organizer, Harry Bridges and his struggles to organize stevedores on West Coast American ports. Includes the unsuccessful attempt to deport him by industry mogels and politicians hostile to his labor movement and the current impact of mechanization and containerization on Stevedores and other dock laborers. 1992. 60 min. Video/C 2550
- [Bridges, Harry] A Portrait Harry Bridges.
- Biographical overview of the life and struggles of the union organizer, Harry Bridges. Video/C 2789
- [Brooks, Louise] Lulu in Berlin.
- Filmed interview with actress Louise Brooks. Contains clips of several of her films. 50 min. Video/C 1849
- Diary of a Lost Girl DVD 1173; vhs Video/C 999:127
Pandora's Box DVD 6629; vhs Video/C 999:31
Prix de Beaute DVD 5552; vhs Video/C 999:370
The Show Off DVD 6195
- [Brower, David] David Brower: A Conversation with Scott Simon
- Opens with a short biographical retrospective and then moves on to an interview with David Brower, environmental activist, author, and filmmaker in which he talks about his career and the need to give CPR (conservation, preservation, restoration) to the Earth. 1995. Video/C 9694
- [Brower, David] For Earth's Sake: The Life and Times of David Brower
- Portrait of David Brower, lifelong environmentalist, who led the Sierra Club into an era of activism, founded Friends of the Earth, and has worked to save rivers from being dammed, helped create national parks and seashores and always worked to reduce the negative influence of humankind's presence on the earth. 58 min. Video/C 9695
- [Brower, David] Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America
- Tells the story of conservationist David Brower, first executive director of the Sierra Club and founder of Friends of the Earth and the Earth Island Institute, who worked to save the natural environment and to protect and establish some of America's national parks. Includes archival footage (much shot by Brower himself), photographic images from well-known artists, and interviews with leading conservationists, photographers, historians, curators, and politicians, as well as Brower's family, friends, and colleagues. 2004. 74 min. DVD 3222
- [Brown, John] John Brown's Holy War.
- A look inside the abolitionist, John Brown: a complex man, farmer, warrior, and avenging angel, revealing the man behind the legend. He is the father of American terrorism-- and an inspiration to the Civil Rights movement. More than 150 years after his execution, questions swirl around John Brown: was he a madman or a martyr? A bloodthirsty fanatic or a great American hero? Draws on interviews with historians and writers and includes commentary on John Brown, Frederick Douglas, James Redpath, Henry David Thoreau, Henry A. Wise and the Secret Six with coverage of the Pottawatomie Massacre, the Missouri Raid, the Harpers Ferry Raid and the hanging of John Brown. 1999. 90 min. Video/C 6980
- [Brown, Reynold] The Man Who Drew Bug-Eyed Monsters.
- Examines the Hollywood-to-Nebraska career of Reynold Brown, the man who created the realistic to surrealistic movie posters that enticed a generation of movie-goers. c1994. 59 min. Video/C 4461
- [Bukowski, Charles] Bukowski: Born Into This
- Seven years in preparation, presents a comprehensive documentary of Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) - international celebrity, poet, novelist and underground cult icon. Includes interviews with relatives, girlfriends, other poets and contemporaries. 2003. Special features: Bukowski's final home movie footage from 1992; sneak peek at previously unpublished poems and "Dinosauria, we"; deleted scene; extended interviews with Bono, Linda Lee Bukowski, Taylor Hackford and publisher John Martin; Tom Waits and Bono read Bukowski poetry; "Born into this" behind-the-scenes featurette; audio commentary by director John Dullaghan. 113 min. DVD 5606
- The Charles Bukowski Tapes DVD 8126; vhs Video/C 7725
- [Buñuel, Luis] Luis Buñuel
- Biographical account of Spanish born film director, Luis Buñuel, and a critique of his work through interviews with family, friends and collaborators. Clips of Buñuel at work and from some of his movies provide an additional dimension to the commentary. In Spanish. 75 min. Video/C 4219
- [Buñuel, Luis] Regarding Buñuel
- A thorough, entertaining documentary on the life and work of Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel. Using archival photographs, footage, and clips from his films this is a complex portrait of one of the century's most notable filmmakers. Includes footage from an interview with Buñuel before his death, as well as interviews with various actors, friends and family members. 2000. 105 min. Video/C 4219
- [Burroughs, William] Burroughs: The Movie.
- A film biography of the writer William Burroughs. Includes interviews with the author, his friends and admirers, and readings from his works. Director, Howard Brookner. 87 min. Video/C 4143
- The Source Video/C 6928
C - [Calder, Alexander] Alexander Calder.
- A biography of the internationally acclaimed sculptor who invented an art form: the mobile, which incorporates motion into sculpture. Through interviews with his contemporaries and many examples of his works, ranging from tiny mobiles to soaring monuments over seven stories high, this film captures the joyful exuberance that the artist displayed throughout his life and in his work. Originally produced in 1998 as a segment of the television program: American Masters. c1999. 57 min. Video/C 6327
- [Cassatt, Mary] Mary Cassatt, Impressionist from Philadelphia. (Portrait of an Artist; 2)
- Focuses on the life and work of the American impressionist painter Mary Cassatt. c1977. 30 min. Video/C 1103
- [Capra, Frank] Frank Capra's American Dream
- Go behind the scenes into Hollywood legend Frank Capra's professional and family life with rare footage, stills and sequences from many of his films and an exclusive look into his personal home movie collection. 1997. DVD 7188; also on DVD 3000
- [Carter Family]The Carter Family: Will the Circle be Unbroken
- Documentary on the public and private live of the Carter family whose music captured the attention of a nation entering the darkest days of the depression with such songs as "Keep on the sunnyside." Behind the simple, memorable songs their own private lives were more complicated. By drawing upon rarely seen photographs, memorabilia and archival footage, tells the bittersweet story of these influential pioneers whose songs and style laid the foundations for American folk, country and bluegrass music. Special features: The Carter scratch and Mother Maybelle's guitar ; The guitar in American music ; The Carter Family Fold : a wholesome family experience. Originally produced for the television program American experience, 2005. 60 min. DVD 5561
- [Cartier-Bresson, Henri]Henri Cartier-Bresson (Henri Cartier-Bresson: point d'interrogation)
- After a lifetime of taking pictures of others, in 1994 Henri Cartier-Bresson finally agreed to step from behind the lens to be filmed. This impressionistic program -- a landmark documentary about one of the 20th century's finest photographers -- brings viewers face-to-face with both the artist and the man. Many of Cartier-Bresson's most memorable photos and a number of powerful clips from films he directed are interspersed with both vintage and more recent footage of him in action. Time is also devoted to his marvelous drawings, a contemplative counterpoint to what he terms his reportage through film. A film by Sarah Moon with the collaboration of Robert Delpire. 2005. 39 min. DVD 4566
- [Cartier-Bresson, Henri]Henri Cartier-Bresson the Impassioned Eye
- This documentary takes a look at the innovative work of master photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson who shifts his work from the simple to astonishingly complex. He has an eye for geometry, and the convoluted aestheticism of architecture. Among the many personalities who offer opinions about the artist and his photographs-- which stretch from the Spanish Civil War to the liberation of Paris from the Nazis-- are Isabelle Huppert, Robert Delpire, Elliott Erwitt, Josef Koudelka, Arthur Miller and Ferdinando Scianna. Directed by Heinz Butler. 2006. 72 min. DVD 5241
- [Cassavetes, John] A Constant Forge: The Life and Art of John Cassavetes
- A look at the life and work of John Cassavetes assembled from candid interviews with Cassavetes' collaborators and friends, rare photos, archival footage, and the director's own words. The film paints a revealing portrait of a man whose fierce courage and dedication changed the face of cinema forever. 2000. 202 min. DVD 2979
- [Cassavetes, John] John Cassavetes
- The subject of this protrait is John Cassavetes, the father of American independent film. We first meet Cassavetes just after the completion of his independent film "Shadows," as he drives a convertible through Hollywood discussing the film. Three years later, with his film "Faces" completed Cassavetes is in Paris, rather more mature and introspective. Here he discusses American society, and contrasts Shadows, a film about adolescence and hope, with Faces, a film about middle age and disenchantment. A Film by Andr? S. Labarthe 1965-68. 50 min. Video/C 8499
- [Castro, Fidel] Fidel
- A documentary produced in Cuba celebrating the life and political career of Fidel Castro through archival footage, interviews with Fidel and commentary by family, associates, former guerrilla fighters, politicians and historians. 1999. 75 min. Video/C 8156
- [Castro, Fidel] Fidel (Fidel, The Untold Story)
- A documentary produced in Cuba celebrating the life and political career of Fidel Castro through archival footage, interviews with Castro and commentary by family, associates, former guerrilla fighters, politicians and historians. Castro is seen swimming with bodyguards in the ocean, visiting his childhood home and school, joking with his friend Nelson Mandela, meeting with Elian Gonzalez, and celebrating his birthday with the Buena Vista Social Club. Director, Estela Bravo. 2003. 91 min. DVD 1884
- [Castro, Fidel] Fidel Castro
- Fidel Catro is profiled through interviews with relatives, fellow rebel leaders, Bay of Pigs veterans, human rights activists, journalists and enemies in Cuba and abroad. Contents: Boyhood -- Student leader -- Moncada -- Jungle fighters -- Rebel victory -- A man to be reckoned with -- Revolutionary reforms -- The Soviets and Cuba -- Bay of Pigs -- Cuban Missile Crisis -- In love with Castro -- Worldwide revolution/Che -- An economic disaster -- Angola, Nicaragua, Afghanistan -- The Mariel boatlift -- Human rights violations -- Soviet collapse -- Just one man. Originally broadcast in January 2005 on the PBS television program: The American Experience. 120 min. DVD 3693
- [Castro, Fidel] Moments with Fidel (Momentos con Fidel)
- Cuban director Rebeca Chavez uses archival film and audio material to create a collage of important moments in Castro's political and personal life, including his re-definition of Cuba's role after the collapse of the Communist Bloc. Director, Rebeca Chavez. Bonus films: My brother Fidel / director, Santiago Alverez (1977, 17 min.) -- The first delegate / director, Santiago Alverez (1975, 26 min.) -- Condemn me, it does not matter / director, Miguel Torres, 1982, 15 min.) 55 min. DVD 8909
- [Cather, Willa] Willa Cather: The Road Is All /
- A biographical depiction of the life of the American author Willa Cather and the influences of the Nebraska frontier on her work. Cather's life remains largely a mystery because she destroyed so much of her personal correspondence and seductive, largely because she ignored every cultural obstacle in her path. The film is enhanced by the beauty of the endless prairie giving palpable texture to Cather's writing and bringing the frontier to life. Originally broadcast in 2005 on the television program 'American Masters.' 90 min. DVD 4505
- [Cesaire, Aime] Aime Cesaire: A Voice for History.
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The Vigilant Island. Part 1 of a 3 part series on the Martinique author, Aime Cesaire, introduces Cesaire, his wife Suzanne who founded in 1939 the seminal literary review, Tropiques, a journal which influenced Caribbean intellectuals and spawned the Negritude Literary Movement. After WWII, Cesaire served as mayor of Fort-de-France and Martinique's representative in the French National Assembly during the crucial years of decolonization. He discusses the difficulty of balancing the life of a poet with that of a practical politician for over 50 years. 1994. 54 min. DVD 9246; vhs Video/C 4555
Where the Edges of Conquest Meet. Part 2 or this 3 part series moves to Paris in the 1930s where Cesaire, Leopold Senghor, first president of Senegal, and the French Guyanese poet, Leon Damas developed the concept of Negritude, a world wide revindication of African values. After WWII the Negritude movement centered around a French publishing house, Presence Africaine, which attracted the support of progressive French intellectuals including Pablo Picasso, Albert Camus and Jean Paul Sartre. 1994. 56 min. DVD 9246; vhs Video/C 4556
The Strength to Face Tomorrow.In Part 3 of this 3 part series Cesaire responds to the disappointments of the post-colonial world and expresses his hopes for the future. In the 1960s his plays were among the first to warn of the dangers of neo-colonialism. French anthropoligist Edgar Morin, biographer Roger Toumson, novelist Maryse Conde and American writer Maya Angelou and others testify to Cesaire's central role as a "founding ancestor" for the current flowering of African Diaspora literature. 1994. 50 min. DVD 9246; vhs Video/C 4557
- [Chagall, Marc] Marc Chagall. (Portrait of an Artist ;13 )
- Explores the life and work of Marc Chagall. c1985. 55 min. Video/C 1104
- Homage to Chagall. Video/C 7431
- [Chang, Ta-chien] Abode of Illusion: The Life and Art of Chang Dai-chien (1899-1983
- Explores the life and work of Chang Daichien, an artist who symbolizes a bridge between China's past and present, as well as between East and West. Chang was the first Chinese artist to achieve international recognition, both through his original works as well as through his skills at emulating--and forging--past masterpieces. 1994. 60 min. Video/C 8866;
- [Chaplin, Charlie] Charlie Chaplin: Film's First Icon.
- Despite his start as a purely slapstick character, Charlie Chaplin swiftly rewrote the rules of comedy to include sentiment and pathos. This program depicts the early career of the cinematic genius known to millions as "The Little Tramp." Clips from his pictures filmed between 1914 and 1917 display the characterization and artistic vision he used to transform the popular knockabout farces of his day into a true and often eloquent art form. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1997. 27 min. DVD 6082
- [Chagall, Marc] Marc Chagall. (Portrait of an Artist ;13 )
- Explores the life and work of Marc Chagall. c1985. 55 min. Video/C 1104
- [Chavez, Cesar] The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers' Struggle.
- The story of Cesar Chavez, the charismatic founder of the United Farmworkers Union and the history and impact of the movement that he inspired. The heart of the UFW, Chavez remains the most important Latino leader in this country's history. The activities he and his dedicated organizers led inspired the Chicano activism of the 1960's and '70's, helping to create a Latino civil rights movement. Film includes archival footage, newsreels and present-day interviews with activists, politicians and Chavez family members. Produced and directed by Ray Telles, Rick Tejada-Flores. 1997. 115 min. DVD 8780; vhs Video/C 4746
- Ferriss, Susan and Ricardo Sandoval. The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement. New York: Harcourt Brace, c1997 (UCB Bancroft HD6509.C48 F47 1997; UCB Moffitt HD6509.C48.F47 1997)
Chicano!: The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement. Episode 2: The Struggle in the Field. DVD 8780; Video/C 4309
- Gallegos, Aaron.
"The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farm Workers' Struggle."(television program reviews)Sojourners v26, n3 (May-June, 1997):59 (3 pages).
Goodman, Walter."The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farm Workers' Struggle."(television program reviews) New York Times v146 (Wed, April 16, 1997):B6(N), C18(L), col 5, 2 col in
Harvey, Dennis. "The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farm Workers' Struggle." (movie reviews) Variety v365, n12 (Jan 27, 1997):79 (2 pages).
Weintraub, Irwin. "The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers' Struggle." (video recording reviews) Library Journal v122, n13 (August, 1997):152 (2 pages).
- [Chenier, Clifton] Clifton Chenier: The King of Zydeco.
- Executive director and producer, Chris Strachwitz. Contents: Party down -- I'm a hog for you -- I'm the Zydeco man -- Its Christmas time -- Let the good times roll -- Caledonia -- J'aime pain de mais -- Tu le ton son ton -- Cher catin -- Calinda -- Clifron's Zydeco -- Louisiana two step -- Black gal.
Chenier is the undisputed master of Zydeco, a folk-blues music which is played and sung by French-speaking blacks in Southern Louisiana and Southern Texas. In this film both aspects of his life are shown, the public and the private. 1987. 55 min. Video/C 3556
- Hot Pepper. DVD 4981; Video/C 1305
- [Child, Julia]Julia Child!: America's Favorite Chef
- The life and legacy of fabled French chef and television personality Julia Child is remembered and celebrated in this special program. The film tells two love stories: one between Julia and Paul Child, the other between Julia and French food. c2004. 57 min. DVD 5567
- [Chisholm, Shirley] Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed
- Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm campaigned to become the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 1972. From the announcement of her candidacy in January to the Democratic National Convention in Miami that July, Chisholm's fight for inclusion encompassed all Americans "who agree that the institutions of this country belong to all of the people who inhabit it." Shunned by the political establishment, Chisholm asks people of color, feminists and young voters for their support to "reshape our society and take control of our destiny ..." To the surprise of many, voters responded. Directed and produced by Shola Lynch. 2004. 77 min. DVD 3669
- [Chomsky, Noam]Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media.
- Explores the political life and times of the controversial author, linguist and radical philosopher, Noam Chomsky. Highlighting his analysis of media, Chomsky focuses on democratic societies where populations not disciplined by force are subject to more subtle forms of ideological control. 1994. 167 min. DVD 2211; also VHS Video/C 3440
- Herman, Edward S. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media.
New York: Pantheon Books, 1988. Main Stack P95.82.U6.H471 1988)
- Alster, Laurence. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (video recording reviews) Times Educational Supplement, n4077 (August 19, 1994):23.
Antush, John C. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Monthly Review v45, n9 (Feb, 1994):47 (6 pages).
Breeden, Kathy. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (video recording reviews) Library Journal v119, n18 (Nov 1, 1994):121.
Canby, Vincent. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) New York Times v142 (Wed, March 17, 1993):B3(N), C17(L), col 1, 13 col in.
Darke, Chris. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Sight and Sound v3, n11 (Nov, 1993):45 (2 pages).
Jaehne, Karen. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Film Quarterly v47, n1 (Fall, 1993):36 (3 pages).
Klawans, Stuart. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Nation v256, n13 (April 5, 1993):461 (4 pages).
Mattick, Paul, Jr. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Cineaste v20, n1 (Wntr, 1993):42 (2 pages).
Perry, Steve. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (video recording reviews) Utne Reader, n58 (July-August, 1993):128.
Pevere, Geoff. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Canadian Forum v71, n817 (March, 1993):25
"Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Progressive v57, n4 (April, 1993):14.
- [Cocteau, Jean] Jean Cocteau: Autoportrait d'un Inconnu (Autobiography of an unknown)
- Edgardo Cozarinsky's renowned 66 minute 1984 documentary on Cocteau. (Supplementary material accompanying "Blood of a Poet") DVD 208
- [Corbusier] Le Corbusier.
- Deals with the life and works of the architect Le Corbusier. Explains his revolutionary ideas on architecture and urban renewal and shows their practical application in his most important buildings in Europe and Asia. 1986, 1970. 46 min. Video/C 1014
- [Crumb, Robert] The Confessions of Robert Crumb
- Interviews, monologues, and hilariously insightful vignettes written by Robert Crumb are woven together to portray the life, work, and obsessions of this underground comic book pioneer. Crumb continues as an iconoclast who's loved, feared and misunderstood by an ever growing number of readers. Here he tells the story of his artistry that shocks and satirizes every strata and dark hole of society. 1987. 55 min. Video/C 8650
- [Crumb, Robert]Crumb
- A hilarious and mysterious journey through artistic genius and sexual obsession, Crumb is a wild ride through the mind of R. Crumb--cartoonist and creator of Zap Comix, Mr. Natural and Fritz the Cat. A film by Terry Zwigoff. 1995. 119 min. DVD 7151; vhs Video/C 4274
- [Cukor, George] On Cukor
- The films of George Cukor define the intelligence, sophistication and wit of Hollywood's golden age. Despite magnificent achievements, he still faced tremendous professional setbacks in a career that spanned five decades. This documentary presents a compelling look at the cinematic legend, director George Cukor and includes interviews with colleagues, archival interviews with Cukor himself as well as extensive clips from over 25 of his classic films. [2000]. 90 min. DVD 631
- George Cukor (Men Who Made Movies) supplementary feature on DVD DVD 3635; also on vhs Video/C 2036
- [Cunningham, Imogen] Never Give Up
- Autobiographical study of Imogen Cunningham and her photographic work over 70 years. 1975. 28 min. Video/C 260
- [Cunningham, Imogen] Portrait of Imogen.
- In a professional career spanning 75 years photographer Imogen Cunningham had enormous influence on the aesthetics of American photography. In this film more than 250 of her photographs are presented by Imogen herself through informal interviews recorded when she was in her late eighties. With a sharp wit and unique perspective, she reveals how she carved out her impressive career while maintaining a household and raising a family. c1987. 28 min. Video/C 4069.
- [Cunningham, Merce] Merce Cunningham: A Lifetime of Dance
- Merce Cunningham has performed and choreographed modern dance for over fifty years. This in-depth profile explores Cunningham's prolific career from his earliest successes to recent works such as Occasion Piece. Featuring new and archival performance footage, the film also includes exclusive interviews with dancers, collaborators and the master himself. c2001. 90 min. DVD 2540
- [Curtis, Edward S.] Coming to Light: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indians
- Edward S. Curtis was a driven, pioneer photographer who set out in 1900 to document traditional Indian life. He became the most famous photographer of his time and created an enormous body of work. This film tells the dramatic story of Curtis's life, his monumental work, and his changing views of the people he set out to document. American Indians who are using his photographs for cultural preservation respond to the pictures, tell stories about the people in the photographs and discuss the meaning of the images. A film by Anne Makepeace. 2000. 86 min. DVD 3194; also VHS Video/C 4380
American Library Assn. Video Round Table Notable Videos winner - [Curtis, Edward S.] Edward S. Curtis: The Shadow Catcher.
- A profile of photographer, anthropologist and filmmaker Curtis, who spent 34 years recording the American Indian tradition. Between 1896 and 1930 Curtis collected interviews and original Indian stories, recorded some 10,000 songs and took 40,000 pictures many of which are used in the production. c1993. 89 min. Video/C 353
- [Dalai Lama]Compassion in Exile: The Story of the 14th Dalai Lama.
- A portrait of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. 1992. 60 min. Video/C 3329
- [Darger, Henry]In the Realms of the Unreal: The Mystery of Henry Darger
- Presents a haunting portrait of Henry Darger, a reclusive janitor by day and a visionary artist by night. He spent his childhood in an Illinois asylum and led a quiet, nearly solitary existence as a adult, but his imaginary life was exciting and colorful. When he died in Chicago in 1973, his landlady discovered in his room 300 paintings some over 10 feet long, and a 15,000 page illustrated novel, "The realms of the unreal." A film by Jessica Yu. 82 min. 2004. DVD 4057
- [Darwich, Mahmoud] Mahmoud Darwich: As the Land is the Language (Et la terre, comme la langue)
- This program describes the life of the great Arab poet Mahmoud Darwich and includes recitation of some of his poems. The film follows Darwich from the Cisjordanian desert to Paris via Cairo and Beirut, tracing the path of his exile from Israel and setting out to understand the emotion distilled by Darwich's words and inimitable rhythm. 1997. 60 min. Video/C 8475
- [Dash, Julie] The Cinematic Jazz of Julie Dash.
- Afro-American filmmaker, producer, writer and director Julie Dash talks about her life and work and the difficulties she has had getting her films distributed and accepted. Interspersed with her comments are clips from three of her films, Daughters of the Dust, Illusions, and Diary of an African Nun, and she talks about the making of a fourth film, Four Women. One of her principal aims, she says, is "to redefine images of black women on the screen." A videotape by Yvonne Welbon. 1992. 27 min. Video/C 7081
- [Davis, Miles]The Miles Davis Story
- A definitive look at the legendary trumpeter Miles Davis, his life and his music, interweaving rare interviews with Miles and insights and memories of his family, friends, and many of the great musicians who played with him during his long career. Showcases many of Davis' most influential and timeless recordings. Videodisc release of the program originally produced for Channel 4 Television in 2001. 125 min. DVD 1528
- [Debs, Eugene] Eugene Debs and the American Movement.
- A biographical sketch of Eugene V. Debs, labor leader, industrial unionist, and American Socialist, in Deb's own words, narrated from his speeches and writings. From after the Civil War until his death in 1926, Debs was part of U.S. history at a time when the foundations of modern industrial and corporate America were established. In this fifty year period, Debs was influenced by events as diverse as the massive railroad strike of 1877, the rapid growth of monopolies in the 1890s, World War I during which he was jailed for opposing the war, and the Russian Revolution. 1977. 44 min. Video/C 7298
- [Degas, Edgar] Edgar Degas. (Romantic Versus Classic Art)
- Kenneth Clark discusses the classical paintings of French artist Edgar Degas. 1974. 26 min. Video/C 824
- [Deren, Maya] In the Mirror of Maya Deren
- A documentary which combines excerpts from Maya Deren's films Meshes of the afternoon, At land, and Ritual in transfigured time with archival footage and observances from acolytes and contemporaries such as Stan Brakhage, Jonas Mekas, Katherine Dunn and Judith Malina. 101 min. Video/C 9818
- [Deren, Maya] Invocation: Maya Deren.
- Profile of the life and work of Maya Deren, a pioneer producer of avant-garde films. Includes film clips of examples of her work. 53 min. Video/C 3350
- [Derrida, Jacques] Derrida
- Presents a playful, personal and theoretical portrait of the internationally renowned French philosopher, Jacques Derrida, best known for originating the movement known as "deconstruction." Combining excerpts of Derrida speaking to groups, interviews, and biographical materials, this documentary is a rich and moving meditation on both Derrida himself and the themes that haunt and inspire his work.Directed by Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering Kofman. 2002. 85 min. Video/C 9802
- [Derrida, Jacques] Derrida's Elsewhere (D'ailleurs, Derrida)
- A highly personal exploration of the 20th century philosopher Jacques Derrida, presenting the links between Derrida's life and his work. In discussions, Derrida describes his mother and childhood in the same manner as he does ideas, somewhere between affect and concept, at a boundary where a work becomes biography and biography gives birth to a work. This documentary film takes viewers into Derrida's worlds --that of his work in Paris and that of his familial and spiritual roots in Algeria and the Spain of Lorca and El Greco. 68 min. Video/C 7799
- [Dick, Philip K.] The Gospel According to Philip K. Dick
- A profile of the life of the influential science fiction writer, Philip K. Dick presented through interviews with contemporaries and excerpts from his writings. Dick's writing and ideas on reality, humanity and technology which blend West Coast utopianism, counterculture paranoia and mystical experience have been adapted into films, including Blade Runner and Total Recall. Since very little interview footage exists of Philip K. Dick, this documentary relies on audio taped interviews with Dick, allowing him to comment in his own words. 80 min. Video/C 7650
- [Dillinger, John]Public Enemy #1
- Chronicles the life of John Dillinger, from his first youthful brush with the law to his death a decade later in a hail of bullets. It explores how, at a time of great hardship, Americans felt more admiration for a daring criminal than their seemingly ineffectual institutions of government. c2002. 60 min. Video/C MM1038
- [Disney, Walt] Walt: The Man Behind the Myth
- In this revealing portrait, you'll discover the man behind the myth. Through good times and bad, including a brush with bankruptcy during WWII, Walt Disney remained a driven innovator and perfectionist behind studio gates and a devoted family man at home. Features all-new interviews with friends, family, collaborators and experts, plus never-before-seen home movies. 2001. 119 min. DVD 4660
- [Dix, Otto] Otto Dix: The Eyes of the World.
- A comprehensive study of the life and work of Otto Dix, a German artist whose early works were considered obscene, and who was blacklisted and arrested by the Nazis. This documentary focuses on four central themes of his work: the war and its consequences, portraits, eroticism and death, and mind and religion. [1989.] 60 min. Video/C 8103
- [Douglass, Frederick ]Frederick Douglass: When the Lion Wrote History.
- Archival materials and autobiographical writings are used to present the life story of Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave whose freedom was bought by supporters he met on a speaking tour in England, who became a journalist, publisher, diplomat and a passionate leader in the early fight for civil rights. 90 min. Video/C 3896
- [Dowd, Tom] Tom Dowd & the Language of Music
- Profiles the life and work of music producer/recording engineer Tom Dowd. Historical footage, vintage photographs, interviews and appearances by musical luminaries from the worlds of jazz, soul and classic rock shine a spotlight on the brilliance of Tom Dowd, whose creative spirit and passion for innovative technology helped shape the course of modern music. A film by Mark Moormann. c2004. 90 min. DVD 5993
- [Dreyer, Carl Theodor] Carl Theodor Dreyer - My Metier
- This exhaustive documentary surveys the career of one of the great motion picture directors, following Dreyer's life through interviews with the director and his colleagues, film clips and archival materials. 2001. 94 min. DVD 830
- [Du Bois, W.E.B.] W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography in Four Voices
- In this film four prominent African-American writers each narrate a period in the life of the sociologist and author, W.E.B. Du Bois, and describe his impact on their work. They chronicle Du Bois' role as a founder of the NAACP, organizer of the first Pan-African Congress, editor of Crisis, a journal of the black cultural renaissance, and author of a series of landmark sociological studies. Anathematized during the McCarthy years, Du Bois immigrated to Ghana, the first independent African state, where he died. 1995. 116 min. DVD 3421; also on VHS Video/C 4058
- Discussion of Du Bois in
I'll Make Me a World (Without Fear or Shame: 1920-1937) Video/C 6263
- Fitzgerald, Sharon. "W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography in Four Voices." (television program reviews) American Visions v12, n1 (Feb-March, 1997):34 (2 pages).
Goodman, Walter. "W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography in Four Voices." (television program reviews) New York Times v146, n38 (Fri, Feb 7, 1997):B24(N), B17(L), col 3, 13 col
Holloway, Jonathan Scott. "The Soul of W.E.B. Dubois."
American Quarterly 1997 49(3): 603-614
Leonard, John. "W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography in Four Voices." (television program reviews) New York v30, n5 (Feb 10, 1997):115.
- [Duchamp, Marcel] Duchamp
- Surveys the life and art of Marcel Duchamp who was always mocking and undermining the conventions of the avant-garde as well as the academicians. Through interviews from the early 1960s with Duchamp and a review of his whole artistic output the filmmaker examines if Duchamp did, in fact, succeed in establishing a viable counter-tradition to Modernism in art. 1983. 25 min. Video/C 6596
- [Duchamp, Marcel] Marcel Duchamp: The Secret of Marcel Duchamp
- This program explores the life and work of the enigmatic artist Marcel Duchamp and tells the story of his late love affair with Maria Martins, which inspired his final artwork the Etant Donnes. In 1913, Duchamp shocked the cultural establishment when he turned everyday objects into works of art simply by adding his signature. Also includes archival footage of an interview with the artist. c1989. 50 min. Video/C 7424
- [Duras, Marguerite] Marguerite, A Reflection of Herself
- A personal portrait of the great extremely prolific French writer Marguerite Duras. Between 1943 and 1995, Duras directed 19 films and wrote more than 70 novels, plays, movies and adaptations. Presented through home movies, archival footage, film extracts, readings, and
television interviews filmed over many years. 2001. 61 min. Video/C 9786
- Marguerite Duras: Worn Out with Desire ... to Write. Video/C 6901
- [Durer, Albrecht] Albrecht Durer
- Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) was born in Nuremberg, the son of a goldsmith. Even though he displayed artistic talents at an early age, his father insisted on his learning the craft of a goldsmith before allowing him to turn to art. The film illustrates Durer's life and his artistic development. 1995. 20 min. Video/C 8106
- [Dylan, Bob] Don't Look Back (1967)
- A film by D.A. Pennebaker. Disc 1: Bob Dylan: Don't look back -- Disc 2: Bob Dylan: 65 revisited.
Performers, Bob Dylan, Albert Grossman, Bob Neuwirth, Joan Baez, Alan Price.
Portrait of the artist as a young man. In spring, 1965, Bob Dylan a 23 year-old, pixyish troubador, spent three weeks in England. Follows him from airport to hall, from hotel room to public house, from conversation to concert. Joan Baez and Donovan, among others, are on hand. It's the period when Dylan is shifting from acoustic to electric, a transition that not all fans, including Baez, applaud. From the opening sequence Dylan is playful and enigmatic. Special features: Disc 1: Commentary by director D.A. Pennebaker and tour road manager Bob Neuwirth; five additional uncut audio tracks; alternate version of the "Subterranean homesick blues" cue-card sequence; original theatrical trailer; D.A. Pennebaker filmography; Bob Dylan discography; cast and crew biographies ; Disc 2: Bob Dylan: 65 revisited: A new work compiled by D.A. Pennebaker from over 20 hours of never-before-seen footage; commentary by director D.A. Pennebaker and tour road manager Bob Neuwirth. The companion book includes a complete transcription of the film, over 200 photos, and a new forward by D.A. Pennebaker.
DVD 7503 [includes special feature disc]; DVD 447 [without special features]; also on vhs Video/C 3122
Information about this film from the Internet Movie Database
- [Dylan, Bob] No Direction Home
- Traces Bob Dylan's journey from his roots in Minnesota, to his early days in Greenwich Village, to his tumultuous ascent to pop stardom in 1966. Joan Baez, Allan Ginzberg and others share their thoughts and feelings about the young singer who would change popular music forever. Contains never-before-seen footage, exclusive interviews, and rare concert performances. A film by Martin Scorsese. 2005. 207 min. DVD 4394
- [Eakins, Thomas] Thomas Eakins: A Motion Portrait. (Portrait of an Artist)
- Combines dramatic re-creation with documentary photographs, interviews, and archival footage to tell the story of Eakins' life. 1986. 60 min. Video/C 1111
- [Edison, Thomas] The Wizard Who Spat on the Floor: Thomas Alva Edison.
- Examines the life and work of the American inventor Thomas Alva Edison. Shows some of Edison's many technical inventions, such as the light bulb, fluoroscope, and the phonograph, and traces Edison's work in his last years in which his experimentation proved to be less successful. 1974. 60 min. DVD 7116 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C 977
- [Einstein, Albert] Einstein Revealed. (Nova)
- Albert Einstein is known as the sprightly old sage with unruly hair. But now from the pages of his private notebooks and letters, a surprising new picture emerges; a portrait of the physicist as a passionate young man. Journey inside the mind of a genius, and with the aid of computer animation, visualize the thought experiments that only Einstein could imagine: meditations on light, time and space that would forever change the way we view the universe. 120 min. Video/C 4545
- [Einstein, Albert] Einstein: The Story of the Man by his Friends.
- A portrait of Albert Einstein as seen by his friends and colleagues. 3/4" UMATIC. 42 min. Video/C 8
- [Eisenhower, Dwight D.] Ike(Presidents Collection. The Republicans.).
- Presents a fresh reassessment of Dwight D. Eisenhower's legacy and tells the personal story of the man who played a key role in world events through two of the most critical decades in this century. Incorporates recently declassified information, extensive archival footage of World War II and the 1950s, still photographs, excerpts from his correspondence and diaries, interviews with historians and members of the Eisenhower family. 2000. 144 min. DVD 968
- [Eisenstein, Sergei] The Master's House
- A biographical look at the renowned Soviet director and filmmaker, Sergei Eisenstein, which reveals the intellectual, political and social currents running through his life and work. Structured as a series of chapters, or "houses", each portrays a particular time and place of his life. The film vividly recreates the Riga of his youth, the St. Petersburg of his teens, and the Moscow of his artistic coming of age, all captured through extensive rare documentary footage, photographs and films by other filmmakers and Eisenstein's own filmic creations. 102 min. Video/C 6072
- [Eisenstein, Sergei] Sergei Eisenstein in Alma-Ata, 1941-1944.
- This film documents, with contemporary interviews, production stills, and archival footage the period that famed director Eisenstein spent away from Moscow during World War II. Alma-Ata is the place where Stalin evacuated the star artists of the Russian State Cinema Institute to avoid the war and to produce Ivan the Terrible. Excerpts from Eisenstein's diary and interviews with still-living colleagues establish historical context and provide insights into the filmmaker's loneliness and alienation in Alma-Ata. 72 min. Video/C 7466
- [Eisenstein, Sergei] Sergei Eisenstein, Autobiography.
- Based on Eisenstein's memoirs, this autobiographical film reflects the inner world of the great Russian film director during the tragic years of two Russian revolutions and the Stalin terror. The film follows Eisenstein on a long voyage abroad which he started in 1929, and presents transformed episodes from Eisenstein's films and his contemporaries, as well as rare archival shots of Eisenstein himself presented with a soundtrack of his reminiscences, which are sometimes very personal. 1996. 92 min. Video/C 7059
- [Eisler, Hanns] Solidarity Song: The Hanns Eisler Story
- A documentary portrait of composer Hanns Eisler, one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, but one of the least known. A devoted Communist, he was persecuted by the Fascist of Germany, the right-wing Committee on Un-American Activities in the United States, and the Communist government of East Germany. Features interviews with friends and relatives and newly recorded performances of his music. c1997. 84 min. Video/C 8418
- [El Greco] El Greco, 1541-1614.
- A biographical examination of El Greco which depicts his paintings of the same subject from different periods to show his development in artistic approach and style. Also reviews the historical significance of his works which so graphically illustrate the Spanish view of reality in the 16th century. 1994. 60 min. Video/C 4039
- Weinstein, Larry. "Solidarity Song: The Hanns Eisler Story: Some Comments from the Filmmaker." Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 18 (4): 585-90. 1998 Oct.
- [Ellison, Ralph] Ralph Ellison: An American Journey
- This first documentary on one of the most gifted and intellectually provocative authors of modern American literature establishes Ralph Ellison as a central figure in contemporary debates over art, politics, race and nationhood. Also presented here are the first scenes ever filmed from Ellison's landmark novel, Invisible man. c2001. 87 min. Video/C 8923
- Byerman,Keith E. "Ralph Ellison: An American Journey.(Movie Review)." Journal of American History. 90.3 (Dec 2003): p1133(2)
- [Erdos, Paul] One is a Number: A Portrait of Paul Erdos, A Documentary Film
- A documentary filmed in England, Hungary, Poland and the United States over a period of four years presenting mathematician Paul Erd?os's mathematical quest in its personal and philosophical dimensions, and the tragic historical events that molded his life. 1993. 57 min. Video/C 4355
- [Erikson, Erik H.] Erik H. Erikson: A Life's Work
- Using archival materials and newly shot footage, this film introduces the rich wisdom of Erik H. Erikson. Best known for his identification of eight stages of the life cycle, Erikson spent a lifetime observing and studying the way in which the interplay of genetics, cultural influences and unique experiences produces individual human lives. This film combines biographical information about Erkison with his theoretical proposals to present an understanding of the relationship between the life experience of a theorist and the work that is produced. c1992. 38 min. Video/C 8508
- [Ernst, Max] Max Ernst (Portrait of an Artist)
- This film focuses on the surrealist artist Max Ernst and the period when he lived and worked in the United States between 1941 and 1952. Using photographs, film footage, and tape recordings of Ernst himself, it details the influence of the Arizona desert and the Hopi Indians on his work. c1991. 90 min. Video/C 7435
- [Evans, Robert] The Kid Stays in the Picture
- Legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans, the man behind such films as Rosemary's baby, Love story, Chinatown, and The Godfather - tells it like it is and was in Hollywood. Includes his appeal to the Board of Directors short film that saved Paramount Pictures in 1970. Also, includes archival interviews about Evans with stars and filmmakers and an Evans gag reel. Special features (60 min.): Director commentary; interviews with and speeches by Robert Evans; David Susskind show clip; gag reel; theatrical trailer. A film by Brett Morgen & Nanette Burstein. 2002. 94 min. DVD 1871
- [Evans, Walker] Walker Evans, America.
- Profiles the life and career of the great American photographer Walker Evans whose documentary style influenced an entire generation of photographers. His photographs, from Southern sharecroppers to New York subway riders, are point-of-view images that reflect his distinctive vision of America. Also includes rare interviews with Evans during the late 1960s. c1999. 57 min. Video/C 7749
- [Fanon, Frantz] Frantz Fanon: Black Skin, White Mask
- A film biography of Frantz Fanon, one of the most influential theorists of the anti-colonial movements of our century. Reveals not only the facts of his life but his long and tortuous inner journey. Includes interviews with family members and friends, documentary footage, readings from Fanon's work and moving dramatizations of crucial moments in his life. Film follows Fanon from his birth in Martinique in 1925, through medical school in France, to his work in Algeria where he joined the turbulent liberation struggle. Director, Isaac Julien 50 min. Video/C 4459
- [Farrell, Suzanne] Suzanne Farrell: Elusive Muse
- Based on the remarkably candid memories of Suzanne Farrell, this documentary eloquently weaves together vintage and extraordinary never-before-seen archival clips of her radiant performances of Balanchine ballets with the compelling and bitter-sweet love story between Farrell and Balanchine. Contents: Ballet excerpts: Apollo -- Meditation -- A Midsummer night's dream -- Don Quixote. c1997. 105 min. Video/C 8367
- [Fellini, Federico] Ciao Federico!
- study of the style and techniques of Federico Fellini, a creative international director of motion pictures. Filmed during the shooting of Fellini's Satyricon. 62 min. Video/C 2989
- [Fellini, Federico] Federico Fellini: I'm a Born Liar (sono un gran bugiardo)
- Laced with interviews and classic clips, the filmexplores Fellini's artistic and philosophical vision,as well as his boyhood and great creative marriagewith actress Giulietta Masina. Authors, lifelongfriends, cameramen, screenwriters and actorscontribute valuable insight into the Maestro's workingmethods, and madness.
- [Fellini, Federico] Intervista (1987)
- Directed by Federico Fellini. Featuring Fellini, Anita Ekberg, Marcello Mastroianni. A dramatization of the life of the Italian motion picture director Federico Fellini, framed in the form of an interview conducted by a Japanese film crew. As the interview progresses Fellini's mind wanders to his earliest days. With the co-operation of Fellini's loyal co-workers, the viewer is permitted to see tantalizingly brief excerpts (some self-mocking) of Fellini's modus operandi. 108 min. 999:2578
Credits and other information from the Internet Movie Database
- [Feuchtwanger, Lion] Lion Feuchtwanger: ein Portrait
- A film biography in German of the writer Lion Feuchtwanger based mainly on the recollections of his widow. Feuchtwanger was born n 1884 and published his very successful novels "Jud Suss" and "The Ugly Duchess" in his twenties. He belongs to those authors persecuted by the Nasiz and after 1933 he lived in France and then America where he died in 1958. [199-?] In German. 47 min. Video/C 8415
- [Fitzgerald, F. Scott] Winter Dreams, F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Presents a portrait of the author F. Scott Fitzgerald, focusing on his life and work, his tortured marital relationship and his troubled friendships with fellow colleagues such as Ernest Hemingway. c2001. 86 min. DVD 2530
- [Flanagan, Bob] Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist
- This award winning documentary follows the strikingly original life of the unique artist, comedian and performance artist Bob Flanagan. A provocative, deeply moving, often hilarious chronicle tracing Flanagan's experiences with sadomasochism in his struggle to manage the fatal illness Cystic Fibrosis, "Sick" explores the limits of pain, sexuality, love and death. 1997. 96 min. Video/C 6470
- [Fonteyn, Margot] Margot Fonteyn
- Margot Fonteyn recounts the story of her life, both professional and personal, and her long career as one of the world's great ballerinas. Includes archival footage and interviews with associates. 1989. 88 min. Video/C 9010
- [Fo, Dario] A Nobel for Two: A Documentary on Dario Fo and Franca Rame
- Portrays the life and careers of the Italian husband and wife duo of actors and playwrights, who are best known for their satirical and politically radical theater presentations. Their work was censored for more than seventeen years in Italy and they were twice denied U.S. entry visas on political grounds. This film features performance excerpts from classic Dario Fo plays plus interviews with Fo and Rame and numerous theatrical colleagues. 1999.56 min. Video/C 8800
- [Ford, Henry]The Road to Happiness: The Life and Times of Henry Ford
- A documentary of Henry Ford's personal life history. Newsreels, dramatic films and documentaries tell the story of this American legend from boyhood to his death in 1947. 1978. 59 min. DVD 5296 [preservation copy]; Video/C 241
- [Foster, Stephen] Stephen Foster
- A biography of Stephen Foster, the first great American songwriter, whose melodies are so much a part of American history and culture that many think his songs are folk tunes. In all he composed some 200 songs and although he virtually invented popular music, Foster's personal life was tragic and contradiction-ridden. His marriage was largely unhappy, he never made much money from his work and eventually died at the age of 37 a nearly penniless alcoholic on the Bowery in New York. 2001. 56 min. Video/C 8777
- [Frank, Anne] Anne Frank Remembered.
- Narrated by Kenneth Branagh, extracts from The diary of Anne Frank, read by Glenn Close. This film includes interviews with Anne Frank's surviving family, friends and her heroic protector, Miep Gies and features vintage newsreels, photographs and even a rare home movie to look beyond the celebrated pages of Anne's diary. 117 min. DVD 7343; vhs Video/C 4554
- [Frank, Anne] Anne Frank: The Last Seven Months (de laatste 7 maanden)
- A documentary that tells the story of Anne Frank during the last seven months of her life (August 1944 to March 1945) in the concentration camps of Westerbork, Auschwitz, and Bergen Belsen as told by 8 women who knew she and Margot. This includes Hanna Pick-Goslar (Lies Goosens in the diary) who was Anne's childhood friend and who met up with her at Belsen 2 months before she died. It also includes Janny Brandes-Brilslijper who is believed to be one of the last people to see Anne and Margot alive, and her sister. Another was a schoolmate of Margot. Written, produced, and directed by Willy Lindwer. Originally produced for television in 1988. 73 min. DVD 7908
- [Frank, Anne] Het korte leven van Anne Frank
- A documentary of the life of Anne Frank told against the background of Nazi-Germany, the Holocaust and the Second World War. Includes quotes from her diary, historical photographs and archive film, and the only found film recording of Anne Frank in Amsterdam, 1941. Directed by Gerrit Netten. Original Dutch version without subtitles. Originally produced for television in 2001. 28 min. DVD 5360
- [Frank, Robert] Fire in the East: A Portrait of Robert Frank.
- Presents an intimate view of four decades of theSwiss-born artist Robert Frank who has had anextraordinary influence on contemporary photographyand filmmaking. This documentary which examines hislife through his films and photographs, includesinterviews with many of his collaborators andcontemporaries. 1986. 28 min. Video/C 6937
- [Franklin, Benjamin]Benjamin Franklin
- Pt. 1 (episodes 1 & 2). Let the experiment be made ; The making of a revolutionary -- Pt. 2 (episode 3). The chess master. An extensive, detailed examination of the extraordinary life of Benjamin Franklin, from his humble beginnings to fame as a scientist, founding father, and America's first diplomat to France. Produced & directed by Ellen Hovde, Muffie Meyer. Originally presented on PBS. c2002. 210 min. Video/C MM475
- [Fuller, R. Buckminster] The World Of Buckminster Fuller
- Architect, inventor, scientist, teacher, philosopher,creator of the geodesic dome and the Dymaxion car, Buckminster Fuller has been called 'the Leonardo daVinci of our times.' This biographical video portrait depicts both the multi-faceted man and examples of his visionary work. 1995. 85min. Video/C 4091
- [Galileo] Galileo's Battle for the Heavens
- A docudrama of Galileo Galilei's life, including his scientific achievements and his defense of his controversial theory that the earth revolves around the sun. Also includes his trial for heresy and how letters from his illegitimate daughter, Maria Celeste, a cloistered nun, have shed new light on Galileo's discoveries. Featuring Simon Callow, Laura Nardi, John Fraser, Alexa Jargo. c2002. 114 min. Video/C 9322
- [Gandi, Mahatma ] Mahatma Gandhi: The Great Soul Lives
- Traces the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi from London, where he first studied law; to South Africa, where he established his first ashram; to India, where he worked tirelessly for independence. More than a biography, this documentary seeks to understand the essence of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy, which guided India in its struggle for independence and continues to inspire others in their efforts to achieve freedom. 2000. 60 min. Video/C 7034
- [Garbo, Gretta] Garbo.
- Takes a look at the life and career of the movies' most luminous, reclusive and mystifying star. A portrait of Garbo the woman is drawn through interviews with biographers and admirers. Those offering analysis and reminiscences are biographers Barry Paris, Mark Vieira and Karen Swanson; actor/playwright/fan Charles Busch; Garbo's niece and greatnephews and acquaintances Gore Vidal, Gavin Lambert, Jack Larson and Sam Green, who was Garbo's confidante and walking companion for 20 years. 2005. 86 min. DVD 4287
- [Garcia Lorca, Federico] Federico Garcia Lorca: A Murder inGranada
- A film biography of the life and circumstancessurrounding the death of Spanish poet and playwrightFederico Garcia Lorca, explored through interviewswith his contemporaries, friends and members of hisfamily. Contains family memorabilia, his drawings andpaintings, and the only remaining footage of the poethimself.1978. 63 min. Video/C 8500
- [Garcia Lorca, Federico] Federico Garcia Lorca: the Spirit of Lorca.
- Filmed on location in Spain, this vintage program profiles the immortalized poet/dramatist Federico Lorca, capturing the potent essence of Spanish culture in the process. Extracts from his poems, plays, and letters demonstrate his burning passion for the arts, while the details of his life and violent death, as told by his biography Ian Gibson, contemporaries Rafael Alberti and Luis Rosales, and others, presents a thoughtful perspective on Spain's revered literary icon. 1986. 75 min. Video/C 6899
- [Garcia Lorca, Federico] Federico Garcia Lorca: Family Portrait of a Poet
- This documentary traces the life of Federico Garcia Lorca from Fuentevagueros in Andalusia to his death at age 38 in 1936 when he was executed in Granada by nationalists at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Archival footage and personal interviews with family, poets, writers and artists provide an accurate portrait of both Lorca the man and the literary giant. 1999. 59 min. Video/C 6818
- [Garcia Marquez, Gabriel] La Magia de lo Real.
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Presents a literary biography of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Colombian novelist and Nobel prize winner, through conversations with the author, his friends, and his critics. Examines the course of Garcia Marquez's life, the source of his plots and characters, and the forces that have engendered his narrative style. Traces his so-called magical realism, a blending of the real and the fantastic, to the cultural diversity of the Caribbean. Explores the history of Colombia. 1982. 60 min. Video/C 949
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez. (Conversations with Latin American Writers). Video/C 8668
Gabriel Garcia Marquez: A Witch Writing. Video/C 7545
Marquez: Tales Beyond Solitude. Video/C 2946
- [Gardner, John] John Gardner: Uncommon American
- Chronicles the career of John Gardner, an "establishment" man who took on the establishment to build a better America. Called the "ultimate builder of ideas, people and causes," Gardner founded Common Cause and played an instrumental role in a vast array of enterprises: campaign finance reform, education reform, civil rights enforcement, Medicare, public television, volunteer action and community renewal. The film also tells the story of the unique relationship between President Lyndon Johnson, practical politician and Gardner, idea man, after his appointment in 1965 as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. 2000. 56 min. Video/C 8845
- [Garry, Charles] Charles Garry: Street Fighter in the Courtroom
- A dynamic first-hand biography of the life's work of combative civil rights lawyer and activist, Charles Garry. Focusing on six compelling cases that brought the social and political battles of the street into the courtroom, this documentary relives the drama of the 1960s through archival footage of the events and interviews with journalists, defendants and Charles Garry himself. Contents: HUAC -- The Panthers -- Growing up -- The Chicago Conspiracy Trial -- Murder trial of Bobby Seale -- Stop the draft week -- Los Siete de la Raza. [200-?] 58 min. Video/C 7980
- [Garvey, Marcus] Marcus Garvey: Look For Me in the Whirlwind.
- Uses a wealth of archival film, photographs and documents to uncover the story of Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican immigrant who between 1916 and 1921 built the largest black mass movement in world history. It explores his dramatic successes and failures before his fall into obscurity through interviews with people who witnessed the Garvey movement first hand more than 80 year ago as they communicate the appeal of Garvey's revolutionary ideas to a generation of African Americans. 2001. 90 min. Video/C 7803
- [Garvey, Marcus] Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood
- A documentary combining archival material and live interviews with Marcus Garvey, Jr., and others, which introduces the life and work of the pioneer Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. 45 min. Video/C 4137
- [Gehry, Frank] Frank Gehry.
- This film captures an important junction in the architectural career of Frank Gehry; the quantum leap from small commissions for private clients to large projects for corporations. Dist.: Michael Blackwood Productions. 1987. 57 min. Video/C 2248
- [Gehry, Frank]Sketches of Frank Gehry
- A look inside the mind of the most acclaimed and controversial architects of the twentieth century, Frank Gehry. Rebelling against the status quo, Gehry's struggle to create the impossible has resulted in such contemporary masterpieces as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the stunning Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. A film by by Sydney Pollack. Originally produced in 2005; originally broadcast in 2006 on the television program American masters. 84 min. DVD 6413
- [Gillespie, Dizzy] Dizzy Gillespie.
- A film by Les Blank. Focuses on the trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie, who, along with Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk and others, sparked the change from jazz into "bop" in the 40's. Dizzy talks about his beginnings and his music theories and blows a lot of hot music on that famous horn. Also included is rare footage of Gillespie and Stan Kenton rehearsing the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra for the February 1, 1965 concert. 22 min. Video/C 3557
- [Ginsberg, Allen] The Life & Times of Allen Ginsberg.
- Depicts Allen Ginsberg, an American poet and social activist in the different decades of his life and activities. Includes interviews with contemporaries of his cultural era. c1993. 82 min. DVD 6808; vhs Video/C 3463
- [Goebbels, Joseph] The Goebbels Experiment
- Lets the Nazi propaganda mastermind and Hitler's henchman, Joseph Goebbels speak for himself (in the voice of Kenneth Branagh) via the extensive diaries that he kept from 1924-1945. 2004. 107 min. DVD 5612
- [Goeritz, Mathias] Mathias Goeritz - ein Portrait
- Documentary on the life of the German painter, sculptor and teacher who immigrated to Mexico where much of his work was produced. 1987. 44 min. Video/C 8070
- [Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von] Goethe
- This three-part production describes the life and works of the German author Goethe in chronological order. Part 1 relates his youth, which brought him the first great success with the novel "The sufferings of Young Werther." Part 2 describes his first years in Weimar and his stay in Italy. And finally Part 3 presents the classic writer who, in addition to many other literary and scientific works finished "Faust," which he had begun in his early youth. Contents: Der junge Goethe, 1749-1775 (28 min.) -- Von Weimar nach Rom, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1775-1789 (28 min.) -- In ein neues Johrhundert, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1789-1932 (28 min.). 1982. 84 min. Video/C 8136
- [Goldman, Emma] Emma Goldman: An Exceedingly Dangerous Woman
- Presents the story of Emma Goldman, the Russian immigrant whose activism in the name of free speech, free thought, and free love and whose virulent attacks on government, big business, and American participation in the First World War earned her sainthood among the Left and, ultimately, deportation. 2003. 88 min. DVD 2595
- [Goldman, Emma] The Anarchist Guest: Emma Goldman
- Depicts the life and philosopies of Emma Goldman, an anarchist nicknamed "Red Emma" for her radical political views. Follows her tumultuous life from Russia to the United States and her eventual deportation from the U.S. because of her politics. Traces Goldman's journey to the Canadian home where she found exile in her later years. 2000. 42 min. Video/C 7932
- [Goodall, Jane] Jane Goodall: My Life With the Chimpanzees
- Features Jane Goodall who, as a young scientist, went into the East African jungle in 1960 to observe the activities and life-habits of chimpanzees in their wild and free state. Over three decades later, Goodall has grown from a stranger to the chimps' loyal friend and strongest ally. Her lifelong dedication to the study of chimpanzees has helped to identify them as man's closet relative. c1990. 60 min. Video/C 8193
- [Goya, Francisco] Goya: His Life and Art.
- A biographical in-depth examination of the life and work of the Spanish painter, Francisco Goya and of the critical period in Spanish history which he recorded in his art. In a period largely bereft of major literary masterpieces, it is to Goya that we look to find out what Spain was like in the period spanning the decline of neo-classicism, the devastation of the Napoleonic Wars, and the rise of romanticism and impressionism. c1994. 46 min. Video/C 4038
- [Graham, Martha] Martha Graham: The Dancer Revealed.
- Contents: Excerpts from: Acts of Light -- Errand into the Maze -- Frontier -- Appalachian Spring -- American Document -- Primitive Mysteries -- El Penitente -- Night Journey. A documentary of the woman who originated modern dance, Martha Graham. Her biography is constructed using a variety of sources; films, television programs, sound recordings, photographs, as well as interviews with leading dance figures such as Agnes de Mille, Erick Hawkins, Ron Protas and others. c1994. Video/C 3468
- [Graham, Martha] Trailblazers of Modern Dance.
- Documentary on Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Dennis and Martha Graham, and their contributions to modern dance. 1981. 60 min. DVD 1371; VHS Video/C 207
- [Grass, Gunter] Gunter Grass.
- Part 1 presents a biographical sketch and interview with the German author, Gunter Grass with clips from some of the films based upon his works. Part 2 is a brief history of German libraries followed by a discussion of the effects of automation and the digital library on services to patrons. In German. 1999. 27 min. Video/C 7719
- [Grierson, John] John Grierson
- Reviews the life and work of documentary filmmaker John Grierson through interviews with the filmmaker, his family, friends, and professional associates. Founder of the National Film Board of Canada in 1938, Grierson was convinced that the filmmaker had a social responsibility and set a pattern for filmmaking in the public service that is still a model for the world. 1973. 59 min. Video/C 9412
- [Griffith, D. W.] D.W. Griffith. Father of Film
- An in depth look at the accomplishments of this outstanding U.S. filmmaker who transformed a carnival novelty into a new art form; presented here through silent film clips, newsreel clips and photographs, and interviews with his stars and colleagues. PAL format. British Film Institute, 1993. 153 min. total Video/C MM439
- [Griffith, D. W.] D.W. Griffith
- Contents: D.W. Griffith: the Biograph years (29 min.) - D.W. Griffith: the feature film years (27 min.) Two films which are biographical accounts of the life and work of the early motion picture producer and director, D.W. Griffith. Both films include extensive film clips from his motion pictures. The first film focuses on the films Griffith directed while working for the Biograph Company from 1908 through 1913 and includes an interview with actress Blanche Sweet. The second film reviews Griffith's work after he matured and includes an interview with Lillian Gish who comments upon her experiences acting in his films. Originally produced in 1975 for broadcast on the television program Camera Three. 56 min. total Video/C 4604
- [Grim, Wilhelm and Jacob] Es war einmal: Das Land der Bruder Grimm (Once Upon a Time: The Fairy Tale Land of the Brothers Grimm)
- A documentary on the two brothers Grimm who compiled their famous fairy tales from oral folk tales and legends handed down by the German people. Presents a biography of their lives and scenes from areas in Germany where they were raised and spent their adult lives. 29 min. Video/C 8699
- [Guevara, Ernesto] Ernesto Che Guevara: Una Trilogia Sobre el Comandante
- Three films produced in Cuba using historical film footage, which celebrate the life and political philosophy of the Latin American guerrilla fighter, Ernesto Guevara. Che: guion y direccion, Miguel Torres (68 min.) -- Una foto recorre el mundo: direccion, Pedro Chaskel ; guion, Pedro Chaskel y Fedora Robles (13 min.) -- Hasta la victoria siempre: guion y direccion, Santiago Alvarez (20 min.). In Spanish. 2000. 101 min. Video/C 8155
- Los Diarios del Che. Video/C 4220
Ernesto Che Guevara: The Bolivian Diary. Video/C 4801
- [Gunning, Sarah Ogan] Dreadful Memories: The Life of Sarah Ogan Gunning, 1910-1983.
- Reminiscences by fellow musicians, friends and relatives of the events in this folk singer's life. Sarah performs some of her own songs which protest the working conditions of Kentucky coal miners and became a rallying point for the establishment of trade-unions for the coal miners.1988. 39 min. Video/C 3847
- [Guy-Blache, Alice] The Lost Garden: The Life and Cinema of Alice Guy-Blache.
- Explores the life of pioneer filmmaker Alice Guy-Blache, who in 1910, while married and with her first child, founded her own production company, Solax. Includes television interviews from the sixties, interviews with her relatives and film historians as well as photographs and excerpts from her films. 53 min. Video/C 4743
- [Hammer, Barbara] Tender Fictions.
- A film by Barbara Hammer. Autobiographical film tracing the life of Barbara Hammer, lesbian filmmaker and activist, presented through numerous stills from her early life, home movies, experimental films, news footage and personal photographs. 1995. 58 min. Video/C 7625
- [Hammett, Dashiell] Dashiell Hammett: Detective, Writer
- Recognized as the innovator of the hard-boiled detective novel, Dashiell Hammett succeeded in elevating the pulp genre to the level of fine literature. Thisiographical documentary effectively tells the story of a man who traveled from the gritty American underworld to the pinnacle of literary society and the glamour of Hollywood only to watch it all escape his grasp. Notes: Originally produced as a segment for the television program American masters. 1999. 56 min. DVD 2533
- [Hansberry, Lorraine] To Be Young, Gifted and Black.
- Uses excerpts from the letters, diaries, and plays of the late writer Lorraine Hansberry to show her struggle for recognition as a black writer and artist. 90 min. Video/C 5650
- [Hawking, Stephen] A Brief History of Time
- In this film noted theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking, explores his research into the farthest reaches of time and the universe against the backdrop of his life's story which includes his struggle with a progressive paralyzing disease. 25 min. Video/C 803
- [Hawthorne, Nathaniel] Nathaniel Hawthorne--Light in the Shadows.
- Portrays the life story of Nathaniel Hawthorne, focusing on his friendships with other New England writers, his other careers, his unsuccessful attempts to have his works published, etc. Includes dramatizations of portions of his works. Director, Errol Morris, 1993.in. Video/C 2909
- [Hay, Harry]Hope Along the Wind: The Life of Harry Hay
- A biographical examination of the life of Harry Hay, labor organizer, Marxist teacher, and founding member of the Mattachine Society, one of the first gay rights organizations in the United States. Director, Eric Slade; producers, Jack Walsh, Eric Slade 2001. 57 min.
- [Hearst, Patricia "Patty"]Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst
- On February 4, 1974, college student Patty Hearst (granddaughter of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst), was kidnapped from her apartment by a terrorist group calling itself the Symbionese Liberation Army. The SLA, seeking to foment a violent uprising within America's working class, forced the Hearst family to donate millions of dollars in food to the poor. But two months after her kidnapping, Patty emerged in public as Tania, an armed member of the SLA who helped her captors to rob a bank. Director Robert Stone uses rare and previously unseen archive footage as well as interviews with former SLA members to explain "America's first encounter with modern media-driven political terrorism." Produced and directed by Robert Stone. c2005. 89 min. DVD 4443
- [Hemingway, Ernest] Ernest Hemingway: Grace Under Pressure.
- Using archival material, live interviews, and visits to the places where Ernest Hemingway lived, this documentary explores and explains the relationship between the author's life and works, and evaluates both. 55 min. Video/C 861
- [Healy, Michael A.] The Odyssey of Captain Healy
- Mike Healy, born a slave on a Georgia plantation in 1839, ran way to sea winding up on San Francisco's Barbary Coast. With the purchase of the Alaska Territory Healy's career took off. Passing as a white man on board the cutter Bear, he represented the U.S. government and its justice in the Artic. He charted and patrolled the treacherous waters of the Bering Sea, confronted the rum-runners and poachers and foresaw the extermination of marine animals caused by unrestrained harvesting. He contended with the devastation wreaked upon the Eskimos and was instrumental in bringing reindeer to the Arctic. Film includes extensive rare archival footage of arctic conditions and history. 57 min. Video/C 6298
- [Herzog, Werner] Ecstatic World of the Filmmaker Werner Herzog (Bis ans Ende-und dann noch Weiter: die ekstatische welt des flimemachers Werner Herzog)
- A film essay by Peter Buchka analyzing Herzog's work through extracts from his films and statements by the filmmaker himself. From the very outset of Herzog's film career, his intellectual quest has taken him to marginal groups. In their ecstatic isolation he has sought to regain a measure of humanity and human dignity. Herzog's heroes generally fail, however, in a measure proportional to the effort they expend -- which is precisely what makes them heroes in Herzog's eyes, becau
