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|
- [Adivar, Halide Edib]The Greedy Heart of Halide Edib
- A biography of Halide Edib Adivar, a Turkish novelist and feminist political leader. Best known for her novels criticizing the low social status of Turkish women and what she saw as the disinterest of most women in changing their situation, she also served as a soldier in the Turkish military during Turkish War of Independence. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2008. 28 min. DVD X235
- [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
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- [Armstrong, Louis]Louis Armstrong: Ambassador of Jazz
- A biography of Louis Armstrong (nicknamed "Satchmo"), American jazz trumpeter and singer. Renowned for his charismatic stage presence, improvisational solo performances, and gravelly voice, he became America's international "ambassador of good will." Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, historians and jazz musicians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 32 min. DVD X235
- [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
- [Atatürk, Mustapha Kemal]For the People, Despite the People: the Atatürk Revolution
- A biography of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, and founder of the Republic of Turkey as well as its first President. Following the defeat of The Ottoman Empire by the Allies, who had plans for its partition; Mustafa Kemal led the Turkish national movement in what became the Turkish War of Independence. As president, Atatürk embarked upon a major program of political, economic, and cultural reforms which formed the political foundation of the modern Turkish state. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 30 min. DVD X235
- [Ataturk, Mustapha Kemal]Mustapha Kemal Ataturk: The Birth of a Republic (Mustapha Kemal Ataturk: naissnace d'une Republique)
- Tells the story of Mustapha Kemal, called Ataturk ("the father of the Turks"), founder of the Republic of Turkey and its first President through archival footage, newsreels and photos, and discussions with Turkish and Western historians, sociologists, and biographers. The film traces his early secular education and his political rise as an army officer, from the birth of the "Young Turks" movement in 1908, through WWI, the Turkish War of Independence, the dethroning of the Sultan and elimination of the Caliphate, and the establishment of the republic in 1923. Much of the film's debate focuses on Kemal's authoritarian rule, when he abolished the national parliament, outlawed opposition parties and labor unions, and forced through legislation that led to sweeping political, economic and social reforms. A film by Severine Labat. 2005. 52 min. DVD X247
- Ataturk, Founder of Modern Turkey. DVD 4644
- [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. DVD X1150; vhs 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. DVD X842; vhs 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; 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
- [Balzac, Honoré de] Balzac
- This revealing documentary chronicles the life of the great French novelist Honore de Balzac. It highlights the many aspects of his troubled life; his afflictions with doubt, illness, debt, and his efforts to overcome these difficulties. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1999. 50 min. DVD X451
- [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
- [Bell, Gertrude] Gertrude Bell: Iraq's Uncrowned Queen
- A biography of Gertrude Bell, British archaeologist, traveller, political analyst, and administrator in Arabia. After WWI, when British troops occupied Iraq, with her extensive knowledge of the country she was able to influence politicians in London and Iraqi leaders, ultimately helping to form the modern state of Iraq. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and the Iraqi ambassador to the U.S. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 33 min. DVD X235
- [Benjamin, Walter]Who Killed Walter Benjamin? (Quién mató a Walter Benjamin?)
- Revisits Portbou, Spain and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Walter Benjamin in 1940, one of the 20th century's greatest thinkers. As an emigrant German-Jew, a radical writer and a fierce critic of Nazism, he would have been well-known to the Gestapo and it is a well documented fact that the Spanish border police were cooperating with the Germans. When he fled from Germany was Benjamin aware that Portbou was a pro-Franco town virtually occupied by the Nazis? Directed by David Mauas. c2005. 73 min. DVD X755
- [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
- [Besant, Annie] Annie Besant: An Unlikely Rebel
- Examines the life and work of British labor union leader, women's rights activist, social reformer and theosophist Annie Besant. Includes the match girls strike of 1888 and other social reform activities throughout her life as a writer and orator. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors and academics. Supplementary feature included on Adventures of young Indiana Jones ; Volume one) c2007. 27 min. DVD X233
- [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
- [Burns, Ken] Ken Burns
- Ken Burns has revolutionized the art of making documentaries, bringing American history to life in a very personal way. In this program, he discusses the painstaking research, hands-on techniques and limitless energy that have won him fame. Biographical details such as how he got his start, who influenced him, and where he finds inspiration offer an illuminating glimpse of this remarkable artist. Film clips from his documentaries underscore the power of his methods and the passion of his vision. Originally aired on CBS Eye on People on September 3, 1998. 45 min. Video/C 7386
- [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 DVD 9437; vhs 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
- [Capone, Al] Al "Scarface" Capone: The Original Gangster
- A biography of Al Capone, the Italian-American gangster who led the Chicago crime syndicate involved in smuggling and bootlegging of liquor and other illegal activities during the Prohibition Era of the 1920s and 1930s. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 28 min. DVD X235
- [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.
-
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
- [Chaney, Lon] Lon Chaney, A Thousand Faces
- A screen biography of Chaney's life and career including rare footage, archival photos and insightful commentary from co-stars and historians. Supplementary feature on DVD 2359
- [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)
- Antush, John C. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Monthly Review v45, n9 (Feb, 1994):47 (6 pages)
UC users only
Bennett, James R. "Manufacturing Consent."
Contemporary Sociology, Vol. 18, No. 6 (Nov., 1989), pp. 937-938UC users only
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)UC users only
Klawans, Stuart. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Nation v256, n13 (April 5, 1993):461 (4 pages) UC users only
Mattick, Paul, Jr. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Cineaste v20, n1 (Wntr, 1993):42 (2 pages).UC users only
"Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." (movie reviews) Progressive v57, n4 (April, 1993):14. UC users only
Sharrett, Christopher. "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media." Cineaste, Winter2002, Vol. 28 Issue 1, p48, 2p, 1 bw; UC users only
- [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
- [Cortes, Jose Luis]Tosco: El rey de la timba
- A documentary on Jose Luis Cortes, one of the most important contemporary Cuban musicians with live performance footage. 66 min. DVD X652
- [Courbet, Gustave] Art Rebellion: The Making of the Modern /
- Examines the life of the painter Gustave Courbet, the "father of realism" and the rebellion he led to paint art works that immitate the real world in opposition to artworks that portray a romantic "ideal world," a form which had been the dominant genre since ancient Greece. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary feature included on Adventures of young Indiana Jones ; Volume one) c2007. 27 min. DVD X233
- [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 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
- [Darwin, Charles] Charles Darwin: His Life and Relevance to Modern Biology
- A special seminar celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin held at the University of California, Berkeley, February 12, 2009. Three biologists noted for their advanced studies of Darwin present lectures on different aspects of his life and work followed by questions from the audience. Contents: Charles Darwin on the Beagle / Jere H. Lipps (19 min.) -- Darwin and species / Brent Mishler (24 min.) -- Ten myths about Charles Darwin / Kevin Padian (14 min.) -- Post-seminar questions (13 min.) DVD X1406
- [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
- [Degas, Edgar] Edgar Degas: Reluctant Rebel
- A profile of the life and work of the unorthodox French artist Edgar Degas who dared to show women as real people engaged in unglamourous activities. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Produced and written by Mark Page. Supplementary feature accompanying: Young Indiana Jones. 22 min. DVD X233
- [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
- [Diana, Princess of Wales] The Death of Princess Diana
- Peter Jennings covers the events surrounding the automobile accident, death and burial services for the Princess Diana of Wales with the commentary from royal biographers Sarah Bradford and Andrew Morton. Includes eulogies at the service by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Diana's brother the Earl of Spencer. From a broadcast of the program ABC News special report, August 31, 1997. DVD 9429
- [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
- [Doeblin, Wolfgang ] Wolfgang Doeblin: A Mathematician Rediscovered /
- Wolfgang Doeblin, one of the great probabilists of the 20th century, was already widely known in the 1950s for his fundamental contributions to the theory of Markov chains. His coupling method became a key tool in later developments at the interface of probability and statistical mechanics. But the full measure of his mathematical stature became apparent only in 2000 when the sealed envelope containing his construction of diffusion processes in terms of a time change of Brownian motion was finally opened, 60 years after it was sent to the Academy of Sciences in Paris. This film documents scientific and human aspects of this amazing discovery and throws new light on the startling circumstances of his death at the age of 25. 2007. 80 min. DVD 9881
- [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. Producer/director, Orlando Bagwell ; executive producer, Tamara E. Robinson ; narration written by Steve Fayer. 90 min. DVD X1394 [preservation copy]; vhs 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).UC users only
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 UC users only
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
- [Eastman, George] Wizard of Photography: The Story of George Eastman.
- Using some of the earliest moving images and scores of America's first snapshots, this documentary presents the life story of George Eastman as he fought relentlessly to create and then dominate the consumer camera market. He teetered on the verge of bankruptcy before two inventions -- celluloid film and the Brownie camera -- made him fantastically rich. Eastman's success however didn't carry over into his personal life -- controlling, driven and demanding he was a lifelong bachelor, often isolated and lonely. Originally broadcast on PBS in 2000 as a segment of the television series: American experience. Written, produced & directed by James A. DeVinney. Dist.: PBS. c2000. 60 min. DVD X158; vhs Video/C 8180
- [Edison, Thomas] Thomas Alva Edison, Lighting Up the World
- An biography of the life and work of the inventor Thomas Edison with emphasis on the development of electrification, the invention of the lightbulb and his competition with George Westinghouse. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors and academics. Supplementary feature with Adventures of young Indiana Jones.; Volume one. 2007. 26 min. DVD X233
- [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
- Matthew Radcliff. "Absentminded Professor or Romantic Artist? The Depiction of Creativity in Documentary Biographies of Albert Einstein."
Journal of Popular Film & Television. Summer 2008. Vol. 36, Iss. 2; p. 62 (10 pages) UC users only
- [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. DVD 9531; vhs 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
- [Ford, John] Becoming John Ford .
- Becoming John Ford takes a look at the enduring impression Ford made on film and filmmaking. His career spanned seven decades. He directed over 100 films, often with patriotic and mythological Americana-themes. Filmmakers and historians discuss Ford's influence on moviemaking with personal and historical accounts of his life including his relationship with Fox's studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck, his time spent serving in World War II and the impact his service had on his post-war western films. Special features: John Ford's WWII documentaries (The battle of Midway, 1942, 19 min.), December 7th (1943, 34 min. version), Torpedo squadron(1942, 8 min.), interactive pressbook galleries, vintage program galleries, and The Ford on Fox archives. 93 min. DVD 9371
- [Ford, John] The World of John Ford
- A biography of legendary American film director John Ford. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Ford directed 140 films, received four best director Academy Awards and is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. Features archival film footage with commentary by film directors, authors, film critics and Ford's grandson. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 34 min. DVD X235
- [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
- [Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria] The Archduke's Last Journey: End of an Era
- A biography of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the aristocracy that surrounded him and the events leading up to his assassination by Gavrilo Princip which tripped World War I. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Produced and written by Sharon Wood. Supplementary feature accompanying: Young Indiana Jones. 21 min. DVD X233
- [Freud, Sigmund] Sigmund Freud: Exploring the Unconscious
- A biography of the world-famous Austrian doctor who revolutionized the treatment of the mentally ill by analyzing the mind and its illnesses by introducing the idea of the unconscious self. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Produced and written by Adam Sternberg. Supplementary feature accompanying: Young Indiana Jones. 22 min. DVD X233
- [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.
-
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
- [Garland, Judy] Judy Garland: By Myself
- For the first time on film, Judy Garland tells her own story, in her own words. Using recordings Garland made in preparation for writing her autobiography - a book that was never published - AMERICAN MASTERS is in a unique position to reveal Garland as she saw herself. Supplementary feature on DVD 3560
- [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
- [Goddard, Robert] Robert Goddard: Mr. Rocket Science
- A biography of Robert Goddard, U.S. professor of physics and the scientist who pioneered controlled, liquid-fueled rocketry. Despite ridicule and opposition, he perfected a liquid fuel formula and launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket on March 16, 1926, opening a new era in human history and ultimately the exploration of space. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, historians and a current day austronaut. Supplementary short with The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2008. 32 min. DVD X235
- [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
- [Grant, Cary] Cary Grant: A Class Apart
- Supplementary feature on DVD 3636
- [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
- [Guthrie, Woody] Woody Guthrie: Ain't Got No Home
- This film explores the creative genius of Woody Guthrie, America's greatest folk singer -- his life and music as well as lesser known talents like writing and painting. He wrote, sang and painted about everything, from labor to laundry to love. Guthrie's work influenced the folk revival of the '50s and '60s, and his legacy continues to inspire musicians and activists today. Director/writer, Peter Frumkin. Originally broadcast in 2006 on the television program 'American Masters'. 2007. 90 min. DVD 9524
- [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
- [Harlan, Thomas] Thomas Harlan --Wandersplitter (Thomas Harlan: Moving Schrapnel)
- Thomas Harlan, author and filmmaker, was born in 1929 as the only son of the infamous German propaganda filmmaker Veit Harlan. During his childhood, as a result of his father's closeness to the Nazi Party, little Thomas came face to face with Hitler and Goebbels. Now he lives in a respiratory clinic in Berchtesgaden, and it is from this clinic in southern Germany that he examines fragments of his past. Special features: Contents: Disc 1: Über Wandersplitter = About Moving shrapnel (6 min.) -- Der Film Souvenance = The film Souvenance (24 min.) -- Disc 2. Thomas Harlan--Extrasplitter = Additional fragments: Der Film Torre Bela = The film Torre Bela (37 min.) -- Reise nach Kilmhof/Rosa = Trip to Chelmo/Rosa (27 min.) -- Der Film Wundkanal = The film Wundkanal (33 min.) -- Anmerkungen zum Roman Heldenfriedhof = Commentary on the novel Heroes' cemetery (19 min.) -- Die Organigramme = The organigrams (4 min.) -- Am Ararat = On Mount Ararat (16 min.) 2007. 96 min. DVD X780
- [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
- [Hemingway, Ernest] Unhealed Wounds: The Life of Ernest Hemingway
- A biography of American writer, journalist and war correspondent Ernest Hemingway, who had a significant influence on the development of twentieth-century fiction writing. He was part of the 1920s expatriate community in Paris, and one of the veterans of World War I later known as "the Lost Generation." He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1953, and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 35 min. DVD X235
- [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
- [Hecht, Ben] Ben Hecht: The Shakespeare of Hollywood
- A biography of Ben Hecht, one of the most successful screenwriters in the history of motion pictures. Of the eighty to ninety screenplays he wrote, many were written anonymously due to the British boycott of his work, a response to Hecht's active support of the Zionist movement in Palestine. His well-plotted, and witty screenplays included virtually every movie genre, but ultimately, he was best known for crime thrillers and screwball comedies. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 33 min. DVD X235
- Hepburn, Katharine] Katharine Hepburn: All About Me, A Self-portrait
- Supplement on DVD 3635
- [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, because it elevates their stories to the level of myths. 60 min. Video/C 7049
- [Herzog, Werner] I Am My Films (Was ich bin, sind meine Filme )
- A portrait of Werner Herzog that doesn't resort to formal tricks or glitzy effects, giving insight into Herzog's drive, his vivid imagination and his death-defying spirit. It documents how this spirit has influenced what he calls his "trade", his films. Includes segments from his major works. A film by Christian Weisenborn and Erwin Keusch. 1978. 92 min. DVD 6504
- [Herzog, Werner] My Best Fiend
- Documentary about the stormy relationship between frequent artistic partners, director Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski. With many excerpts from the films in which they collaborated, this personal documentary traces the ups and downs of their often violent relationship. Perhaps they were both a little mad, but together they created some of the most magical and astonishing films ever seen. A film by Werner Herzog, 1999. 100 min. DVD 2892; also on VHS Video/C 7301
- [Herzog, Werner] Portrait Werner Herzog.
- This self-portrait documentary by Werner Herzog presents a description of his artistic development and work. Written and directed by Werner Herzog. 1986. DVD 6506
- [Hildebrand, Joel] Joel Hildebrand: A Century of Science.
- Documents the life and important research of thedistinguished educator and chemist Dr. J.H.Hildebrand, who was born before the turn of thecentury and worked at UC Berkeley until his death atage 101. In this interview recorded in 1981, Dr.Hildebrand expounds upon some of his most importantexperiments and discoveries, including his research onthe color of iodine solutions, his Regular Solutionsmodels, and his research on helium-oxygen mixturesthat helped to eliminate Caisson disease. The interview was recorded at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley on Sept. 9, 1981. 30 min. Video/C 9952
- [Himes, Chester] Chester Himes: A Writer's Turbulent Journey.
- A program on the life of novelist Chester Himes, who began writing detective novels in his fifties while he was in prison. In his works he created a violent and cynical picture of the African-American experience in the U.S. Here Himes speaks of his youth, the Harlem he knew so well before World War II, his early ventures into writing, his life as an expatriate in France and Spain, the art of fiction and the role of the African-American writer in America. [1999?] 30 min. Video/C 7816
- [Hine, Lewis] America and Lewis Hine
- One of the most influential photographers in the world, Lewis Hine recorded the changing face of America in more than 10,000 images taken over 40 years. This documentary using historical photographs and footage, follows America's pioneer industrial photographer on his odyssey through the mines, mills, and factories of America in the first half of the twentieth century. An incredible collection of his photographs including many never seen before, presents the power of his work. c1996. 56 min. Video/C 8841
- [Hitchcock, Alfred] Hitch
- A two-part examination of the life and works of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, whose career spanned over 60 years.
Part I: Alfred the Great. This first program traces the early years of Hitchcock's life and career, looking at his upbringing, education, and rise as a director. Details his apprenticeship with Fritz Lang, his production of the first British "talkie," his move to Hollywood and his tumultuous collaboration with David O. Selznick and the formation of his own short-lived studio. Features extensive film clips, interviews, commentary, and previously unavailable materials, including outtakes, filmed auditions, and Hitchcock's own home movies. 1999. 52 min. DVD 2337 Part II: Alfred the Auteur A two-part examination of the life and works of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, whose career spanned over 60 years.This second program traces the second half of his career. Commentary from Hitchcock, actors, and production specialists help chronicle the making of such classics as The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo and Psycho. Also looks at Hitchcock's ambivalence toward the popular TV show that brought him into millions of living rooms. Features extensive film clips, interviews, and previously unavailable materials, including outtakes, filmed auditions, and Hitchcock's own home movies.1999. 52 min. DVD 2338
- [Hitler, Adolph] Adolph Hitler
- The biography of Adolf Hitler is presented through original art, films, and sound recordings made by German, Austrian, Russian, and American artists, technicians, and cameramen between 1889-1945. 1976. 90 min. Video/C 433
- [Hitler, Adolph] After Mein Kampf?: The Story of Adolph Hitler
- Film biography of Adolph Hitler produced as a propaganda film in England during World War II, using recreations and English-language. Presents actual scenes and reconstruction of events culminating in the invasion of Poland, the collapse of France and the attack on Great Britain. Reissue of a motion picture originally produced in 1940. 45 min. Video/C 9881
- [Hitler, Adolph] Hitler, A Career
- How did a provincial rabble-rouser from Austria rise to become Germany's messianic Fuhrer? Why did Germans from all walks of life embrace the fascist Nazi philosophy and willingly follow Hitler into a titanic conflict and utter destruction? This meticulously assembled film dissects the Third Reich with a keen analytical blade, charting Hitler's improbable rise, his mastery of imagery and crowd psychology, and his consummate skill in exploiting the weaknesses in others. Examining the public and private dynamics of Nazism's unhinged dictatorship by making use of an amazing array of never-before-seen film footage from secret archives and private collections, the film uncovers the deeper causes behind the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. A film by Joachim C. Fest; director, Christian Herrendoerfer. 1977. 151 min. DVD 8928
- [Hitler, Adolph] Hitler and Stalin: Twin Tyrants
- This psychological dual biography exposes the chilling parallel and the glaring differences of these two powerful and bloodthirsty dictators. Features exceptional footage from film archives in Russia, Germany, East Europe, Great Britain and the USA including rare footage of Stalin's mother and of his funeral. 1999. 59 min. DVD 5028
- [Ho, Chi Min ] Ho Chi Min: The Price of Freedom
- A biography of H?ò Chí Minh, a Vietnamese Communist revolutionary and statesman who was Prime Minister and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). He led the Viet Minh independence movement from 1941 onward, establishing the communist-governed Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945 and defeating the French Union in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu. He lost political power inside North Vietnam in the late 1950s, but remained as the highly visible figurehead president until his death. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics, and historians. Supplementary short with The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2008. 31 min. DVD X235
- [Hoch, Hannah] Hannah Hoch
- This film traces the life and work of the German artist Hannah Hoch. Although she is normally classified as a dadaistic painter, the predominating themes in her work are the image and role of women in the society of the 1920s and 1930s. As to media, Hannah Hoch was a painter but she also used photomontage as a form of artistic expression in its own right. 1989. 15 min. Video/C 7608
- [Holbein, Hans] Maler der Reformationszeit.
- Contents: Hans Holbein d.j. (15 min.) -- Lukas Cranack d.A. (15 min.). Shows the work and life of two famous 16th century German artists. Hans Holbein the Younger's reputation was based on his portrait-painting -- portraits of his contemporaries, of sages and merchants, of burghers and princes, represented in woodcuts, glass etchings and on his great Altar of the Passion. Lucas Cranch the Elder was responsible for some important portraits of the German reformer, Martin Luther, and of his wife and friends. Cranach also devoted himself to depicting the countryside of mid-Germany. 1982. 30 min. Video/C 8102
- [Holm, Hanya] Hanya: A Portrait of a Dance Pioneer.
- Using archival footage from the 30's and 40's, and interviews with many of her students, this film traces the career of Hanya Holm, dancer-choreographer, from the 20's through the Broadway stage. 1988. 60 min. Video/C 1254
- [Hooker, Evelyn]Changing Our Minds: The Story of Dr. Evelyn Hooker.
- Examines the life and personal views of Dr. Evelyn Hooker, a psychologist who has spent her life researching the causes of homosexual behavior. Director, Richard Schmiechen. 1992. 75 min. Video/C 3430
- [Hoover, J. Edgar] G-men: The Rise of J. Edgar Hoover
- (American Experience; 407). Film focuses on J. Edgar Hoover and his Government Men (G-Men) and the war they waged against the leading criminals of the 1930's. 58 min. Video/C 2846
- [Hopkins, Lightnin'] Sun's Gonna Shine.
- Presents the personal background of blues singer Lightnin' Hopkins by presenting scenes of local life in Hopkins' hometown, Centerville, Tex. A film by Les Blank. 1971. 44 min. Video/C 2110
- [Horton, Lester] Lester Horton (1906-1953): Genius on the Wrong Coast
- The compelling story of the visionary choreographer Lester Horton, and his contributions to modern dance as told by those who knew him. Horton created perhaps the first integrated dance theatre company in the United States. His modern dance technique is taught at many universities and is the underpinning of many professional companies including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. 1993. 90 min. Video/C 8506
- [Hou, Hsiao-Hsien] HHH: Portrait de Hou Hsiao-Hsien
- Taiwanese film director Hou Hsiao-Hsein examines questions of identity and "native land," as he returns to the places of his youth to talk to childhood friends and discuss his films. His work is inseparably linked with the recent history of Taiwan and the emergence of the Taiwanese "Nouvelle Vague," an intellectual movement that united Taiwanese writers, journalists and filmmakers at the end of the 1970s; a movement that only became possible with the end of censorship and the advent of free discussions, through film and literature, about Taiwan's society. 1998. 90 min. Video/C 9081
- [Hu, Raymond]Raymond's Portrait: The Life and Art of Raymond Hu
- Profiles the Chinese American brush painter, Raymond Hu, who was born with Down syndrome. This documentary shows how Raymond transforms photographs of animals into paintings and includes interviews with Raymond, his family, and his art teacher. Raymond discusses the challenges of coping with Down syndrome, and his experience as one of the first full-inclusion students in his school. 1997. [From the archives of National Institute of Art and Disabilities and the Office of Disability Studies, University of California, Berkeley] 30 min. Video/C 7981
- [Hughes, Howard]Modern Marvels: Howard Hughes
- Supplemental feature accompanying the feature film The Aviator. History Channel. 45 min. DVD 3996
- [Hughes, Langston] Looking for Langston: A Meditation on Langston Hughes (1902-1907) and the Harlem Renaissance.
- A tribute to Langston Hughes, this film attempts to reclaim him as an important black gay voice in American culture. 45 min. DVD 8495; vhs Video/C 2911
"A visual tour-de-force, "Looking for Langston" is a beautiful and lyrical meditation of black and white gay identities. Using the life and work of Langston Hughes during the jazz/blues infused Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's, the film weaves together the poetry of Hughes and Essex Hempill, music, sylized dramatic sequences and archival material in a celebration of gay desire and a testament to contemporary society's attempt to shatter multiple identitites." [from Third World Newsreel catalog]
- Voices and Visions. (vol. 3) Video/C 1067
Hughes' Dream Harlem. Video/C 9423
- [Hurston, Zora Neale]Zora is My Name!
- A funny, stirring story based on the life of Zora Neale Hurston, one of the most distinctive writers of the American South and how a turn-of-the-century Black woman captured the folklore of the rural South. 90 min. Video/C 1838
- Discussion of Hurston in
I'll Make Me a World (Without Fear or Shame: 1920-1937) Video/C 6263
Alice Walker on Zora Neale Hurston DVD 9809 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C 1222;
- [Hurston, Zora Neale]Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun
- Zora Neale Hurston, path-breaking novelist, pioneering anthropologist and one of the first black women to enter the American literary canon (Their Eyes Were Watching God), established the African American vernacular as one of the most vital, inventive voices in American literature. This definitive film biography, eighteen years in the making, portrays Zora in all her complexity: gifted, flamboyant, and controversial but always fiercely original. Intersperses insights from leading scholars and rare footage of the rural South (some of it shot by Zora herself) with re-enactments of a revealing 1943 radio interview. Director, Sam Pollard. 2008. 83 min. DVD X253
- [Inoue, Mitsuharu] A Dedicated Life (Zenshin shosetsuka)
- A powerful documentary about the controversial Japanese writer Mitsuharu Inoue, with commentary by other contemporary authors. A moving film that captures the essence of the contentious writer's life, including the significance of his death. Directed by Kazuo Hara. 1994. 157 min. DVD 8549
- [Ishi] Ishi, The Last of the Yahi.
- When Ishi suddenly appeared in rural Northern California in 1911, thecountry was stunned. His tribe as considered extinct; Ishi had lived in hiding for forty years . As the sole survivor, he had refused to surrender. His story embodies the strength and resilience of California's indigenous people. 57 min. Video/C 2861
- [Ishigo, Estelle]Days of Waiting: The Life and Art of Estelle Ishigo.
- Documentary about artist Estelle Peck Ishigo, a Caucasian woman interned during World War II with her Japanese American husband at Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Wyo. Vivid portrayal through her words and drawings and through photographs of the deprivations and humiliations of camp life, and the difficulties of readjustment at war's end. 30 min. Video/C 2177
- Bailey, Beth.
"Days of Waiting." (movie reviews)Journal of American History v82, n3 (Dec, 1995):1324 (2 pages).
Herrick, Roxanna.
"Days of Waiting." (movie reviews)
Library Journal v117, n3 (Feb 15, 1992):205 (2 pages).
Higashi, Suniko.
"Days of Waiting." (movie reviews)
American Historical Review v98, n4 (Oct, 1993):1181 (4 pages).
Kamiya, Gary. "Days of Waiting." (television program reviews) Mother Jones v15, n6 (Sept-Oct, 1990):62.
- [James, Jesse]Jesse James.
- The story of Jesse James remains one of the most cherished and wrong-headed American myths. Less heroic than brutal, he was the product of the American Civil War. Ambitious and cunning, he ran from redemption instead of seeking it -- a Confederate partisan of expansive ambition who gladly helped invent his own valient legend. Directed by Mark Zwonitzer. 2006. 60 min. DVD 5576
- [Jarman, Derek] Derek Jarman: Life as Art.
- Explores the life and art of filmmaker, painter and writer Derek Jarman through the recollections of some of his closest friends, family and colleagues. Includes clips and stills from his films and previously unseen footage of Jarman directing his film Wittgenstein. 2004. 60 min. DVD 6291
- [Jefferson, Thomas] Thomas Jefferson.
- A film by Ken Burns. Examines the life of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. Part I: Life/Liberty; Our Sacred Honor. In this segment a young Jefferson is transformed by the fire of the Enlightenment into his country's most articulate voice for human liberty. Torn between family life at Monticello and his passion for politics, Jefferson suffers heartrending personal loss, even as he gives voice to a new democratic government. He then journeys to Paris as U.S. Minister to France for George Washington and supports the rising French Revolution. 90 min. Video/C 5395 Part II: Liberty, The Age of Experiments; The Pursuit of Happiness. The second part of a two-part documentary which examines the life of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. In this segment a mature Jefferson returning from France, strives to preserve the fragile American government and helps create the first political party through his bitter struggles with the Federalists. As President he doubles the size of the country with the Louisiana Purchase but faces scandal and controversy, finally retiring to his beloved Monticello. After having advanced religious, political and intellectual freedom in the new United States, his last years are spent founding the University of Virginia and re-establishing his friendship with John Adams. 90 min. Video/C 5396
- [Jefferson, Thomas]Jefferson's Blood
- Examines Thomas Jefferson's life in the context of his Produced and directed by Thomas Lennon; written by Shelby Steele and Thomas Lennon. ) times and looks at the contradictions in Jefferson's character, weighing the decisions he made in his private life with his public pronouncements on slavery and race-mixing. Follows the descendants of Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings as they research their family history and sort out their place along America's blurred color line.Originally broadcast as an episode of the television program Frontline. 2000. 60 min. Video/C 8717
- [Jeremy, Ron]Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
- With nearly 25 years in the adult film industry and over 1,600 films to his name, Ron Jeremy is huge. He's made millions of dollars and slept with thousands of beautiful women and is undisputably the industry's biggest star. Classically unhandsome, big and harry, he is a pop icon to millions.2001. 76 min. DVD 1662
- [Johns, Jasper] Jasper Johns: Ideas in Paint.
- This program examines the life, work, and inspiration of artist Jasper Johns, whose rich images of maps, flags, and targets led the artistic community away from Abstract Expressionism towards Pop Art and Minimalism. Includes conversations with the painter and comments from various colleagues including John Cage and Merce Cunningham, and a trip to the 1988 Venice Biennale. c1989. 56 min. Video/C 6319
- [Johnson, Amy] Amy!
- Amy Johnson was the first woman to fly solo from Great Britain to Australia. Mulvey and Wollen's experimental documentary combines newsreel footage of the aviator's arrival, dramatic recreations of events from her life and contemporary discussions by feminist groups on the subject of heroism in this most unconventional biopic. A film by Laura Mulvey & Peter Wollen. 1980. 30 min. DVD 7905
- [Johnson, Daniel] The Devil and Daniel Johnson
- Looks at the turbulent life of a genius musician battling manic depression who has spent the last three decades of his life in-and-out of mental institutions. A favorite with artists such as Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Beck, and many others, view the singer-songwriter-artist through his art and interviews, and in the eyes of his fans. Written and directed by Jeff Feuerzeig. 2005. 110 min. DVD 7273
- [Johnson, Jack] Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
- The in-depth and intimate story of one of the most important African Americans to live in the first half of the 20th century. Tells the story of Jack Johnson, who was the first African American boxer to win the most coveted title in all of sports - Heavyweight Champion of the World. Includes his struggles in and out of the ring and his desire to live his life as a free man. Directed by Ken Burns. 2005. 220 min. DVD 3434
- [Johnson, Lyndon B.] LBJ
- A bitter satire by the Cuban filmmaker Santiago Alvarez of President Lyndon Baines Johnson presented through a montage of film clips and photographs and a cartoon of Johnson. The film is divided into three sections which correspond to Johnson's initials. L is for Martin Luther King, B is for Bobby Kennedy and J is for John F. Kennedy. Alvarez implicates Johnson in all three assassinations, portraying his presidency as the culmination of a history of socio-political corruption. 1968. 18 min. Video/C 8865
- [Johnson, Robert]The Search for Robert Johnson.
- Traces the path of this private, troubled figure, one the kings of Delta country blues, cut down at the age of 27 by poisoned whiskey at the hands of a jealous husband.
"Among the panthon of blues giants, Robert Johnson may well be the greatest and most influencial. Yet despite Johnson's powerful musical legacy, many of the details of his life, including his violent death at 27 and his place of burial, remain a spooky mystery. Bluesman John Hammond takes us with him as he travels Southern backroads and dusty backstreets in search of clues about Robert's life, stopping occasionally at the crossroads to belt out a number of Johnson's well-known songs." (Review by G. Handman, from American Libraries, May 1996) 72 min. Video/C 3089
- Can't You Hear the Wind Howl?: the life & music of Robert Johnson. Video/C 5941
- Traces the path of this private, troubled figure, one the kings of Delta country blues, cut down at the age of 27 by poisoned whiskey at the hands of a jealous husband.
- [Jones, Chuck]Chuck Jones: Extremes & Inbetweens, A Life in Animation
- Chuck Jones offers a personal introduction to his timeless cartoon creations, with clips from classic works like "What's Opera, Doc?" and highlights from cartoon shorts. Presents a fascinating look at the life and times of the pioneering artist whose contributions have influenced some of today's leading animators and filmmakers. Includes critiques from fans including Ron Howard, Ken Burns, Steven Spielberg, Matt Groening, Robin Williams, Whoopie Goldberg, Lorne Michaels and Leonard Maltin. DVD special features: Special features: A Chuck Jones tutorial: Tricks of the cartoon trade ; bonus Jones Cartoons: Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th century and Feed the kitty ; the Grinch pencil test ; Mississippi hare pencil test. c2000. 85 min. DVD 3564; also on VHS Video/C MM161
- [Jones, Jim]Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
- A startling look at preacher Jim Jones, his life prior to the mass-suicides in Guyana, and the events that took place leading up to that fateful day in 1978. Goes beyond the headlines to provide a revealing portrait of Jones, his followers, and the times that produced the calamity in the Guyanese jungle, creating a compelling narrative told primarily by the people who know the story firsthand -- Jonestown survivors, former People's Temple members, relatives of those who died and journalists. Produced and directed by Stanley Nelson. 2007. 90 min. DVD 7372
- [Jung, Carl Gustav]Carl Jung and the Journey to Self Discovery
- A biography of the Swiss pychoanalyst Carl Jung, an influential thinker and the founder of analytical psychology who emphasized the importance of balance and harmony. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors and psychologists. (Special feature accompanying Adventures of young Indiana Jones.; Volume one) c2007. 20 min. DVD X233
- [Jung, Carl Gustav]The Story of Carl Gustav Jung.
- A three part documentary that relates Jung's life and the development of his thought. 1997.
Part I: In Search of the Soul. Describes Jung's childhood and how, as the son of a minister, he developed his pagan vision of reality, attempting to reconcile science and religion. Follows him to Basel where he studied medicine and had his first revelatory vision. Traces his early career as a psychiatrist in Zurich, recounts his coining of the term "complex," and explores his relationship with Freud. Includes portions of the "Red Book" in which Jung recorded his most intimate thoughts. 30 min. Video/C 9953
Part II: 67,000 Dreams. Examines Jung at mid-career. Traces the development of his study of the unconscious, including the collective unconscious, his views on the decline of Christianity, neurosis, the psychology of types, the psyche in space and time, and the importance of myth and intuition to the complete man. 30 min. Video/C 9954
Part II: The Mystery that Heals. Observes Jung in his old age, and explores his attitudes toward Christianity, religion, and death. Discusses his conception of "the shadow," a despised part of the self that lurks in the unconscious, and relates it to the rise of Nazism in Germany. Includes interviews with Aniela Jaffe, Jung's long-time secretary and biographer and with Dr. C. A. Meier. 30 min. Video/C 9955
- [Junge, Gertraud] Hitler's Secretary (Im toten Winkel: Hitlers Sekret?rin)
- The astonishing true story of Hitler's private secretary coming to terms with working alongside unspeakable evil after remaining silent for nearly sixty years. Shielded from the knowledge of Hitler's acts of atrocity, convinced she was in the centre of information, she was actually in a blind spot. As the Nazi regime teetered on destruction, Junge witnessed everything up to the final chaotic days in the bunker. Directed by Andre Heller and Othmar Schmiderer. 2002. 86 min. DVD 7758
- [Kafka, Franz] Franz Kafka's Dark Truth
- A biography of Franz Kafka, considered to be one of the most influential writers in 20th century literature. Born in Prague, a visionary chronicler of the horror of the totalitarian state, his writings conjure a disturbing world where the absurd is commonplace and reality a nightmare. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 33 min. DVD X234
- [Kahlo, Frida] Frida Kahlo (Portrait of an Artist).
- Presents the life and work of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. 1983. 62 min. Video/C 1297
- [Kahlo, Frida] Frida.
- On her deathbed, the artist Frida Kahlo recalls her life as a painter and reflects on the effects of her illnesses and injuries and on her relationships with Leon Trotsky, husband Diego Rivera, and others. 1989. 108 min. Video/C 2944
- [Kahlo, Frida]Frida Kahlo: A Ribbon Around a Bomb.
- A documentary portrait of the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who lived from 1907 to 1954, and has become an international cult figure. Interweaves poetry, music, and interviews with Kahlo's students and friends to create a portrait of an artist whose life and work increasingly speaks to the sensibilities of today. Directed by Ken Mandel. (SF International Latino Film Festival Collection). c1991. 60 min. Video/C MM1244
- [Kahlo, Frida] Frida Kahlo & Tina Modotti
- Compares and contrasts the lives and works of the Mexican-born painter and the Italian-born photographer, both of whom worked in the context of women's lives, in Mexico, in art, in the Revolution. This film shows how, as both women and artists, they reacted in contrasting ways to the pressures and opportunities of Mexico in its post-revolutionary aftermath. Script & direction, Laura Mulvey & Peter Wollen. 2007. 29 min. DVD 7904
- [Kahlo, Frida]The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo
- The first modern Mexican painter to hang in the Louvre, Frida Kahlo was more than a great painter. Her life and art reflected the maelstrom of the revolution and culture that defined the first half of the twentieth century. Combining Kahlo's artwork with photos, archival films and interviews, the film examines her ambiguous relationship to her contemporaries and to avant-garde art, from Cubism to Surrealism to the Mexican Mural Movement. A film by Amy Stechler. 2005. 90 min. DVD 4438
- [Kahn, Louis] My Architect
- athaniel Kahn documents the life and works of his father, Louis Kahn. Louis Kahn had an "official" family, including his wife Esther and daughter Sue Ann. He had two other secret families: with fellow architect Anne Tyng he had a daughter, Alexandra, and with his colleague Harriet Pattison he had Nathaniel. 2003. 116 min. DVD 3670
- [Keaton, Buster] Buster Keaton, A Hard Act to Follow.
- A three part series spanning 60 years, following the astonishing career of Buster Keaton. Written and produced by Kevin Brownlow, David Gill and Raymond Rohauer. Originally produced in Great Britain by Thames Television. 1987.
Part 1: From Vaudeville to Movies. Buster Keaton made his screen debut in 1917. With his deadpan expression and incredible stuntwork, he quickly became an audience favorite, moving from co-starring roles in two-reelers to feature-length comedies. In 1924, he released his brilliant film The Navigator, and claimed his place with Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin as one of the three masters of screen comedy. Includes extensive scenes from his films with commentary by Keaton and his associates. 52 min. Video/C 9280
Part 2: Star Without a Studio. Successful, wealthy and world renowned, Buster Keaton was one of the top stars of the twenties. He released his comic masterpiece The General in 1926. But when his contract was sold to MGM and he lost creative control of his films, his fortunes began to slip. Fights with his producers and marital problems pushed him over the edge into alcoholism and unemployment. Includes extensive scenes from his films with commentary by Keaton and his associates. 52 min. Video/C 9281
Part 3: A Genius Recognized In the 1930s Keaton returned to MGM as a gag writer, but rediscovery of his work in 1949 by film critic James Agee transformed his life, sparking a revival of his films and a series of guest shots and television appearances. Includes footage of the movie, The Buster Keaton story, and his appearances at the Cirque Medrano in Paris, on the television programs the Ken Murray Show, This is your life, Candid Camera and The Buster Keaton Show. Includes extensive scenes from his films and television appearances with commentary by Keaton and his associates. 52 min. Video/C 9282
- [Keaton, Buster] Buster Keaton Rides Again
- Buster Keaton rides again: A documentary about the life and film career of Buster Keaton with emphasis on the making of "The railrodder." An absorbing portrait of one of the world's comic greats, it shows Keaton relaxing, telling yarns and plotting the next day's action with considerable flair despite his 70 years. When he recalls gags he employed in the past, the old scenes are replayed on the film. 1965. 80 min. DVD 140
- [Kennedy, John F.] The Kennedys.
- Through extensive interviews, still photographs and archival footage, film explores the building of the Kennedy legend, and the shaping of the Kennedy fortune and political dynasty by the family's patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy. Part 1 traces the lives of Joe and Rose and their nine children, focusing particularly on Joseph Jr., John, Robert, and Edward. Part 2 focuses on the presidency of John and the political careers of Robert and Edward. The American experience. 231 min. DVD 970; also VHS Video/C 2844
- Being with John F. Kennedy. Video/C 587
- [Keplinger, Dan] King Gimp
- A film by Susan Hadary, Bill Whiteford. An Academy Award winning documentary that chronicles the life of Dan Keplinger who has cerebral palsy, from his childhood through his early twenties. 1999. 49 min. Video/C 7283
- [Kerouac, Jack] Jack Kerouac
- Jack Kerouac, cult writer of the Beat generation, remains an American icon. This documentary focuses on the 63 days he spent as a fire warden in Washington State where he used the time to gather material for his second book. Examining the time through photos and the commentary of those who knew him, the program illuminates Kerouac's literary style, while detailing his later downward spiral into alcoholism. Interviews with: John Suiter, Tom Clark, Joyce Johnson, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Robert Giroux, John Sampas, Ann Douglas, Carolyn Cassady. 1997. 60 min. Video/C 5601
- [Kerouac, Jack] Jack Kerouac: King of the Beats
- Kerouac's writings took American literature to new levels of creativity and inspired unprecedented social change. Rare documentary footage and interviews with some of his most famous contemporaries such as Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and William Burroughs shed light on the life of this amazing writer. Special features: Original On the road scroll with Kerouac voice-over ; classic william Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg documentary clips ; rare Kerouac interview outtakes with William F. Buckley ; photo gallery. 1984. 73 min. DVD 2076
- [Kerouac, Jack] Jack Kerouac's Road: a Franco-American Odyssey.
- Through excerpts, period footage, and candid interviews, this film shows how Kerouac's restless seeking as a literary bohemian embodied a larger Franco-American pattern of emigration and displacement. Video/C 6885
- [Kerouac, Jack] Kerouac: On the Road with Jack.
- Award-winning docu-drama on the life and times of Jack Kerouac. Combines rare footage featuring Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and William Burroughs with music by Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington and Zoot Sims. 73 min. Video/C 2253
- [Kerouac, Jack] What Happened to Kerouac?
- This is a masterful film biography of the great American writer Jack Kerouac, who inspired and defined the Beat Generation. The images come from poets, ex-wives, ex-girlfriends, a daughter, a priest, and the incredible footage of Kerouac on the Steve Allen (1959) and William Buckley (1968) television shows. 96 min. Video/C 1058
- [Kerry, John]Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry
- Takes an inside look at Senator John Kerry's tour of duty in Vietnam, his contributions to the peace movement that followed, and how these experiences came to shape his future political career. Loosely based on the book Tour of Duty by Douglas Brinkley. 2004. 88 min. DVD 3076
- [King, Martin Luther] Citizen King
- In exploring the last few years of his life, this production traces King's efforts to recast himself by embracing causes beyond the civil rights movement, by becoming a champion of the poor and an outspoken opponent of the war in Vietnam. Tapping into a rich archive of photographs and film footage and using diaries, letters, and eyewitness accounts of fellow activists, friends, journalists, political leaders and law enforcement officials, this film brings fresh insights to King's impossible journey, his charismatic leadership and his truly remarkable impact. Segment of American experience, originally broadcast on Jan. 19, 2001. DVD 2630
- [King, Martin Luther] Martin Luther King, Jr.: From Montgomery to Memphis
- Surveys the career of Dr. Martin Luther King and his contributions to the civil rights movement that he led, from the bus segregation protests in Montgomery in 1955 to his assassination in Memphis. Employs excerpts from King's speeches, and scenes of major civil right marches in Montgomery, Birmingham, Washington D.C., Selma, Chicago and Memphis to convey the essence of the man and the movement. 1968. 27 min. Video/C 9944
- [King, Martin Luther] "I Have a Dream--": The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King
- Presents through historical television news footage the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the forces that brought him to the leadership of his people. Stresses his philosophy and ideals and examines in-depth the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Includes portions of his "I have a dream" speech, delivered in Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963. 1968. 35 min. Video/C 9903
- [King, Martin Luther] In Remembrance of Martin.
- A documentary honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Includes archival footage, the "I Have a Dream" speech, and a synopsis of key civil rights decisions of the 1950's and 1960's. 60 min. Video/C 2761
- [King, Martin Luther] Prophet of Peace: The Story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968
- Narrated by fifteen Oakland, Calif., fifth-and sixth-graders. A unique animated biography of the great civil rights leader. Dr. King's entire life is covered, from his childhood through his early years as a Southern Baptist minister, his leadership role in the Montgomery boycott, the March on Washington, the voter registration drives, the march from Selma to Montgomery, and his assassination in 1968. Excerpts from two of King's most famous speeches are included, as are sketches of some of his closest associates. c1986. 24 min. Video/C MM874
- [Kingston, Maxine Hong] Maxine Hong Kingston: Talking Story.
- This video is about the life and writings of the contemporary Chinese-American author, Maxine Hong Kingston. Narrated by B.D. Wong, it includes comments by Kingston, other authors, and literary critics. Also includes readings by Kingston from her works, The Woman Warrior, China Men, and Tripmaster Monkey. 60 min. Video/C 2168
- Stories My Country Told Me: with Maxine Hong Kingston. Video/C 6992
- [Kingston, Maxine Hong]Stories of Maxine Hong Kingston . (World of ideas with Bill Moyers)
- Interview with Maxine Hong Kingston, author of Chinese American ethnic literature, in which she relates her life experiences growing up in California as a first generation Chinese American. 1990. 56 min. DVD 1957; also Video/C 1882
- Stories My Country Told Me: with Maxine Hong Kingston. Video/C 6992
- [Kinski, Klaus] My Best Fiend
- Documentary about the stormy relationship between frequent artistic partners, director Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski. With many excerpts from the films in which they collaborated, this personal documentary traces the ups and downs of their often violent relationship. Perhaps they were both a little mad, but together they created some of the most magical and astonishing films ever seen. A film by Werner Herzog, 1999. 100 min. DVD 2892; also on VHS Video/C 7301
- [Kochiyama, Yuri] Yuri Kochiyama: Passion for Justice.
- Biography in political and social context of Yuri Kochiyama, an Asian American woman and humanitarian civil rights activist who first became aware of social injustice in the United States during her time in a Japanese-American interment camp during World War II. She stresses the need for members of all races and ethnicities to work together for common goals, and for a fundamental change in political power structures. Includes interviews with Kochiyama and with members of her family. 58 min. Video/C 4542
- [Kollwitz, Kathe] Memories of Kathe Kollwitz
- A documentary of the German graphic artist and sculptor, Kathe Kollwitz, who became known for her superb woodcuts and lithographs. An ardent socialist and pacifist, she produced stark and anguished portrayals of misery and hunger conveying her compassion for the poor. In 1932 she was director of the Dept. of Graphic Arts at the Berlin Academy, but the advent of the Nazi party ended her public career in Germany. 1993. 25 min. Video/C 8141
- [Krishnamurti, Jiddu] Jiddu Krishnamurti, The Reluctant Messiah
- An biography of the life and work of Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian theosophist, writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects including meditation, the nature of the mind and how to enact positive change in global society. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors and academics. Accompanies, Adventures of young Indiana Jones.; Volume one. c2007. 27 min. DVD X233
- [Kurosawa, Akira] Kurosawa
- A documentary of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa
featuring his family, colleagues and critics from
Japan and America commenting on the man and his films. Includes excerpts from many of his famous
works. 2000. 215 min. DVD 1212
- [Lamarr, Hedy] Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star /
- Tells the story of the beautiful Hedy Lamarr, a movie actress and the inventor of a telecommunication signal device which changes frequencies to avoid jamming. Born in 1914 in Austria, she moved to Hollywood to be a star. Special features: Featurette "Hollywood hairdresser Erich Root" (13 min.) ; 3 theatrical trailers. Directed by Fosco Dubini, Donatello Dubini, Barbara Obermaier 2005. 85 min. DVD X781
- [Lamott, Annie] Bird by Gird with Annie: A Portrait of Writer Annie Lamott
- A portrait of the best-selling author and laugh out-loud funny humorist Anne Lamott and the inspiring story of a survivor -- a recovering addict and alcoholic and a single mother who is both a born-again Christian and a liberal activist. The film, a year in the life of the writer, focuses on her gift at demystifying the creative process, the people who inform her life and writing, the beauty of languageand the written arts. 1998. 40 min. Video/C 7575
- [Lang, Fritz] Fritz Lang: Circle of Destiny.
- From M to Rancho Notorious, from Metropolis to Moonfleet, the films of Fritz Lang are part of the history of cinema. The first phase of his career was set in Germany, where he returned twenty-five years later to shoot his last three films. It was during this early German period that the director developed his inimitable directorial style. Now those who know the man and his work best reveal the secrets behind his craft. 1998. 54 min. DVD 839
- [Lange, Dorothea] Dorothea Lange
- Presents the biography of photographer Dorothea Lange. Trained as a society photographer, she began documenting the effects of the Depression on ordinary Americans in the 1930's. Her images spoke eloquently of the plight of the poor and brought the distress and desperation of the Depression into the consciousness of the U.S. Congress and the public. Dist.: Films Media Group. 1988. 13 min. DVD 6563
- [Lange, Dorothea] Dorothea Lange: A Visual Life.
- Brings to life five decades of American history withphotographs and insights by Dorothea Lange, one of America's most accomplished documentary photographers. Film reveals her passion for her work and her commitment to record the rapidly changing face of the 20th century. Includes interviews with her family and colleagues, along with her photographs and recordedconversations, creating an intimate portrait of this extraordinary photographer. 1994. 46min. Video/C 4070
- [Langlois, Henri] Henri Langlois: Phantom of the Cinemathèque
- For forty years, Langlois presided over the Cinemath`eque Francaise with absolute commitment and unwavering passion. He preserved the priceless treasures of an art form by any means necessary. Includes rare footage and interviews to capture Langlois' life, triumphs and tragedies with candor and enduring affection. Special features: "Langlois monumental" (1991, 10 min., French w/English subtitles) A film of the dedication ceremony for the Langlois Monument. Featuring Sam Fuller and Marcel Carne. "Le Musee du Cinema Henri Langlouis" (1997, 3 min., French w/English subtitles) Featurette about the Henri Langlois Museum of Cinema. Narrated by Alain Delon. Stills gallery. Claude Berri, Claude Chabrol, Lotte Eisner, Philippe Garrel, Jean-Luc Godard, Alfred Hitchcock, Mary Meerson, Eric Rohmer, Jean Rouch, Francois Truffaut, Jack Valenti. 128 min. 2005. DVD 5986
- [Lawrence, T.E.]Colonel Lawrence's War: T.E. Lawrence and Arabia
- Biography of T.E. Lawrence, the British Army officer who helped unify the Arab tribes against the Turks during World War I, setting in motion a chain of events that would reshape Arab-Western relations. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Written and produced by Sharon Wood. Supplementary feature accompanying: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 36 min. DVD X233
- [Lawrence, T.E.]Lawrence of Arabia: The Battle for the Arab World
- T.E. Lawrence helped unify the Arab tribes against the Turks during World War I, but he also set in motion a chain of events that even he would be powerless to stop, events that would shape Arab-Western relations for generations to come. 2003. 120 min. DVD 2629
- [Leary, Timothy]Timothy Leary's Dead
- An enlightened trip through the life, times, death, and the possible cloning/re-birth of Timothy Leary, the Harvard professor who was fired for leading the counter-culture and psychedelic revolution of the 1960's. c1998. 85 min. Video/C 6325
- [LeGon, Jeni] Jeni LeGon: Living in a Great Big Way
- Explores the fascinating life of the tap dancer, Jeni LeGon who overcame barriers to become the first Black woman to sign a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio. She subsequently appeared in over a dozen films, yet despite her talent, there were many hard lessons to be learned in a segregated Hollywood. This film showcases the path that Jeni forged for herself and the gift of inspiration that she gave a generation of dance students. The film includes interviews with the tap dancer Fayard Nicholas and archival footage of the Nicholas Brothers, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Fats Waller, Paul Robeson and Cab Calloway. 1999. 49 min. Video/C 7464
- [Lehmann, Heinz] Untangling the Mind: The Legacy of Dr. Heinz Lehmann
- This documentary shows the transformation that has occurred in psychiatric care through the work of Dr. Heinz Lehmann. His greatest legacy came with a single pill, largactil, the first anti-psychotic drug used in North America. By successfully treating patients with this drug, Lehmann introduced the idea that biology plays a role in mental illness. Also includes rare archival footage of doctors performing electric shock therapy and lobotomies to demonstrate how far psychiatric medicine has come and concludes with a visit to a leading brain research center where Lehmann's work is being taken to the next level. 1999. 54 min. Video/C 7655
- [Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich] V.I. Lenin: History Will Not Forgive Us
- Profiles the life of Vladimir Lenin, Russian revolutionary, Bolshevik communist politician, principal leader of the October Revolution and the first head of the Soviet Union. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 33 min. DVD X234
- [Lennon, John] The U.S. vs John Lennon
- The story of John Lennon's evolution from beloved Beatle to an outspoken artist and activist to iconic inspiration for peace, and how, in the midst of one of the most tumultuous times in American history, Lennon stood his ground, refused to be silenced and courageously won his battle with the U.S. Government. Special features: "Becoming John Lennon" documentary footage; "Dissent vs. disloyalty" documentary footage; "The 'Two virgins' album cover" documentary footage; Yoko Ono Lennon's "Letter to the parole board" documentary footage ; "Power to the people" documentary footage; "Then and now" featurette; Walter Cronkite meets The Beatles; "Sometime in New York" documentary footage; "Imagine" documentary footage; One to One benefit concert; theatrical trailer. Written, produced and directed by David Leaf & John Scheinfeld. 2006. 96 min. DVD 7263
- [Leone, Sergio] Once Upon a Time Sergio Leone
- With A fistful of dollars in 1964, the Italian film director, Sergio Leone, inaugurated the classic moviegenre that came to be known as the spaghetti western.This program explores Leone's directorial career whileunderscoring his personal approach and commenting onthe influences upon his art. Footage from thecelebrated filmmaker's final interview, previouslyunpublished letters and photographs and interviewswith actors and family members projects a colorful image of both the man and his methods. 58 min. Video/C 7385
- [Levy, Primo] Primo Levi's Journey
- In the winter of 1945, Primo Levi, one of the century's greatest writers, was liberated from the Auschwitz concentration camp. With the war still underway, he embarked on a thousand-mile journey to his home in Turin, Italy-- a strange, beguiling odyssey memorialized in his book, 'The Reawakening'. Sixty years later, director Davide Ferrario set out to follow in Levi's footsteps. Retracing his historic trip, the film weaves a path through a modern Europe that has both changed and remained eerily the same-- from democratic rallies in the East to neo-Nazi demonstrations in the West. Produced and directed by Davide Ferrario. Dist. Cinema Guild. 2007. 92 min. DVD X458
- [Lewton, Val] Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows [videorecording]
- A look at the life and career of Val Lewton, an American filmmaker best known for the 9 horror films he produced for RKO Pictures in the 1940s. Includes extensive interviews with Lewton's collaborators and clips from his films. 2007. 87 min. DVD X1428
Shadows in the Dark: the Val Lewton Legacy DVD 4481
- [Lincoln, Abraham] Lincoln.
- Based on the book of the same title by Philip B. Kunhardt. Captures the drama of Lincoln in his own words. Drawn from letters, speeches and diaries, Lincoln's words are brought to life by the voice of actor, Jason Robards. Uses historic black and white photographs to portray Lincoln and the period of the Civil War in American history. Contents: pt. 1. The making of a president: 1860-1862 -- pt. 2. The pivotal year: 1863 -- pt. 3. "I want to finish this job": 1864 -- pt. 4. "Now he belongs to the ages": 1865. 4 cassettes, 56 min. each. Video/C 2807 Pt. 1-4
- [Linke, Susanne] Susanne Linke
- A very personal film portrait of the German choreographer and dancer Susanne Linke. This is a poignant account of her life; of her undiagnoised meningitis, how as a young girl she laboriously learned to speak; how she discovered dance and movement as a vehicle of expression and then at the Folkwang Academy of Essen, how she eventually had the opportunity to create works of her own. Includes extracts from works created and danced by Susanne Linke with her commentaries. Excerpts: Shadowing footsteps (1985) -- Effects (1990) -- Metamorphosis (1978) -- In the Bathtub (1980) -- Homage to Dore Hoyer-Dolor (1987). In French with English voiceovers. 57 min. Video/C 5168
- [Lloyd, Harold] Harold Lloyd.
- Presents a guided tour through the life and work of Harold Lloyd by Leonard Maltin; interviews with celebrities and friends; vintage Harold Lloyd interviews and home movies; video biographies of Lloyd's collaborators; photo and publicity galleries; Lloyd's Academy Award speech; USC's Delta Kappa Alpha tribute; audio clips from radio segments. 180 min. DVD 6210
- [Long, Huey] Huey Long.
- Uses footage from old films to portray events in the life of the Louisiana politician Huey Long and discusses the opinions of several people concerning the impact of his career. 88 min. Video/C 2147
- [London, Jack] My Jack London: A Daughter Remembers
- A documentary which introduces the life and work and the literary values and historic influence of Jack London. Using reminiscences of London's daughter, Becky London, along with archival family photographs and film footage, traces the celebrated life of the author and separates the man from the legend. 1984. 25 min. Video/C 685
- [Lorca, Federico Garcia]See Garcia Lorca, Federico
- [Lorde, Audre] A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde
- Audre Lorde, poet and lesbian-feminist talks about being lesbian and black in New York in the 1950s and her social/political activity. Includes conversations and readings by Lorde and comments by other writers and family members. 1996. 56 min. Video/C 5667 American Library Assn. Video Round Table Notable Films for Adults, 1999
- The Edge of Each Other's Battles: The Vision of Audre Lorde DVD 7917
- [Lowry, Malcolm] Volcano: An Inquiry Into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry
- Traces the life and death of Malcolm Lowry and shows that his novel Under the volcano was largely based on the experiences of his own life. Richard Burton reads selections from the novel, Lowry's journal and his letters. Includes interviews with his colleagues, widow, brother and publishers. Directed by Donald Brittain 1976. 99 min. DVD X2038
- [Lumumba, Patrice] Lumumba: Death of a Prophet.
- This film recounts Lumumba's 200 day rule culminating well-financed and organized force in the country--the military. In French with English subtitles. 1992. 69 min. Video/C 2751
- Clark, Andrew F..
"Lumumba: Death of a Prophet." (movie reviews)American Historical Review v98, n4 (Oct, 1993):1156 (3 pages).
Holden, Stephen. "Lumumba: Death of a Prophet." (movie reviews)
New York Times v142 (Wed, Sept 30, 1992):B4(N), C18(L), col 4
"Lumumba: Death of a Prophet." (Video Recording Review)
The Journal of Negro History Wntr 2001 v86 i1 p88(2) UC users only
- [Lynch, David] Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch
- An exploration of David Lynch's many creative endeavors, including his roles as a film director,musical composer, writer, photographer, and painter.Includes interviews with actors who have appeared inhis films, collaborators, family, and friends. Directed and produced by Toby Keeler. 1998. 91 min. DVD 2155
- [Mailer, Norman] Mailer on Mailer.
- A candid and comprehensive biographical portrait of the novelist, essayist, journalist and activist, Norman Mailer. Compiled from over 20 hours of exclusive interviews with the writer, this profile includes rare archival footage, photographs and original manuscripts from the Mailer archives. Both fascinated by and at odds with his country, Norman Mailer personally explores the tensions that exist between reality and fiction in this unprecedented film. c2000. 90 min. Video/C 7710
- [Makhmalbaf, Mohsen] Stardust Stricken, Mohsen Makhmalbaf: A Portrait
- A documentary on the life of the controversial Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf. In this portrait, the filmmaker speaks about his life, childhood, political and cultural activities, his filmmaking style, and his beliefs about art, cinema, violence, religion and death. 1996. 70 min. Video/C 7973
- [Malcolm X] The Autobiography of Malcolm X
- The book the Autobiography of Malcolm X is an Americanclassic not only for its compelling story, but alsofor its uncompromising expression of the pain, anger, and violence of black life in a whiteAmerica. This documentary focuses on the impact thebook had on race relations in America. It alsoscrutinizes the life of Malcolm X himself. Featuresdramatizations and interviews with Malcolm X's familyand friends, as well as scholars and authors. 1999. 53 min. Video/C 8799
- [Malcolm X] El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X)
- Focuses on the qualities and characteristics that predicated Malcolm X's rise as a leader and spokesman of the Black America Movement. 56 min. Video/C 998
- [Malcolm X] Malcolm X: Make It Plain.
- From the series, The American Experience, 1993. This definitive biography weaves together interviews, archival footage, photographs, and an original score to portray the fascinating intellectual journey of a complex man whose ideas resonate today. 150 min. DVD 6533 (preservation copy); vhs Video/C 3218
National Educational Film & Video Festival 1995 (Silver Apple).
- Journal of American History v81, n3 (Dec, 1994):1415 (2 pages))
- [Malinowski, Bronislaw] Off the Verandah.
- Bronislaw Malinowski was the anthropologist who really changed the way field studies were carried out. He worked on a remote group of Pacific islands, The Trobriands, and lived for long periods among the people he was studying and made their lives intelligible to the West. 1990. 52 min. Video/C 3854
- [Mandela, Nelson] Mandela
- The story of Nelson Mandela, the leader of black South Africa, and his wife Winnie, who have carried on their fight for freedom and human dignity since his imprisonment more than twenty years ago. 1986. 58 min. Video/C 939
- [Man Ray] Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-garde
- Man Ray is the quintessential modernist figure: photographer, painter, object maker and collagist, filmmaker and printmaker, poet, essayist and philosopher. Born Emanuel Radnitsky in 1890, he went on to become the leader of the "American avant-garde" and the most enigmatic of the Dada-Surrealists who transformed the Paris art world during the ferment of the 1920's and beyond. This profile follows the creative genius from his youth in Brooklyn to his glory days in Paris and, finally, to his impact on future generations of artists in a variety of fields. Also includes a never-before-seen interview with Man Ray in which he reminisces about his life and work. Based on the book: Man Ray: American Artist, Neil Baldwin (Art/Classics N6537.R3.B31 1988 Room 308G; Main Stack N6537.R3.B3 1988). Originally presented as a segment on the PBS television program American masters in 1997. 56 min. DVD 689
- [Mann, Sally] Blood Ties: The Life and Wrk of Sally Mann.
- Examines the world of photographer Sally Mann, whose work and vision have come under censorship. 1993. 30 min. Video/C 3390
- [Mann, Thomas] Thomas Mann: The Writer and His Family
- Presents a detailed and personal look at the life of the German author Thomas Mann, by Golo Mann and his other children. 1994. 56 min. Video/C 8802
- [Marcuse, Herbert] Herbert's Hippopotamus: Marcuse in Paradise
- Examines the turbulent life of political philosopher and author Herbert Marcuse, professor of philosophy at the University of California in San Diego, and a visionary and influential force for the student movement worldwide during the Sixties and Seventies. Blending archival footage, interviews, and recreated scenes, the film profiles not only the life of Maruse but also the history of student protest and social activism. Features interviews with Marcuse's student Angela Davis, former UCSD Chancellor William McGill, colleagues Fredric Jameson and Reinhard Lettau, and rare footage of Marcuse and former California governor Ronald Reagan. Produced, written, and directed by Paul Alexander Juutilainen. Dist. Cinema Guild. 1996. 56 min. DVD 6128
- [Marcos, Imelda] Imelda
- Explores the persona of former Philipine First Lady, Imelda Marcos, who rose from humble provincial origins with a combination of guile, ambition and beauty to become the richest and most powerful woman in the Philippines. Imelda tells her own story in exceptionally rare original interviews intercut with scenes from her daily life and archival footage. Produced and directed by Ramona S. Diaz. 2003. 103 min. DVD 4180
- [Mari Bras, Juan] Juan Mari Bras: un puertorriqueño (in)documentado
- Political leader and lawyer Juan Mari Bras of Puerto Rico narrates both his political and personal life. Historians, political leaders, relatives, and friends discuss his political career, projects, and influence on the local and international scene. 120 min. DVD 9466
- [Marion, Frances] Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
- This insightful documentary gives voice to Frances Marion's words taken from her letters, diaries and memoirs. Footage from more than twenty of Marion's movies align with commentary by pre-eminent silent film historian Kevin Brownlow, critic Leonard Maltin and Marion's celebrated biographer, Cari Beauchamp. Special features: "A little princess" (1917, si., b&w, 62 min.) a film by Marshall Neilan ; assistant director, Howard Hawks. c2001. 56 min. DVD 1578
- [Marley, Bob] Rebel Music: The Bob Marley Story
- The story of legendary reggae superstar Bob Marley, the musician, the poet and the prophet. Marley was a symbol of human rights who, through his music, decried the injustices of all people and fought for social equality with zealous determination. Includes previously unheard recordings, news footage of the time and live performances of many of his classic hits. Also features intimate glimpses of life with his family and the early years in "Trenchtown," and exculsive interviews with his wife Rita Marley, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Chris Blackwell and the original members of The Wailers. Special features: Bob Marley discography; previews; song and scene access. 2000. 89 min. DVD 867
- [Marti, Jose] Jose Marti & Cuba Libre (Destino de imperios: 1898 la guerra de Espana-Cuba-USA)
- If a single individual may be said to have embodied the development of the Cuban secessionist movement, that person was surely Jose Marti. Set within the context of the turbulent relations between Cuba, Spain, and the USA, this program spotlights Marti, a striking orator, sagacious propagandist, and inspiring leader, and the movement that he founded, Cuba Libre. Although killed during a skirmish at Dos Rios in 1895, Marti lived on as the emblem of the undying desire of the Cuban exile population to free Cuba from foreign control. 2001. 54 min. DVD 3640
- [Marti, Jose] Jose Marti: un Hombre Sincero
- A film biography of "the Apostle of Cuban Independence," the Cuban patriot, author, and journalist Jose Marti who was a tireless proponent of Cuba's freedom from Spanish rule. Combining documentary material with dramatizations, this program celebrates the selfless life of the freedom fighter, which was marked by imprisonment, exile and ironically, death in his first appearance on the battlefield. In Spanish. 1998. 63 min. Video/C 8672
- [Man Ray] Man Ray: No Limits.
- Examines Man Ray's life, tracing both his artistic evolution and his intense relationships. Man Ray was at the forefront of the avant-garde, his works pushed the limits of Surrealism and Dadaism as he experimented with every available medium and invented a number of his own. Best known for his photography, he also excelled in painting, sculpture, and filmmaking. 1998. 53 min. Video/C 7913
- [Massieu, Jean] The Shepherd and the Symbol.
- This film examines the life and work of Jean Massieu. Describes Massieu's frustrated pleas to his father to be allowed to attend school, the kindness of a stranger that lead to his early education in Bordeau under the abbe Sicard and several dramatic examples of Massieu's decades-long friendship with and loyalty to the abbe Sicard. Jean Massieu was not only a friend and mentor of Laurent Clerc, but he was also "the first deaf teacher ever and a symbol worldwide of what a deaf man could achieve through education." c1993. 29 min. Video/C 3131
- [McCarthy, Eugene] I'm Sorry I Was Right: Eugene McCarthy
- A documentary portrait of the politician and poet, Eugene McCarthy. With rare archival footage, lively interviews, and good humor, McCarthy tells about his work as a politician, the lessons of the Vietnam War and the dangers of corporate control of the public mind. A writer of 21 books, he also recites a choice selection of his poetry and a Yeats poem. 2001. 29 min. Video/C 9788
- [McCarthy, Joseph] An American Ism, Joe McCarthy.
- Uses archival film segments and interviews with friends, business associates, and politicians to provide a film biography of Joseph McCarthy. 84 min. Video/C 124
- [Mead, Margaret] Coming of Age.
- chronicles the life and career of Margaret Mead, one of the most controversial anthropologists and fieldworkers of her day. Includes original footage from American Samoa, New Guinea and Bali. 1990. 52 min. Video/C 3855
- [Mead, Margaret] Margaret Mead, Taking Note.
- Anthropologist Margaret Mead was largely responsible for popularizing anthropology in America. From her pioneering studies of children to her speeches about the fate of the environment, Mead was both a student of the world and its teacher. c1981. 60 min. Video/C 4156
- [Medvedkin, Alexander] The Last Bolshevik (Le tombeau d'Alexandre)
- Part 1. Kingdom of shadows -- Part 2. Shadows of a kingdom
Examines the life and work of Russian film director, Alexander Medvedkin, while also giving a broad picture of life in the Soviet Union. Discusses the relation between art and politics in the Soviet Union. Special feature: Deleted scene: Medvedkin and Dziga Vertov, by Nikolai Izvolov. A film by Chris Marker. 1993. 120 mins. DVD 9426
- [Melville, Herman] Herman Melville--Consider the Sea
- Host Richard Wilbur presents a portrait of Herman Melville, examining the plots and distinctive styles found in his books. Looks at the personality of the writer, focusing on his obsession with the sea. 35 min. Video/C 804
- [Mendieta, Ana] Ana Mendieta.
- Chronicles the life and work of Cuban artist Ana Mendieta. Includes an interview with the artist by Tony Martinez. Also includes interviews with he family, friends and colleagues. c1987. 52 min. Video/C 4092.
- [Micheaux, Oscar] Oscar Micheaux, Film Pioneer.
- Oscar Micheaux is remembered for his work as a pioneer producer-director whose films offered a positive image and an alternative for African Americans in the 1920s and 1930s. The program is built around the on-camera reminiscences of two performers who appeared in Micheaux films: Bee Freeman, and Lorenzo Tucker. Also included are dramatic reenactments of Micheaux directing and touring the country to sell his films. Dramatic sequences: Danny Glover (as Micheaux). c1981. 28 min. Video/C 8264
- Midnight Ramble Video/C 3614]
- [Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig] Mies.
- A critical portrait of the architect, commemorating the centennial of his birth in 1886. Recently rediscovered, rare film footage allows Mies to explain his philosophy and approach to design. Revisits sites of Mies most innovative work including the Illinois Institute of Technology campus in Chicago, the first campus designed entirely by one person since Jefferson's University of Virginia, and the Nationalgalerie in Berlin, his last work and perhaps greatest accomplishment in the use of the clear span design. 1985. 58 min. Video/C 1941
- [Milk, Harvey]The Times of Harvey Milk.
- On November 27, 1978, Dan White, a former City Supervisor entered San Francisco's City Hall with a gun and murdered both the Mayor, George Moscone, and San Francisco's first openly gay politician, City Supervisor, Harvey Milk. White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served a brief jail term, sparking a demonstration and riot by gay supporters of the murdered men. Directed by Rob Epstein. 88 min. DVD 2728; also VHS Video/C 1009
- [Miller, Henry] Henry Miller Odyssey
- Culled from more than fifteen hours of film and tape, this is a barrage of opinions and reflections from a major literary figure. The film traces Miller's childhood through the streets of Brooklyn and his struggles as a writer in Paris. Living, working, playing, revisiting old haunts and reading from books, Henry Miller is revealed as a boisterous, thoughtful, sometimes obscene, and truthful man. Miller's friends, Lawrence Durrell, Anais Nin, Alfred Perles, Brassai, and Jakob Gimpel, also shed light on the engaging author. A film by Robert Snyder. 1974. 60 min. Video/C MM1102
- [Miller, Lee]Lee Miller, Through the Mirror
- A biographical film about the life of Lee Miller, a news photographer, Vogue model, and muse to notorious artist Man Ray, who lived an exceptionally rich, full life. Inspired by the artist's community in Montparnasse in the 1930s, she made a name for herself as a post-surrealist photographer and a war correspondent--accomplishments very different from those of other models. Called the most beautiful woman of her time, Miller claimed never to have wasted a moment of her life. A film by Sylvain Roumette. 55 min. 1995. DVD 9345
- [Mingus, Charles]Charlie Mingus: Triumph of the Underdog
- The first comprehensive documentary of Afro-American jazz bassist, bandleader and composer Charles Mingus who led a tumultuous life filled with trauma and frustration, joy and creativity. Nine years in the making and exhaustively researched, virtually everything used in the film is extraordinarily rare. Abundant clips of Mingus in performance in the 1960s and 1970s perfectly illustrate the many faces and tortured heart of a musical genius. 1997. 78 min. Video/C 3216
- [Mingus, Charles]Mingus: Charles Mingus, 1968.
- A portrait of this great bassist/composer and some of the hard times that came his way. Includes scenes of him conducting his big band, composing, singing and reciting his own poetry. 58 min. Video/C 2990
- [Miranda, Carmen ]Carmen Miranda: Bananas is My Business
- Using archival footage, film fragments, interviews, and dramatic re-enactments, acclaimed director Helena Solberg goes behind-the-scenes to convey the true life story of the "Brazilian Bombshell," singer and actress Carmen Miranda. 1996. 90 min. DVD 2594; also on VHS Video/C 4786
- [Mobutu, Joseph Desire]Mobutu, King of Zaire: An African Tragedy
- The definitive visual record of the rise and fall ofJoseph Desire Mobutu, ruler of Zaire (the Congo) forover 30 years. Drawing upon 140 hours of rarearchival material found in Kinshasa, and 50 hours ofinterviews with those once close to him, it tells thestory of the man at the heart of Central Africa'spost-colonial history. 1999. 3 videocassettes 52 min. each Video/C 7200Mobutu, King of Zaire: An African Tragedy
- The definitive visual record of the rise and fall ofJoseph Desire Mobutu, ruler of Zaire (the Congo) forover 30 years. Drawing upon 140 hours of rarearchival material found in Kinshasa, and 50 hours ofinterviews with those once close to him, it tells thestory of the man at the heart of Central Africa'spost-colonial history. 1999. 3 videocassettes 52 min. each Video/C 7200
- [Modotti, Tina] Tina In Mexico
- Portrait of photographer Tina Modotti in revolutionary 1920s Mexico. Looks at her work and her passionate relationships with contemporary artists and revolutionaries, including Edward Weston and Diego Rivera. Writer/director, Brenda Longfellow 2004. 60 min. DVD 4609
- [Modotti, Tina]Frida Kahlo & Tina Modotti
- Compares and contrasts the lives and works of the Mexican-born painter and the Italian-born photographer, both of whom worked in the context of women's lives, in Mexico, in art, in the Revolution. This film shows how, as both women and artists, they reacted in contrasting ways to the pressures and opportunities of Mexico in its post-revolutionary aftermath. Script & direction, Laura Mulvey & Peter Wollen. 2007. 29 min. DVD 7904
- [Monette, Paul]Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer's End
- This biographical documentary which was shot over three and a half years, explores Paul's life and work from his seemingly idyllic New England boyhood, and his closeted adolescence to his development into a successful writer, committed gay activist, until his death from AIDS in February, 1995. 90 min. Video/C 6042 American Library Assn. Video Round Table Notable Videos winner
- [Monk, Thelonious]Straight No Chaser.
- Documentary about the life and works of Thelonious Monk. Includes extensive archival footage by Michael and Christian Blackwell, made in 1968, of Monk performing his own compositions in studio, on tour, and behind the scenes. With newly added interviews. 90 min. DVD 5656; vhs Video/C 2974
- Nation v249, n14 (Oct 30, 1989):505 (4 pages)
Down Beat v57, n2 (Feb, 1990):34 (2 pages)
Rolling Stone, n551 (May 4, 1989):19).
- [Moore, Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth"]Saturday Night, Sunday Morning.
- This film documents the life of Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore, a prominent blues singer who left the stage at the height of his career to preach and sing gospel music. Among those interviewed are Rufus Thomas, Andrew Chaplin Jr., B.B. King, and Benjamin Hooks. Concludes with a service with Moore and gospel star, Rev. Al Green. 70 min. Video/C 2539
- [Moore, Harry T.] Freedom Never Dies: The Legacy of Harry T. Moore
- A documentary film exploring the life and times of a distinguished school teacher whose passionate crusade for equal rights for African Americans could not be discouraged by either the white power structure or the more cautious factions of his own movement. 2000 90 min. Video/C 8056
- [Morrison, Toni]Toni Morrison.
- Morrison discusses slavery and its legacy and the difficulties of writing about the painful subjects that occur in her novel Beloved. Readings from Beloved by Guy Gregory and Bonnie Greer. 1987. 52 min. Video/C 1393
- [Moses, Robert] The World That Moses Built.
- Examines the career of Robert Moses the "master builder" of the century. Shows that his public project not only shaped the landscape of New York City but influenced urban areas across the nation. 1988. 60 min. Video/C 1534
- [Mott, William Penn Jr.]William Penn Mott, Jr.: A Man For All Parks
- Presents a biography of William Mott, director of the U.S. National Park Service from 1985 through 1989, highlighting his accomplishments in overseeing and preserving America's national parks. 35 min. Video/C 9283
- [Muhammad, -- Prophet] Mahomet
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Chronicles the life and legacy of the Prophet Mohammed from his birth in 571 to his death in 632. Comprised primarily of interviews with Imams, scholars, and individual believers, as well as footage of some of Islam's most significant historic places. 2001. 273 min. DVD 2075
- [Mulholland, William] Mulholland's Dream (Cadillac Desert)
- Superintendent of the L.A. water system in 1913, he found a solution to the problem in a remote valley 250 miles to the north. After the city secured water rights to the valley's Owens River, he spent 6 years building an aqueduct across the Mojave Desert. The program also recalls the shady land speculations behind the deal, how northern ranchers fought back, and the great disaster that destroyed his dream. 1997. 85 min. Video/C 5053
- [Munch, Edvard] Dance of Life: Edvard Munch
- Takes an in-depth look at the life and works of the renowned and controversial Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. This film is based upon important events in Munch's life as revealed in the abundance of letters, diaries and literary notes left behind after his death. c1997. 52 min. Video/C 7428
- [Munch, Edvard] Edvard Munch: The Frieze of Life
- Shot on location in Norway and from original paintings and graphic works, with commentary mainly drawn from Munch's own writings, this film explores the biographical and artistic origins and significance of some of the Edvard Munch's most arresting images. 1992. 30 min. Video/C 7583
- [Murrow, Edward R.] This is Edward R. Murrow
- Highlights the career of newsman Edward R. Murrow, with excerpts from many of his most famous broadcasts including Murrow's confrontation with Senator Joseph McCarthy, and interviews with Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Carl Sandburg. Looks at his life as a war correspondent and his famous television documentary "Harvest of shame." 2005? 113 min. DVD 4011
- [Murrow, Edward R.] This Reporter
- Presents a compellingly candid portrait of Edward R. Murrow's illustrious career and features rarely-seen clips from the CBS News archives and interviews with his esteemed peers. From his gutsy search of journalistic truths during the McCarthy era to his celebrated Person to Person chats with Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando, this in-depth documentary explores how Murrow's pioneering work left an indelible mark on American broadcasting. 2005? 44 min. DVD 4581
- See It Now website (Museum of Broadcast Communications)
Edward R. Murrow information (Museum of Broadcast Communications)
- [Nader, Ralph] An Unreasonable Man
- The life and times of Ralph Nader, political analyst and presidential candidate. Includes footage and interviews with those who knew and worked with him, including an interview with the man himself. Special features (Disc 1, 31 min.): 7 deleted scenes ("The congress project", "No nukes", "Airbags", "Big boys/Flint", "Bell's Palsy/Shafeek", "Proposition 103", "Meeting with The Congressional Black Caucus"); theatrical trailer (2 min.). Special features (Disc 2, 77 min.): 7 featurettes ("Profile of a charismatic leader"; "What kind of president would Ralph Nader be?"; "Debating the role of third parties in the U.S.", "What happened to the Democratic Party?", "Why is the Right better organized than the Left?", "Ralph Nader on the Iraq war", "A debate on corporate power in America"). Written & directed by Henriette Mantel, Steve Skrovan. 2006. DVD 8172
- [Napoleon] Napoleon
- For nearly two decades Napoleon strode the world stage like a colossus -- loved and despised, venerated and feared. From his birth on the rugged island of Corsica to his final exile on the island of St. Helena, this documentary bears witness to a man riddled with contradictions that are the essence of his glory and his undoing. Contents: Pt. 1. To destiny -- pt. 2. Mastering luck -- pt. 3. Summit of greatness -- pt. 4. The end. 2000. 240 min. DVD 1127
- [Nash, John F.]A Brilliant Madness
- This tells the story of mathematician John Nash. Called "the most remarkable mathematician of the second half of the century", Nash suffered a devastating breakdown at the age of thirty. He suddenly claimed that aliens were sending him messages, became obsessed with secret numbers and saw conspiracies all around him. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Nash spent a decade in and out of mental hospitals, surviving with the support of his wife and former colleagues. During that time, a mathematical proof he'd written at the age of twenty became a foundation of modern economics. Sometime in the 1980s, he gradually began to recover. In 1994, Nash capped his remarkable return from madness by winning the Nobel Prize. 2004. 60 min. DVD 5639
- [Neruda, Pablo]Pablo Neruda: Chile's Master Poet
- The life and work of Pablo Neruda -- Nobel Laureate, statesman, renowned poet -- both reflect and embody the events that shaped the 20th century. Born in Chile, he fled as a political refugee in 1948, not to return until 1952. Through archival materials, Neruda's writings, and interviews with family, friends and scholars, this program presents Neruda's life and the times that molded it. In Spanish. 28 min. Video/C 7380
- [Neruda, Pablo] Pablo Neruda, 1904-1973
- This captivating program tells the story of Chile's Nobel Laureate poet Pablo Neruda and his life and prodigious work, set against the backdrop of the country that inspired him. Readings from his massive oeuvre amply demonstrate his sincere commitment to the Communist Party and his abiding love for the natural world. 1998. 47 min. Video/C 7675
- [Neruda, Pablo] Yo soy Pablo Neruda (I Am Pablo Neruda).
- Examines the career and literary output of Pablo Neruda, who made his home at Isla Negra on the coast of Chile. Includes Neruda reading many of his poems in the locales which inspired them. Originally issued as motion picture in 1967. In English, with some lines of poetry read in Spanish by Neruda. 30 min. Video/C 6234
- [Ness, Elliot] On the trail of Eliot Ness
- A biography of the life of Eliot Ness, the American prohibition agent famous for his efforts to enforce prohibition in Chicago, as the leader of a legendary team of law enforcement agents nicknamed The Untouchables because they could not be "bought off" by the mob. He declared war on the mob in Chicago and Cleveland and near the end of his life co-authored the book "The Untouchables." Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2008. 30 min. DVD X235
- [Newkirk, Ingrid] I Am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA
- Candid and introspective look at the beliefs and motives of Ingrid Newkirk, founder and leader of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Told through interviews with Newkirk, PETA employees, PETA supporters, and critics alike, the film thoroughly explores PETA's unconventional ideology and extreme tactics. The film follows several of PETA's present-day demonstrations while also examining past controversies. Directed by Matthew Galkin. 2007. 73 min. DVD 9344
- [Newton, Huey P.] A Huey P. Newton Story
- Directed by Spike Lee. Actor and writer Roger Guenveur Smith presents a solo perfomance of Huey P. Newton's life in a stream-of-consciousness monologue inspired by the writings and interviews of Newton, the late co-founder of the Black Panther Party. Director Spike Lee complements Smith's performance with an imaginative mixture of multiple camera angles and documentary footage. Based on the taped performance before a live audience in New York City, the film also features an award-winning score by Marc Anthony Thompson and guest solos by Branford Marsalis. c2002. 90 min. DVD 5791; vhs Video/C 9568
Spike Lee & Roger Guenveur Smith (Indepependent View) - interview about the making of this film. Video/C MM92
- [Newton, Isaac, Sir] Sir Isaac Newton: The Gravity of Genius
- From his private bitterness to his extraordinary legacy, this biography of Sir Isaac Newton's life presents a detailed examination of Newtonian principles through interviews with scholars and scientists including Sir Michael Atiyah, who holds Newton's former position as president of the Royal Society. Originally presented as a segment on the television program, A&E Biography. 1996. 46 min. Video/C MM32
- [Nico] Nico Icon.
- Featuring Nico, Andy Warhol, Viva, Lou Reed, John Cale, Jackson Browne, Paul Morrissey, Billy Name, Jonas Mekas, Sterling Morrison, Velvet Underground members. A haunting documentary that seamlessly glides from the vastly entertaining to the sadly shocking, of the German model, singer and occasional actress who became the pop icon Nico. Featuring archival footage and interviews with 60's pop culture legends the film explores the deep inner scars that were buried beneath Nico, the blase femme fatale turned junkie. 67 min. Video/C 7480
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- [Nixon, Richard M.] Millhouse: A White Comedy (1971)
- One of the most controversial political satires ever made, this film is a compilation of newsreel and TV footage with interviews with various political commentators presenting a comic yet terrifying portrait of Richard M. Nixon. It's all here--including scenes of Nixon advocating the death penalty for drug peddlers, suggestions of using nuclear weapons on Indochina, and the president watching go-go dancers in the White House. Filmmaker Emile de Antonio has said, "I made this film to reveal the terrible comic theater that is American politics." Special DVD features: Theatrical trailer; Senator Richard NIxon's 1952 "Checkers Speech"; Archival interview with Emile de Antonio from Alternative views: "The de Antonio legacy". 93 min. DVD X21; vhs VHS Video/C 6982
Information about this film from the Internet Movie Database
- [Nixon, Richard M.] Nixon.
- (American Experience) Covers the span of Richard M. Nixon's political life from his early political career to his resignation from the presidency. 174 min. DVD 966; also VHS Video/C 1809:1-3
- Millhouse: A White Comedy. Video/C 6982
Nixon: Checkers to Watergate. Video/C 811
Richard M. Nixon (We the People; The President and the Constitution). Video/C 2471
Watergate. Video/C 3509-3513
US Politics videography for other works about Nixon
- [Noguchi, Isamu] Isamu Noguchi.(Portrait of an Artist)
- Follows the twentieth-century Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi around the world for more than a year filming his global artistic adventures. Examines his early life in Japan and his education in the United States which formed a fusion between East and West and fostered the universality of his creative efforts. c1980. 55 min. Video/C 6321
- [Nolde, Emil] From Sea to Painted Sea: A Portrait of the German Expressionist Emil Nolde
- Documentary on the life and art of Emil Nolde, German painter, printmaker and water colourist. First trained as a wood-carver, he eventually became known for his violent religious works and his foreboding landscapes. Nolde, one of the strongest and most independent of the German Expressionists, became a victim of the Nazis' most brutal censorship throughout the war years and in 1940 many of his paintings were confiscated. 1993. 25 min. Video/C 8142
- [Nureyev, Rudolf] Nureyev
- A biography of dancer Rudolf Nureyev with extensive archive material and extracts from ballet performances. Mentor Ninette de Valois, ballet partner Margot Fonteyn, choreographer Roland Petit, dancer Sylvie Guillem and others comment on truth and legends surrounding Nureyev. 1991. 90 min. Video/C 9011
- [Oakley,Annie ]Annie Oakley
- Annie Oakley, the greatest woman rifle shot the world has ever known thrilled audiences of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show with her daring shooting feats. A champion in a man's sport, over time she became an American legend forever changing ideas about the abilities of women. Includes archival images and commentary by biographers and historians. 2006. 60 min. DVD 5616
- [O'Brien, Mark]Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien.
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Poet-journalist Mark O'Brien was stricken with polio in childhood and has spent most of his life in an iron lung. He describes how he has fought against illness and bureacracy for his right to lead an independent life and offers his reflections on college, work, sex, death, euthanasia, and God. Directed, and written by Jessica Yu. 1996. 35 min. DVD X334; vhs Video/C 4841
- [O'Keeffe, Georgia] Georgia O'Keeffe. (Portrait of an Artist;1)
- Documentary that looks behind the Georgia O'Keeffe legend, showing her paintings, environment, and philosophy of the artist. c1977. 60 min. Video/C 1107
- [O'Neill, Eugene]Eugene O'Neill: A Documentary Film.
- Tells the haunting story of the life and work of America's greatest and only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill -- set within the context of the harrowing family dramas and personal upheavals that shaped him, and that he in turn struggled all his life to give form to in his art. Through his experimental and emotionally probing dramas, he addressed the difficulties of human society with a deep psychological complexity. Documentary includes scenes from his dramas by some of the most gifted actors working in theater today. Special features: Performances and dramatic readings by Al Pacino, Liam Neeson, Christopher Plummer, and others; interview with Ric Burns; additional interviews with Jason Robards, Tony Kushner, John Guare, and others. Directed by Ric Burns. 2006. 120 min. DVD 5565
- [Oppenheimer, J. Robert] J. Robert Oppenheimer: Father of the Atomic Bomb
- Examines the life of controversial physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer who led the Manhattan Project in 1942 and came to be known as "Father of the atomic bomb." Although he served as a government adviser on nuclear weapons, he eventually campaigned against further development of nuclear arms. Broadcast as an episode of the A&E Network television program A&E Biography. c1995. 46 min. Video/C MM31
- Day After Trinity. DVD 1245; also VHS 242 I Am Become Death: They Made the Bomb. Video/C 9856
Brotherhood of the Bomb. Video/C 9859
- [Oppenheimer, J. Robert] The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer
- J. Robert Oppenheimer's life and legacy are inextricably linked to America's most famous top-secret initiative - the Manhattan Project. Embroiled in controversy during his lifetime he was forced to testify in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he admitted that he had associations with the Communist Party in the 1930s, but he refused to name members. This biography presents a complex and revealing portrait of one of America's most influential scientists with commentary by his former colleagues and eminent scholars. Originally broadcast on the PBS television series American Experience. 2009. 120 min. DVD X1381
- [Pankhurst, Emmeline] Demanding the Vote: the Pankhursts and British Suffrage
- Looks at the life and work of Emmeline Pankhurst and her two daughters, activists and leaders of the British suffragette movement. Although widely criticised for her militant tactics, Emmeline Pankhurst's leadership is recognised as a crucial element in achieving women's suffrage in Britain. Includes archival film footage and commentary by authors and academics. Produced by Adam Sternberg; written by Lisa Clark and Adam Sternberg. Supplementary feature accompanying: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 30 min. DVD X233
- [Parker, Charlie] Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker.
- In film clips, photos, and interviews, Parker's life is traced from Kansas City to the New York jazz scene of the 1950s 59 min. Video/C 2341
- [Pasolini, Pier Paolo] Pier Paolo Pasolini Poeta
- A biographical journey through the life of the Italian motion picture director, poet and novelist Pier Paolo Pasolini, who was noted for his socially critical, stylistically unorthodox films. Includes interviews with Pasolini and excerpts from his films. In Italian. PAL format 2001. Video/C 8843
- [Pauling, Linus] Linus Pauling: Crusading Scientist
- A biography of Linus Pauling, the Nobel prize winning chemist, peace activist and political activist. 1989. 58 min. Video/C 4090
- [Peltier, Leonard] Incident at Oglala.
- Examines the 1975 incident where armed FBI agents illegally entered the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, resulting in the deaths of a Native American and two FBI agents. Explores the controversy and potential abuse of justice surrounding the case of Leonard Peltier, who was the sole person in the incident convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. DVD 9065; vhs Video/C 3331
- [Peron, Juan] Juan Peron.
- This program covers the rise and fall and rise again of Juan Peron. c1990. 13 min. Video/C 2866
- [Picard, Lil] Lil Picard: Life is a Party.
- An autobiographical account of the life and attitudes of Lil Picard, a journalist and artist exiled from Germany by the Nazis. 199? 28 min. Video/C 4652
- [Picasso, Pablo] Picasso: The Man and His Work.
- c1986. 45 min each installment
Picasso: The Man and His Work. Part 1, 1881-1937. Starting in 1896, when he was only 15, this program traces Picasso's artistic development, exploring his work as a youth, from the Blue period to the Pink period and his first steps into Cubism in 1906. Picasso then moved on to the Chrysteline period where he went from analytical to synthetic Cubism until entering his Neoclassical period in 1918. Culminates with the painting of his masterpiece "Guernica" in 1937. Video/C 9363
Picasso: The Man and His Work. Part 2, 1938-1973. This film chronicles the later years of Pablo Picasso's life starting from 1938 and ending in 1973 with his death. Through the war years, Picasso's work moved on to include ceramics, sculpture, pottery and graphics. The period from 1946-1973 is made up primarily of home movies, showing his relationships with his children and the women in his life, and emphasizing the enormous amount of work he accomplished during the last 20 years of his life. Video/C 9364
- [Picasso, Pablo] 13 Days in the Life of Picasso.
- Picasso said that his work should be seen as a kind of autobiography written for himself. The women in Picasso's life figured extensively as they were his models, as he drew and painted them again andagain. This documentary presents 13 days in the lifeof Picasso exploring the defining moments of thecreator of some of the greatest works of the 20thcentury. Interviews with Picasso's son and daughtercontrast a portrait of the man through his paintings,diary extracts and sketches. 1999. 90 min. Video/C 8401
- [Pickford, Mary] Mary Pickford: A Life on Film.
- By the age of seventeen, Mary Pickford had become thefirst actress to achieve international superstardom.By the time she was thirty, she was the first and onlywoman ever to own a major movie studio. With comedicand tragic talents and business acumen, Mary Pickfordwas the consummate movie star of the 20th century.This definitive documentary combines an abundance ofpreviously unseen footage from Pickford's own archivewith exceptional research to demonstrate why she and 2000. 99 min. Video/C 7224
- [Pitman, Jane] The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
- Presents the story of the long life of Miss Jane Pittman, who began her life as a slave in the South and who marched for her civil rights in the 20th century at the age of 110. 106 min. Video/C 144
- [Poitier, Sidney] Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
- Explores the life and career of accomplished actor, writer, director, humanitarian and diplomat, Sidney Poitier through his body of work and through the words of his colleagues and admirers. Still the only black American to receive an Academy Award for "Best Actor," he forever altered the racial perceptions held by motion picture audiences and Hollywood executives. Directed and narrated by Lee Grant. 2000. 60 min. DVD 5570
- [Polanski, Roman] Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired /
- This startling indictment of the American legal system and its paradoxical relationship with celebrity culture intensely examines the conviction of Roman Polanski in a California court for having sexual intercourse with a minor, and the chaos that followed. Based on unprecedented access to the lawyers representing the case, the media covering it and the victim herself. Directed by Marina Zenovich. 2008. 100 min. DVD X967
- [Pollock, Jackson] Jackson Pollock.
- A documentary film that combines archival footage of Jackson Pollock's life and work with reminiscences from his contemporaries, and explores the truth and legends surrounding this controversial painter. 1987. 52 min. Video/C 6320
- [Pollock, Jackson] Jackson Pollock: Love and Death on Long Island
- Documentary tracing the life of the shy, brooding American abstract artist Jackson Pollock through interviews and archival footage. His controversial work and defiant attitudes made him at once a star and the scourge of the art world. In the end, his tragic death at the top of his career, cemented his image forever as the James Dean of artists. Originally produced as a documentary for the British television series Close up. c1978. 46 min. Video/C 7422
- [Pontecorvo, Gillo] Pontecorvo: The Dictatorship of Truth
- Examines the life and uncompromising cinema of theItalian film director Gillo Pontecorvo.Includes a view of his life and political activitiesbefore and during WWII, interviews with Pontecorvo andassociates, and excerpts from his films which centeraround political unrest and the self destructivenature of colonialism. 1992. 42 min. DVD 3050 (supplementary feature w/ Battle of Algiers; also vhs Video/C 7465
- [Powell, Adam Clayton] Adam Clayton Powell: An Autobiographical Documentary.
- Documents the life of Adam Clayton Powell, congressman and pastor of the largest Black congregation in the country. Traces Powell's efforts to eliminate oppression and injustice in America. 58 min. Video/C 261
- [Powell, Adam Clayton] Adam Clayton Powell.
- Julian Bond narrates this documentary on the life of Adam Clayton Powell, U.S. Congressman and pastor of the largest Black congregation in the country. Utilizes archival footage, still photographs and on-screen interviews. 53 min. Video/C 1770
- [Proust, Marcel] The Modern World: Ten Great Writers. (vol 9)
- Video/C 1253
- [Proust, Marcel]Marcel Proust: A Writer's Life
- Documentary about the life and work of Marcel Proustwith emphasis on his struggle to realize the 3,000page masterpiece "Remembrance of the past" (A larecherche du temps perdu). Deftly blending thepersonal and the historical, the film highlights themagnitude of Proust's accomplishments, whiledramatizations of key scenes from Proust's lifecombined with rare archival footage place his personalstruggles in a historical context. 2002. 60 min. Video/C 9147
- [Puccini, Giacomo] Giacomo Puccini: Music of the Heart
- A biographical sketch of Giacomo Puccini who transformed opera from a remote world of fantasy into a modern art form that explored everyday experiences. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Produced and written by David O'Dell. Supplementary feature accompanying: Young Indiana Jones. 25 min. DVD X233
- [Rainey, Ma] Wild Women Don't Have the Blues.
- The story of Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, and other pioneering women blues singers. This film recreates the stories of these women who left an indelible mark on the music world. 58 min. Video/C 2320
- [Ram Das (Richard Alpert)] Ram Dass: Fierce Grace.
- Richard Alpert, after being expelled from Harvard in 1963 for experimenting with LSD, morphed into Ram Dass, a serious and much loved spiritual leader, author and lecturer. This film visits Ram Dass in 2001 as he remakes his life since suffering a stroke five years ago. Balances fascinating, often hilarious footage from the hippie era with contemporary material and interviews with Ram Dass and his associates. 2001. 93 min. Video/C 9310
- [Rand, Ayn] Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life.
- A documentary drawn from personal papers, rare photos, film footage and public archives from two continents, of the life and work of the controversial Russian-born author, Ayn Rand. This first authorized film biography captures Rand's life-long themes of reason, rational selfishness and political freedom to present a portrait of one woman's genius. 1998. 143 min. DVD 630
- [Randolph, A. Philip] A. Philip Randolph: For Jobs & Freedom.
- Biography of the African American labor leader, journalist, and civil rights activist, A. Philip Randolph. Randolph won the first national labor agreement for a black union, The Sleeping Car porters. His threat of a protest march on Washington forced President Roosevelt to ban segregation in the federal government and defense industries at the onset of WWII and again he forced Truman to integrate the military. Finally with the 1963 March on Washington, Randolph succeeded in placing civil rights at the forefront of the nation's legislative agenda as he passed the torch to Martin Luther King, Jr. Includes music of the labor and civil rights movements. 86 min. Video/C 4127
- Discussion of Randolf in
I'll Make Me a World (Without Fear or Shame: 1920-1937) Video/C 6263
- [Rauschenberg, Robert]Robert Rauschenberg: Inventive Genius.
- Celebrates the life and work of American painter Robert Rauschenberg. As guru of the movement that transformed modern art Robert Rauschenberg is the ideal focus for an exploration of the revolution that has taken place in American art over the past 45 years...the revolution that he initiated. A rich mixture of visual images and engaging commentary examines the life of this revolutionary American painter. 1999. 57 min. Video/C 6328
- [Rauschenberg, Robert] Robert Raushenberg: Man at Work
- A look at Robert Rauschenberg, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. For the last fifty years his art has encompassed all manner of experimentation and a vast array of media, including silkscreen, printmaking, photography, and current technologies. His collaborations with Merce Cunningham, John Cage, and Trisha Brown have greatly influenced contemporary dance and performance. The highlight of this program is Rauschenberg's autobiographical work, the multi-paneled 1/4 Mile or 2 Furlong Piece, begun in 1981, seen here for the first time in its entirety. c1997. 58 min. Video/C 5997
- [Ray, Nicholas] Lightning Over Water.
- Directed by Wim Wenders, 1980. A record of the last months of Nicholas Ray's life, when he was hoping to revive his career while visibly dying from cancer. Originally produced in 1972 as two episodes in the television program Camera Three. 91 min. DVD 1555; also VHS Video/C 999:324
- [Ray, Satyajit] Satyajit Ray: Introspections.
- An interview with the renowned Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray. He discusses his childhood, the influence of Bengal renaissance, his interest in design and typography, his approach to political films and violence in cinema, his interest in period films and children's films, his response to Western films and critics and thoughts on life and death. 1983. 55 min. Video/C 5874
- [Reagan, Ronald] Reagan.
- Presents the story of Ronald Reagan's life with commentary by contemporaries, historians and members of his family (1998). Pt. 1, Lifeguard Examines Reagan's childhood and youth, his motion picture career, his early marriages and marriage to Nancy Reagan, his entrance into politics and election as governor of California. The film continues with his failed bid for his party's 114 min. DVD 966; also VHS Video/C 5715
Pt. 2, An American Crusade. Begins with the buildup of military spending which would eventually triple the national debt. To respond to the "Soviet threat" Reagan initiates the Strategic Defense Initiative while demonstrators clamor for a "nuclear freeze". He faces a personal crisis in the Iran "arms for hostages" deal even as he engineers summit meetings with Gorbachev seeking an end to the nuclear weapons threat. In the decisive year of 1989 after arms agreements are signed the Fall of the Berlin Wall is followed by the rapid fall of other Eastern European communist governments. Five years after leaving office Reagan announces he has Alzheimer's disease and drops from public view. DVD 966; also VHS Video/C 5715
- [Reagan, Ronald] Ronald Reagan.
- (We the People; The President and the Constitution). President Reagan discusses Congress and the budget process, the role of the executive branch in the management of the economy, presidential relations with the media, the appointment of justices of the US Supreme Court and presidential initiatives in foreign affairs including the intervention in Grenada, the bombing of Libya, and United States' support of the Nicaraguan contras. 60 min. Video/C 2474
- [Reed, Lou] Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart
- A definitive look at the life and career of rock musician Lou Reed. Overflowing with archival performance footage, this film spans over three decades; from the formation of the Velvet Underground, to his extensive solo career, to his most recent work--a collaboration on the futuristic rock opera Time Rocker. Interviews with Reed, major artists who comment on his work and with his friends and band members provide personal insights into the man. Performers: Lou Reed, David Bowie, David Byrne, Patti Smith, Suzanne Vega, Dave Stewart, Philip Glass. 75 min. Video/C 6068
- [Rhodes, Cecil] Rhodes (Life & Legend of Cecil Rhodes).
- A biography of Cecil Rhodes who arrived in Africa at the age of eighteen to join the diamond rush but soon conceived another ambition: to bring the entire land under British rule. By the time he was thirty, Rhodes was one of the wealthiest men in the world and ten years later, a new country had been created and named for him, Rhodesia. A candid vision of the birth of apartheid, and the bitter wars that divided a country and devastated its people. Originally produced for PBS television in 1996. 1997. 336 min. Video/C 5519
- [Rhymes, Busta] Break Ya Neck with Busta Rhymes: Unauthorized
- This music video traces the life of Brooklyn's own hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes, previously known as Trevor Smith. From the streets of flatbush as the flamboyant front man of the Leaders of the New School to the pillar of pop culture, follow Busta, Rah Digga and others in this document on the life of one of hip-hop's native sons. c2002. 60 min. DVD 2156
- [Richter, Hans] Give Chance a Chance: Portrait of Hans Richter
- Documentary and interview with artist-sculptor-filmmaker-surrealist Hans Richter. Richter talks about his career and early experiments with the movie camera, association with the world of surrealists, conflict with the National Socialists in Germany, the origins of Dada, and the evolution of his own style in painting, drawing and collage. Includes many film clips and examples of his graphic work and reminiscences of relationships with contemporary artists such as Jean Arp, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Duchamp, Darius Milhaud, Sergei Eisenstein, and Man Ray. Film excerpts: Ghosts before breakfast, Inflation, Rythmus 21, Dreams that money can buy, Dadascope, 8 by 8. 1975. 27 min. Video/C 5964
- [Richter, Hans] I Live in the Present: Investigation into the Work of Filmmaker Hans Richter. (Ich lebe in der gegenwart: versuch uber Hans Richter).
- A documentary examining the life and work of artist and filmmaker Hans Richter in which he talks about his style in painting, drawing, collage annd filmmaking. Includes many film clips and examples of his work. Excerpts from: Jean Arp, Poupoupoup -- Rhythm 21 (1921) -- Filmstudie (1926) -- Inflation (1928) -- Ghosts before breakfast -- Dreams that money can buy (1947) -- La Chanson Dada / Tristan Tzara. c1985. 46 min. Video/C 6792
- [Richter, Hans] Hans Richter: Maler und Filmpionier.
- Hans Richter was involved with film production all his life. He experimented with abstract forms on film starting with his 1921 work Rythm 21. The Nazis counted him among the degenerate artists and in 1941 he emigrated to the United States and became an American citizen several years later. [198-?] 40 min. Video/C 8111
- [Richthofen, Manfred von]Blood Red: The Life and Death of Manfred von Richthofen
- The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2008. 30 min. DVD X234
- [Riefenstahl, Leni] Leni Riefenstahl.
- Leni Riefenstahl explains her life and work, from her start as a German actress in the 1920's, through her career as a film director producing such films as
Triumph of the will and Olympia. Includes film clips from her work. 56 min. Video/C 4613
- [Riefenstahl, Leni] The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl.
- Interviews with Leni Riefenstahl, now in her nineties, flash-backs and modern film sequences tell the story of the most famous woman film director of all time. Known for her films made during the Third Reich, Riefenstahl's story is a controversial one. Best known for her "Triumph of the Will," the film made of the 1934 Nazi Party Congress, it proved to be her undoing. 1993. 181 min. DVD 176; Video/C 3411 Pt. 1-2
- Clark, Katerina. "The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl." (movie reviews) American Historical Review v100, n4 (Oct, 1995):1227 (2 pages).
Frascella, Lawrence. "The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl." (movie reviews) Advocate, n652 (April 5, 1994):75 (2 pages).
Goldberg, Robert. "The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl." (television program reviews) Wall Street Journal (Mon, July 3, 1995):A6(W), A16(E), col 1, 23 col in.
Goodman, Walter. "The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl." (television program reviews) New York Times v144 (Wed, July 5, 1995):B3(N), C20(L), col 1, 15 col in. Grenier, Richard. "The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl." (movie reviews) Commentary v98, n2 (August, 1994):48 (4 pages). Kauffmann, Stanley. "The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl." (movie reviews) New Republic v210, n11 (March 14, 1994):30 (2 pages).
Maslin, Janet. "Just What Did Leni Riefenstahl's Lens See?" (filmmaker distances her artistry from politics in Ray Muller's documentary, 'The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Rienfenstahl') New York Times v143, sec2 (Sun, March 13, 1994):H15(N), H15(L), col 1, 33 col in.
- [Riggs, Marlon T.]I Shall Not Be Removed: The Life of Marlon Riggs.
- A film biography of Marlon Riggs, the gifted, gay, black filmmaker who produced documentary films addressing issues of identity among Afro-Americans and gays. Clips from his films show how he evolved a unique experimental documentary style, mixing poetry, criticism, the personal and the political. It also documents his long battle against AIDS until his death in 1994 and includes interviews with family, friends, and co-workers. 58 min. DVD X1410; vhs Video/C 4463
- [Rivera, Diego] Diego Rivera: I Paint What I See.
- Explores the life and work of Diego Rivera, famed Mexican artist, including such varied and significant elements in his life as his stormy 25-year relationship with painter Frida Kahlo and the destruction of his notorious mural in Rockefeller Center; features location filming of his enormous colorful murals. c1990. 58 min. Video/C 1766
- [Roach, Max] Sit Down and Listen: The Story of Max Roach (Repercussions: A Celebration of African Influenced Music; 5)
- This program reflects on the lifelong career of Max Roach, who by the age of 19 was the hottest drummer on the New York bebop scene. Footage of the renowned musician, band-leader, composer and professor in the studio, on tour and behind the podium performing with other renowned musicians sheds light on his many talents. 1984. 60 min. Video/C 7354
- [Robeson, Paul] Paul Robeson.
- James Earl Jones gives a stirring performance as singer citizen Paul Robeson in this stage production. A man of extraordinary versatility, Paul Robeson achieved distinction as both a scholar and an athlete before he became an internationally-honored concert artist and stage and screen actor in the 1930's and 40's. James Earl Jones illuminates with only a few props and a bare stage, Robeson's life and truly heroic persona with a superlative performance that matches the remarkable subject. Originally presented as a broadcast on PBS networks on October 8, 1979. 118 min. Video/C 9569
- [Robeson, Paul] Paul Robeson.
- A biography of the black man who became both a famous singer and actor who used his international acclaim to focus world attention on racial injustices suffered by Afro-Americans. His efforts world-wide for working class people in the 1930s, 40s and 50s are highlighted in this documentary. By 1950, Robeson's battle for freedom had cost him his rising career. Includes film clips from his performances, including Black spirituals and folk songs of other nations, interviews and archival photographs. 1994. 36 min. Video/C 5417
- [Robeson, Paul] Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
- Presents the life and achievements of Paul Robeson, an athlete, singer, scholar and champion of the rights of the poor, disenfranchised and people of color. c1999. 127 min. DVD 454; also on VHS Video/C 6429
- [Robeson, Paul] Paul Robeson: Scandalize My Name
- EA biography of the Paul Robeson, the African-American actor of film and stage, athlete, writer, multi-lingual orator, lawyer, and basso profondo concert singer who was also noted for his wide-ranging social justice activism. Focuses on the unrelenting persecutions and blacklisting he suffered throughout his life in response to his outspoken criticism of the treatment of black Americans. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics, actors and his son, Paul Robeson, Jr. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 32 min. DVD X235
- [Robeson, Paul] Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (Paul Robeson : Portraits of the Artist)
- Traces Paul Robeson's career through his artistic triumphs, political activism and his socially charged performances of his signature song, "Ol' Man River." Special features: Audio commentary for the Emperor Jones by historian Jeffrey C. Stewart ; Our Paul: remembering Paul Robeson, a new video program with filmaker William Greaves and actors Ruby Dee and James Earl Jones ; Robeson on Robeson, a new video interview with Paul Robeson, Jr. 1979. 29 min. DVD 7280
- [Rodgers, Richard] Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds
- In a prolific career that spanned seven decades, Richard Rodgers wrote over 900 songs for more than 70 shows -- a body of work unmatched by any other theatrial composer in American history. His celebrated partnerships with lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II produced some of the most beloved musicals of all time, but unknown to most, the man behind the music was dark and solitary -- in complete contrast with the music he created. This biography of the composer is enriched by interviews with his associates and archival performances. c2001. 117 min. DVD 1442
- [Rohmer, Eric] Rohmer, with Supporting Evidence (Eric Rohmer, preuves a l'appui)
- A rare and insightful portrait of Eric Rohmer, one of cinema's most enduring filmmakers and patriarch of the French New Wave. Supplemented by film clips, screen tests and snippets of audio dialogue from his films, Rohmer elaborates on the technical, philosophical and aesthetic aspects of film and filmmaking. 1994. 116 min. Video/C 9290
- [Roosevelt, Eleanor] The Eleanor Roosevelt Story
- An intimate portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt, describing her life from a childhood of loneliness and rejection to becoming the most admired and respected woman in the world. She married Franklin D. Roosevelt, who eventually was elected president, but she was not content to be the proper, silent wife behind her husband's career. Instead, she began a lifelong crusade to speak out about injustice and oppression in any form. 1965. 90 min. Video/C 9471
- [Roosevelt, Franklin D.] FDR. (American Experience; 777)
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt led America through the two greatest crises of this century, the Great Depression and World War II. Part one is based on Before the trumpet, by Geoffrey C. Ward. It covers Roosevelt's early years and early political successes. Part two is based on Geoffrey C. Ward's A first class temperament. It begins with Roosevelt's bout with polio at age 39 and ends with his election to the presidency. Also details Eleanor's rise in public life. Part three explores FDR's response to the Great Depression. Part four is based on No ordinary time : Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: the home front in WWII, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It portrays FDR's leadership of the American people in the face of war until his death. 270 min. DVD 969; also VHS Video/C 3885
- [Roosevelt, Theodore] Theodore Roosevelt and the American Century
- Examines the life of Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth President of the United States, politician, professional historian, naturalist, explorer, hunter, author, and soldier. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Produced and written by David O'Dell. Supplementary feature accompanying: Young Indiana Jones. 31 min. DVD X233
- [Roosevelt, Theodore] Theodore Roosevelt (American Experience)
- A deft politician and skillful diplomat, TR's magnetic personality and genius for publicity made him a legend in his own time. Through archival footage and interviews with historians, this is an engaging portrait of the private man and the president who created the modern American presidency. 1984. 58 min. Video/C 8522
- [Roosevelt, Theodore] TR and His Time. (A Walk through the 20th century with Bill Moyers)
- Journalist Bill Moyers and Teddy Roosevelt biographer David McCullough examine the achievements of the ebullient president. Weighs the effect he had on his era and the effect the era had on him. c1997. 240 min. Video/C 830
- [Rouch, Jean] Jean Rouch and His Camera in the Heart of Africa
- This program provides an in-depth look at the film work of Jean Rouch and his associates from Niger who participated in production of many of Rouch's Niger-based films. Rouch, Philo Bregstein and Niger cameramen discuss filmmaking and filmmakers who have had historical influence in the field. Segments from several of Rouch's earlier film works are interspersed with the filming in Niger and interviews. 1978. 74 min. Video/C 9202
- Rouch in Reverse Video/C 4484
Rouch's Gang Video/C 6566
- [Ross, Harold]Top Hat & Tales: Harold Ross and the Making of the New Yorker
- This documentary shows how Harold Ross, a high school dropout and miner's son from Colorado, started the
sophisticated New Yorker magazine in 1925 by masterfully capturing the Jazz Age spirit, Broadway glamour and ultradry wit. Incorporating a rich array of film clips from the 20's and 30's -- speakeasies, jazz bands, rising skyscrapers -- this film reflects adazzling Manhattan evoking an image of a metropolis that still glitters. Includes interviews with current and former New Yorker staffers. 2001. 47 min. DVD 7109 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C 8492
- [Rousseau, Henri] Henri Rousseau: The Toll-keeper's Secret
- Traces the life of "Customs Officer Rousseau," as he was mockingly called, separating the facts from the artist's fantasies and self-deceptions. Many of his canvases--primitives that reverberate with a darkly powerful emotion--are examined. Both admired and the butt of jokes, Rousseau pre-figured the Surrealists' ideal of the untaught genius whose eyes could see farther than those of a trained artist. 2001. 27 min. DVD 1972
- [Rosset, Barney] Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press
- Chronicles the life and work of Barney Rosset, the influential head of Grove Press and the Evergreen Review, who published such groundbreaking works of fiction as Lady Chatterley's Lover, Naked Lunch, and Tropic of Cancer, while fighting the U.S. government's obscenity laws along the way. Special features: Original theatrical trailer ; Barney Rosset extended interview ; Spike the poodle killer ; Get me out of this camp! ; Three years of torment ; Going the final step ; Illiterates ; Rum and Coke ; This oblivious prostitute. Directed by Neil Ortenberg and Daniel O'Connor. 2008. 90 min. DVD X1401
- [Rustin, Bayard] Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
- One of the first "freedom riders," an adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King and A. Philip Randolph, organizer of the March on Washington, intelligent, gregarious and charismatic, Bayard Rustin was denied his place in the limelight for one reason -- he was also gay. This is a film biography of his life. 2002. 84 min. Video/C 9386
- [Reuther, Walter] Sit Down and Fight: Walter Reuther and The Rise of the Auto Workers Union. (American Experience)
- Tells the story of Walter Reuther, a man whose leadership and vision of worker's rights changed the way America worked. c1992. 58 min. Video/C 2845
- [Sacco, Nicola] Sacco and Vanzetti
- Examines the case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti through archival film, music, poetry and excerpts from the 1971 feature film. Also includes interviews with historians, artists and activists as well as readings from the prison diaries of the two defendants. The many personalities involved in these historic events including the judge, the attorneys, the Italian anarchist movement and the Communist Party are examined within the period's political context, especiallly the notorious "Red scare," of the 1920's which led to the arrest and deportation of thousands of immigrants. c2006. 81 min. DVD 6486
- [Said, Edward] Selves and Others: A Portrait of Edward Said
- A French film crew spent several weeks with one of America's great contemporary intellectuals, Edward Said shortly before his death in 2003, and offers a glimpse at some of his final reflections on the themes that dominated his work. 2003. 54 min. DVD 3811
- [Sankara, Thomas ] Thomas Sankara.
- A film by Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda. Captain Thomas Sankara was the leader of the Burkinabe Revolution. This film is a biographical profile of the revolutionary, the improvements he generated in his country and the new socio-political dimension he instituted in Burkina Faso. Dist.: ArtMattan Productions. 1991. 26 min. Video/C 5752
- [Sankara, Thomas ] Thomas Sankara: The Upright Man
- A biography of Thomas Sankara, a charismatic army captain who became the first president of Burkina Faso after a popularly-supported coup. During his four years in office before being assassinated, he instituted a wide range of progressive social and economic reforms. A film by Robin Shuffield. 2006. 52 min. DVD 9207
- [Sartre, Jean-Paul] Sartre par lui-meme (Sartre by Himself)
- 1987. 204 min. Video/C 1155
- [Sartre, Jean-Paul] 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
- [Schwarzenegger, Arnold] Running with Arnold
- A critical politically-charged biography that tells the fascinating story of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his gubernatorial campaign in California. From his childhood in post World War II Austria, through his days as a weightlifting champion and action movie star, the film exposes Arnold Schwarzenegger' s life as his ambition for fame and power led him in his winning the political circus special recall election campaign to become the leader of the world s fifth largest economy as Governor of California. Directed by Dan Cox. 2008. 71 min. DVD X28
- [Seberg, Jean]From the Journals of Jean Seberg
- This bio-pic about actress Jean Seberg is presented in a first-person, autobiographical format. Mark Rappaport seamlessly interweaves cinema, politics, American society and culture, and film theory to inform, entertain, and move the viewer. Seberg's many marriages, as well as her film roles, are discussed extensively. Her involvement with the Black Panther Movement and subsequent investigation by the FBI is covered. Notably, details of French New Wave cinema, Russian Expressionist films, and the careers of Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, and Clint Eastwood are also examined. Much of the film is based on conjecture, but it encourages viewers to re-examine their ideas about women in film. 1995. 97 min. Video/C MM226
- [Seeger, Pete]Pete Seeger: The Power of Song
- A look at the life of controversial musician, political activist, and environmentalist Pete Seeger, and how he used his songs to promote social change. Includes archival footage and interviews with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, and more. Special features: 3 additional scenes: School of the Americas, Strawberry Festival, Ice skating; 5 short films from the Seeger Family: How to play the five string banjo, Singing fisherman of Ghana, Wrapping paper, How to make a steel drum, Finger song. Directed by Jim Brown. 2008. 93 min. DVD X410
- [Seldes, George] Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press
- A documentary on the life and work of George Seldes, America's most important press critic. The film includes archival footage of many of the 20th century's key events from Seldes's encounters with Pershing and Mussolini, to the tobacco industry and the "lords of the press," as it provides a fresh perspective on 20th century history, while raising profound questions about America's news media.
"Narrated by Susan Sarandon. 1996 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature, Tell the Truth and Run is the dramatic story of muckraking journalist George Seldes and a piercing examination of American journalism. Through an examination of Seldes's encounters with Lenin and Mussolini, the tobacco industry, J. Edgar Hoover and the "lords of the press," Tell the Truth & Run provides a fresh perspective on Twentieth-Century history while raising profound ethical, professional and political questions about journalism in America. Seldes, interviewed at a lucid 98, is engaging, witty and still impassioned about his ideas and ideals. Ralph Nader, Victor Navasky, Ben Bagdikian, Daniel Ellsberg, Nat Hentoff and Jeff Cohen, among others, provide incisive commentary." 1996. 111 Video/C 5984
- Seldes, George. Tell the Truth and Run.New York, Greenberg [1953] (Main Stack PN4874.S425.A3)
- [Selous, Frederick]Dreaming of Africa: the Life of Frederick Selous
- Looks at the life of Africa's premier professional big game hunter and explorer, Frederick Selous. Arriving in Africa as a teenager he began to keep a diary of his exploits as he learned to hunt beginning by hunting elephants in Matabeleland. From these experiences he developed a series of books whose popularity made him a celebrated author. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 25 min. DVD X234
- [Serling, Rod]Rod Serling, Submitted for your Approval
- Documents the life and work of Rod Serling, focusing primarily on his creation of the popular television series The twilight zone. Features interviews with friends and colleagues such as John Frankenheimer, Jack Klugman, Kim Hunter an Buck Houghton.Originally produced as a segment of the television program American masters in 1995. 86 min. DVD 2567
- [Sevareid, Eric] Eric Sevareid's "Not So Wild a Dream": A Personal Memoir(The American Experience)
- Covers the autobiographical experiences of Eric Sevareid from his days on the North Dakota prairie to the college peace movement days of the 1930s to his days as a journalist in Europe in the 1940s. c1988. 58 min. Video/C 1529
- [Shahn, Ben]Ben Shahn: Passion for Justice /
- This program presents the biography of an artist who fused political awareness with modernism. Rare television and radio interviews recorded before Shahn's death in 1969 complement a retrospective of his paintings, sketches, and photographs. Also featured are interviews with Shahn's biographer, Howard Greenfeld; his widow, Bernarda Bryson Shahn; his daughter, Judith Shahn and others. Dist.: Films Media Group. 2002. 57 min. DVD 6076
- [Shakur, Tupac] Tupac Shakur/Thug Angel the Life of an Outlaw
- This documentary explores Tupac, the soldier, whose career was deeply formed by his Black Panther heritage, the artist and entertainer who is, perhaps, the most prolific writer in the hip-hop music industry. Killed before he was able to realize his true and full potential he has become the first Black mythical icon. Director, Peter Spirer. c2002. 92 min. DVD 1240
- Biggie & Tupac DVD 1697
- [Shakur, Tupac] Thug Immortal: Tupac Shakur
- Through home-video footage and interviews with those who knew him, this film details the life and untimely death of Tupac Shakur, one of America's best known and most controversial Rap stars. c1997. 90 min. Video/C 6872
- Biggie & Tupac DVD 1697
- [Shakur, Tupac]Tupac Resurrection
- A look at the life and career of infamous rapper Tupac Shakur, told entirely in his own words. Home movies, photographs, and recited poetry illustrate his life as one of the most beloved, revolutionary, and volatile hip-hop MCs of all time. Special features: Optional audio commentary by Afeni Shakur (Tupac's mother), Lazin & surprise guests; 4 deleted scenes; 2 additional interviews with Tupac; 1992 Malcolm X Dinner speech by Tupac; 1995 deposition by Tupac (taken after the family of a slain Texas state trooper sued Tupac, claiming his music "incited police shootings"); "About the soundtrack" featurette (Eminem & 50 Cent discuss 3 of their favorite tracks by Tupac); 2 music videos by Tupac ("Trapped" & "Brenda's Got a Baby"); "Remembering Tupac" featurette; interview with Mutulu Shakur (Tupac's stepfather); featurette about the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts; theatrical trailer; TV spot. Director, Lauren Lazin. 2003. 113 min. DVD 9662
- [Shimoda, Yuki] Yuki Shimoda : Asian American Actor.
- Documents the career of Yuki Shimoda through interviews and archival footage. Examines the role of Asian American actors in the U.S. film industry. 30 min. Video/C 1966
- [Sirk, Douglas] Profile of Douglas Sirk
- Supplementary material contained on the DVD for All That Heaven Allows. An hour of excerpts from "Behind the mirror: a profile of Douglas Sirk," a 1979 BBC documentary; "Imitation of life: on the films of Douglas Sirk," an illustrated essay by filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder. DVD 1344
- [Sjostrom, Victor] Victor Sjostrom.
- Documentary about the life and career of Swedish actor and director Victor Sjostrom. He entered the film world in 1912 and by 1923, when he came to America, was hailed as the greatest director in the world. In the states he directed Chaney, Gish and Garbo, but with the advent of talking pictures, returned to Sweden spending the rest of his life as an actor and later as artistic director of Svensk Filmindustri. Includes commentary by Ingmar Bergman, Sjostrom's most famous pupil. 1981. 65 min. Video/C MM23
- [Skutch, Alexander] A Naturalist in the Rainforest.
- Tells the story of Alexander Skutch and reveals the splendors of tropical nature that have captivated him for over half a century. One of the great naturalists of our time, Skutch travelled around Central America for years uncovering the secrets of tropical birdlife. His later efforts to live and farm in harmony with the rainforest in Costa Rica, make Skutch's remarkable story especially relevant today. 54 min. Video/C 4114
- [Smith, Bessie] Wild Women Don't Have the Blues.
- The story of Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, and other pioneering women blues singers. This film recreates the stories of these women who left an indelible mark on the music world. 58 min. Video/C 2320
- [Smith, Lillian Eugenia] Miss Smith of Georgia
- Portrait of the Georgia author and civil rights activist Lillian Eugenia Smith who was the first prominent white southerner to denounce racial segregation openly and to work actively against it. This program includes extensive interviews with the author as well as brief appearances by author Carson McCullers and actress Ruby Dee.
Originally broadcast as a television program in 1962? 30 min. DVD 4363
- [Smith, W. Eugene] W. Eugene Smith: Photography made Difficult
- A profile of the legendary photojournalist W. Eugene Smith, whose desire to create photographs that were lasting works of art was matched only by his passion for social justice. This film showcases over 600 of Smith's photos and includes a reenactment of his life, archival footage and interviews with Smith's family, friends and colleagues. Originally broadcast as a segment of: American Masters. c1989. 87 min. Video/C 7430
- [Sokolow,Anna ] Anna Sokolow: Choreographer
- Contents: Rooms -- Excerpts from Bullfight -- Excerpt from Odes. Examines the life and career of dancer and choreographer, Anna Sololow, traced through historical photos and film clips. She speaks about her life and is shown in a studio training a dancer for "Rooms," her study of urban alienation. She is quick, combative and alert and the viewer is left with the impression of a passionate personality who has spent her life sharing her social commitment with audiences through dance. 1980. 20 min. Video/C 6676
- [Stalin, Joseph] Hitler and Stalin: Twin Tyrants
- This psychological dual biography exposes the chilling parallel and the glaring differences of these two powerful and bloodthirsty dictators. Features exceptional footage from film archives in Russia, Germany, East Europe, Great Britain and the USA including rare footage of Stalin's mother and of his funeral. 1999. 59 min. DVD 5028
- [Stalin, Joseph] Hitler and Stalin: Twin Tyrants
- This psychological dual biography exposes the chilling parallel and the glaring differences of these two powerful and bloodthirsty dictators. Features exceptional footage from film archives in Russia, Germany, East Europe, Great Britain and the USA including rare footage of Stalin's mother and of his funeral. 1999. 59 min. DVD 5028
- [Stalin, Joseph] I Served in Stalin's Guard: Or an Experiment in Documentary Mythology.
- This interview with the last surviving personal bodyguard of Stalin's, intercut with rare documentary footage, gives some insight into Stalin's personality. 73 min. Video/C 3598
- [Stalin, Joseph] Stalin.
- Part 1 covers Stalin's early years and rise to power ; part 2 the 30's and World War II ; part 3 the end of the war, the postwar years, and the tyrannical legacy he left to the Soviet people. 180 min. Video/C 1983
- [Stanislavsky, Konstantin]The Stanislavsky Century.
- The life and work of the Russian theatrical innovator, Stanislavsky, are shown in film footage from his early years in Russia, his tours of France, and his years inthe United States. Uses documentary footage, photographs and dramatizations to show his memorableroles, his search for reality in character portrayal, and his staging of plays by Chekov, Ostrovski, Ibsen,Maeterlinck, Gorki, Turgenev, Gogol, Moliere, Shakespeare and others. Describes his creation of the acting system now known as "method acting" and his founding of the Moscow Art Theatre. 3 videocassettes (3 hrs.) Video/C 4810
- [Stanton, Elizabeth Cady] 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
- [Steichen, Edward] Edward J. Steichen
- Recounts the life of the photographer Edward Steichen, the creator of the Family of Man exhibition, and his accomplishments as a leading portrait photographer and as a cultural force in presenting Picasso in his New York Gallery and reinventing modern fashion and war photography. 1995. 55 min. Video/C 8763
- [Steichen, Edward] This is Edward Steichen (Masters of Photograpy)
- A biographical sketch of the octogenarian photographer, humanist, and scientist, Edward Steichen, who discusses his personal philosophy and reminisces about celebrated friends and photographic subjects. c1989. 30 min. Video/C 5960
- [Stein, Gertrude] Gertrude Stein and a Companion!
- Portrait of the 40 year relationship between Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas and the many major talents these two women knew and nurtured. Based entirely upon historical materials, the program interweaves Stein's verse with Toklas' recollections. 87 min. Video/C 2412
- [Stein, Gertrude] Waiting for the Moon.
- An engrossing exploration of the complex relationship between writer and poet Gertrude Stein and her lifelong companion Alice B. Toklas. The two are seen in the mid-1930s as central figures in the expatriate community of Americans who lived in Paris or the French countryside, many of whom eventually became influential artists and writers. With Linda Hunt, Linda Bassett. 1986. 88 min.
- [Stieglitz, Alfred ] Alfred Stieglitz: the Eloquent Eye.
- Examines the achievements and legacy of one of the most innovative photographers of the 20th century, Alfred Stieglitz who challenged and revolutionized attitudes towards modern art in America. Includes a rare interview with Georgia O'Keeffe, his wife and muse as well as archival footage of other artistic giants he inspired, including Edward Steichen and John Marin. Includes countless images from the Stieglitz archives, ranging from early European peasant life to later views of New York's urban landscape. c2001. 90 min. DVD 2539; also VHS Video/C 8172
- [Stieglitz, Alfred ] Alfred Stieglitz, Photographer.
- With striking portraits of Stieglitz, his own images, and the works of other photographers he influenced, this film celebrates the achievements of this seminal figure in modern art and photography in America. Content is drawn from Stieglitz' own observations and reminiscences of people who know him well, including Ansel Adams, Mary Steichen Calderone, Harold Clurman, Aaron Copland, Arnold Newman and Isamu Noguchi. 1998? 30 min. Video/C 5882
- [Stone, Oliver] Oliver Stone, Inside Out.
- Intersperses interviews, still photos and home movies of Stone's earlier years and scenes from his major motion pictures to show how Stone's fascination and personal involvement in the major events of the 1960s (including combat experience in Vietnam, experimentation with drugs, rock music, and political activism) provided the passion and material for his films. 1992. 72 min. Video/C 8021
- [Strand, Paul] Strand: Under the Dark Cloth
- A documentary portrait of the photographer Paul Strand who defined the style that came to be called modern. Strand established himself in New York in the 1920's as a master of light and structure, inspired by the forms and movement of European modernist painters. Contains generous amounts of Strand's most famous photographs, clips from his films, and interviews with friends and collaborators. 1989. 81 min. DVD 2840; also VHS Video/C 7225
- [Stratemeyer, Edward]The Mystery of Edward Stratemeyer
- Looks at the life and writings of Edward Stratemeyer, American publisher and prolific writer of children's books including the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Bobsey Twins, Rover Boys and Tom Swift series among others. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors and academics. Supplementary feature included on Adventures of young Indiana Jones ; Volume one) c2007. 26 min. DVD X233
- [Strummer, Joe] The Future is Unwritten
- Documentary follows the life of musician and political activist Joe Strummer before, during, and after the Clash. Features interviews with musicians, celebrities, and those whose lives were changed forever by one man's music. Director, Julien Temple. 2007. 124 min. DVD 9917
- [Sturges, Preston] Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer
- Looks at the meteoric rise and fall of Preston Sturges in his short career as writer, film producer and director. His films are characterised by a blend of satirical humour and human pathos, with stylish, literate and ironic dialogue. 1989. 73 min. Video/C MM230
- [Sugihara, Chiune] Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness
- This documentary tells the story of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, consul to Lithuania during World War II. Sugihara defied Tokyo authorities and wrote transit visas that allowed hundreds of Jewish families to flee Europe through Russia to Japan and other countries. Includes home movies, photographs, film footage, and interviews with Holocaust survivors who owe their lives to Chiune Sugihara. 2005. 85 min. DVD 4152
- [Sugimoto, Henry] Harsh Canvas: The Art and Life of Henry Sugimoto
- From Japan to California, on to Paris, then to concentration camps in Arkansas during WWII that transformed his art forever, and finally to New York, Henry Sugimoto pursued what he called "the path of an artist." Features Sugimoto's paintings and sketches, rare archival footage, and film of the artist just before his death. 2001. 30 min. Video/C MM370
- [Süleyman I, Sultan of the TurksSüleyman the Magnificent.
- Describes the Ottoman sultan known as the second Solomon, Suleyman the Magnificent. Tells how he ruled half the civilized world in the sixteenth century from the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul and how his empire flourished and witnessed a golden age under his enlightened guidance. Shot on location in Turkey, this film explores the breathtaking palaces and mosques of the Ottoman Empire as it focuses on the life and personality of Sultan Suleyman. Narrator: Ian McKellen. 57 min. 1987. DVD X2095 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C 4649
- [Swanson, Gloria] Hollywood. 6: Swanson & Valentino.
- Contents: "Includes rare footage and excerpts from": Sadie Thompson (1928) -- Queen Kelly (1928) -- The Sheik (1921) -- The Eagle (1925) -- Pullman bride (1917) -- Male and female (1919) -- Zaza (1923) -- Manhandled (1924) -- Stage struck (1925) -- Loves of Sunya (1927) -- Sunset Boulevard (1950) -- Four horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) -- Blood and sand (1922) -- Monsieur Beaucaire (1924) -- Son of the shiek (1926)
Two great stars personified Hollywood: Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino. She sacrificed everything for stardom. He did nothing to seek the adoration which ultimately engulfed him. Swanson recalls her meteoric rise--and fall--with remarkable candor. Valentino's brother, Alberto, helps tell the story of the young Italian who became the silver screen's Great Lover--but whose private life failed to match his public image. Video/C 6159
- [Tarkovsky, Andrei] One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich
- Widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century, this is a homage to post-War Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky by his friend and colleague renowned French filmmaker Chris Marker. Marker draws parallels between Tarkovsky's life and films, offering an original insight into the usually reclusive director. Incorporating extensive film clips, journal entries, personal musings, and behind-the-scenes footage of Tarkovsky obsessively commanding his entire crew and of candid moments with his friends and family, this is a personal and loving portrait of the monumental filmmaker. 1999. 55 min. Video/C 7646
- Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. Video/C 7170
- [Taylor, Koko] Koko Taylor: Queen of the Blues.
- Presents an unvarnished visual biography of the performer. 55 min. Video/C 3127
- [Taylor, Paul] Paul Taylor, Dancemaker
- A breathtaking journey into the world of preeminent choreographer Paul Taylor, and his extraordinarycreations. The film chronicles the evolution of thefiery, tango-derived Piazzolla Caldera from its firsttentative steps through its New York City premiere.Filled with archival footage from Taylor's early yearsas a featured dancer for the Martha Graham DanceCompany and inspired performances from his toupe, thisis a unique exploration of the mysteries of creativelife, the obsession of dancers and the mind of agenius. Special features: Inspirations and interpretationsbehind Paul Taylor's dances ; select biographies ofPaul Taylor and dancers ; complete Paul Taylor dancerepertory. 1998. 98 min. DVD 498
- [Thalberg, Irving] Irving Thalberg: Hollywood's Boy Wonder
- A biography of American film producer Irving Thalberg during the early years of motion pictures. He was called "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and his extraordinary ability to select the right scripts, choose the right actors, gather the best production staff, and make very profitable films. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors and film critics. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 32 min. DVD X235
- [Thomas, Lowell] Lowell Thomas: American Storyteller /
- A biography of American newscaster, author and adventurer Lowell Thomas. As a war correspondent during WWI Thomas, using a hand cranked camera, followed the exploits of Lawrence of Arabia, making him famous throughout the world. He subsequently toured around the world many times bringing his adventures in exotic places to enthralled audiences. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2008. 30 min. DVD X235
- [Thompson, Hunter S.] Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride
- The story of the life and death of author Hunter S. Thompson, an American master whose gonzo reportage defined an era, while his depraved appetites forged a legend. Features interviews with Thompson, his childhood friends, his wife and those who worked with him. Includes footage from the biographical films "Where the Buffalo Roam" and "ear and Lothing in Las Vegas." Directed by Tom Thurman.2007. 77 min. DVD 8631
- [Thompson, Hunter S.] Gonzo, The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
- Traces the uncanny life of Dr. Hunter S. Thompsons, inventor of gonzo journalism and author of the landmark "Fear and loathing in Las Vegas." Follows his life from his travels with the Hell's Angels, through his various drug ingested episodes in politics and attempts to right the wrongs of society. Special features: Audio commentary with director Alex Gibney; Hunter stories; deleted interviews from Jimmy Carter, Jann Wenner, Gary Hart, Pat Buchanan and more; A fond farewell: audio recordings of Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, Bill Murray; A final farewell: additional images from Hunter's funeral; Hunter S. Thompson photo gallery; Hunter S. Thompson tribute photo gallery; additional home movies and audio recordings; Ralph Steadman gallery; gun commercial; The arsenal: an inventory of Hunter's fire arms; manuscripts; memorabilia. 2008. 120 min. DVD X595
- [Till, Emmett] The Murder of Emmett Till
- The shameful, sadistic murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a black boy who whistled at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955, was a powerful catalyst for the civil rights movement. Although Till's killers were apprehended, they were quickly acquitted by an all-white, all-male jury and proceeded to sell their story to a journalist, providing grisly details of the murder. Three months after Till's body was recovered, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. Produced and directed by Stanley Nelson. Dist.: PBS. 2003. 60 min. DVD 9526; vhs Video/C 9440
ALA Video Round Table Notable Video for Adults
- [Till, Emmett] The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till
- This film that helped reopen one of history's most notorious cold case civil rights murders, is the result of the director's 10-year journey to uncover the truth. In August, 1955, Mamie Till-Mobley of Chicago sent her only child, Emmett Louis Till, to visit relatives in the Mississippi Delta. Little did she know that only 8 days later, Emmett would be abducted from his Great-Uncle's home, brutally beaten and murdered for one of the oldest Southern taboos : whistling at a white woman in public. It was Beauchamp's nine years of investigation, summarized in the film, that was primarily responsible for the reopening of the case by the Justice Department. 2005. 70 min. DVD 5182
- [Tolstoy, Leo] Seeking Truth: The Life of Leo Tolstoy
- A biography of Leon Tolstoy, the Russian writer widely regarded as one of the greatest of all novelists. His masterpieces War and Peace and Anna Karenina stand, in their scope, breadth and vivid depiction of 19th-century Russian life, at the very peak of realist fiction. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors and academics. Produced and written by Sharon Wood. Supplementary feature accompanying: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 30 min. DVD X233
- [Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri] Toulouse-Lautrec (Portrait of an Artist)
- This program follows the colorful life and ground breaking work of the French painter Toulouse-Lautrec. A great artist and devotee of Parisian night life, he painted his haunts with a sharp eye that saw beneath the gay surface to the corrupt underneath. In his superb lithographic posters he produced for these clubs, Lautrec pioneered a style that shaped the future of graphic art. c1988. 60 min. Video/C 7434
- [Trotsky, Leon]Asaltar los cielos
- Depicts one of the most controversial historical events of the 20th century: The assassination of Leon Trotsky, a communist who was instrumental in founding the Red Army and the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party. His assassin, Ramon Mercader, one of Lenin's most loyal followers remained a mystery his entire life. Directed by Javier Rioyo, Jose-Luis Lopez Linares. 1996.
96 min. DVD X153
- [Truffaut, Francois] Francois Truffaut: Portraits Voles
- Delivers deep insight into the celebrated French director through accounts by friends, colleagues, actors and actresses, filmmakers and relatives commenting on the man and his work. Featured are extracts from his films, rare and unpublished photos, and archive material that will present a new look at an extraordinary man. 1993. 93 min. Video/C 8114
- François] François Truffaut. Video/C 4612
- [Truman, Harry S.] Truman (American Experience)
- Presents a biography of America's most unlikely and least prepared president, Harry S. Truman. Follows his rise from a farmer to the man who made the decision to drop the atomic bomb. Includes commentary by historians, excerpts from news clips, photographs, and other documentary material that illustrates Truman's life and career. 270 min. Video/C 8521
- [Truman, Harry S.] Truman, A Self Portrait
- 1984. 23 min. Video/C 725 (Stored at: NRLF: # B 3 969 288)
- [Tudjman, Franjou] Tudjman: His Life, His Quest, His Beloved Croatia
- Modern Croatia's first president, Franjou Tudjman is the subject of this biography. In a poignant interview he discusses his notable achievements, like the Dayton Peace Accord, while also elucidating, with candor, some of the more personal challenges in his life in Croatia during a time filled with oppression, rebellion and genocide. In Serbo-Croatian with English subtitles. 1997. 45 min. Video/C 7001
- [Turner, Daisy] On My Own: The Traditions of Daisy Turner.
- Presents the life of a daughter of a former slave, 102-year-old Daisy Turner. She recalls childhood incidents and her father's Civil War experiences and talks about life in her homestead in Vermont. Folklorist Jane Beck fills in details about traditions preserved in the Turner family. 28 min. Video/C 2163
- [Twain, Mark] Mark Twain
- Recounts the story of the extraordinary life of the author and humorist Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) -- full of rollicking adventure, stupendous success and also crushing defeat. One of America's best-loved authors, he was an unflinching critic of human nature who used his humor to attack hypocrisy, greed and racism. Told primarily through his own words, with interviews with authors and historians who evaluate his impact on the development of American literature. A film by Ken Burns. c2001. 220 min. DVD 1001
- [Ulmer, Edgar G.] Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-screen
- A fascinating homage to the filmmaking genius behind The Black Cat, Detour, and The Man from Planet X. Featuring testimonials from colleagues and stars, this documentary paints a vividly impressionistic portait of a no-budget auteur stylistically able to 'take a rat and make Thanksgiving dinner out of it.' From Berlin's legendary UFA Studios to Hollywood, Ulmer created a unique and heady blend of old world culture and twentieth century pulp pizzazz. 2004. 77 min. min. DVD 6455
- [Valentino, Rudolph] Hollywood. 6: Swanson & Valentino.
- Contents: "Includes rare footage and excerpts from": Sadie Thompson (1928) -- Queen Kelly (1928) -- The Sheik (1921) -- The Eagle (1925) -- Pullman bride (1917) -- Male and female (1919) -- Zaza (1923) -- Manhandled (1924) -- Stage struck (1925) -- Loves of Sunya (1927) -- Sunset Boulevard (1950) -- Four horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) -- Blood and sand (1922) -- Monsieur Beaucaire (1924) -- Son of the shiek (1926)
Two great stars personified Hollywood: Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino. She sacrificed everything for stardom. He did nothing to seek the adoration which ultimately engulfed him. Swanson recalls her meteoric rise--and fall--with remarkable candor. Valentino's brother, Alberto, helps tell the story of the young Italian who became the silver screen's Great Lover--but whose private life failed to match his public image. Video/C 6159
- [Van Gogh, Vincent] In a Brilliant Light: Van Gogh in Arles. (Portrait of an Artist)
- A biographical film on Vincent van Gogh and his prolific production of 200 paintings and 100 drawings during the short period of 10 years when he was an artist, focusing on his life in Arles, France. 1984. 57 min. Video/C 1110
- [Vanzetti, Bartolomeo] Sacco and Vanzetti
- Examines the case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti through archival film, music, poetry and excerpts from the 1971 feature film. Also includes interviews with historians, artists and activists as well as readings from the prison diaries of the two defendants. The many personalities involved in these historic events including the judge, the attorneys, the Italian anarchist movement and the Communist Party are examined within the period's political context, especiallly the notorious "Red scare," of the 1920's which led to the arrest and deportation of thousands of immigrants. c2006. 81 min. DVD 6486
- [Von Neumann, John ] John Von Neumann: A Documentary
- Uses rare photographs and films to present a biography of the mathematician John Von Neumann. Includes personal recollections of friends and colleagues as well as detailed descriptions and discussions of his contributions in various fields of science. 1966. 60 min. Video/C 2857
- [von Stroheim, Erich] Erich von Stroheim: "Lone Genius"
- Admired as an outstanding actor, Erich von Stroheim is also notorious for his brief and stormy career as a director. This program presents the life of "the Hollywood scapegoat," a true nonconformist. Includes clips of films in which he acted ranging from "The Birth of a Nation" and "The Heart of Humanity" to "The Grand Illusion" and "Sunset Boulevard." 27 min. 1997 DVD 6085
- [von Stroheim, Erich] Erich von Stroheim: The Profligate Genius
- A biography of actor, screenwriter and director Erich von Stroheim, considered one of the greatest directors of the silent era, representing on film by turns cynical and romantic views of human nature. As a director, Stroheim was known to be dictatorial and demanding, as an actor he played villainous German roles during the Great War, becoming known as "The Man You Love to Hate." Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and film critics. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 32 min. DVD X235
- [Wagner, Richard] Winifred Wagner und die Geschichte des Hauses Wahnfried 1914-1975A documentary in six episodes on Richard Wagner's mansion Wahnfried near Bayreuth. Based on interviews with the composer's daughter-in-law Winifred Wagner, who takes the viewer through the life and times of Wagner, his family and relatives. Some of the aspects that the documentary deals with are Wagner's antisemitism and relationship with Hitler, the Bayreuther Festspiele, Nietzsche's friendship with Wagner, etc. A film by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg. In German or partially dubbed English with English subtitles. 1975. 300 min. DVD X327
- [Walker, Alice] Visions of the Spirit: A Portrait of Alice Walker.
- This documentary chronicles the life and work of Pulitzer prize winning author, Alice Walker. Video/C 1488
- Alice Walker: A Portrait in the First Person. Video/C 1407
Alice Walker: A Conversation with Alice Walker. Video/C 2544
- [Wallace, George] George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire.
- Four times governor of Alabama, four times a candidate for president, George Wallace was a fierce defender of Southern pride. This film through extensive archive footage and interviews presents the life of a man central to the civil rights years in the South, a lightening rod for controversy, a liberal judge who betrayed his principles for power, a politician who harnessed the anger lurking beneath American society to create a lasting conservative movement and a man ultimately reborn through suffering. 2000. 269 min. Video/C 7056
- Kennedy v. Wallace: A Crisis Up Close. Video/C 2876
- [Warhol, Andy] Andy Warhol (Portrait of an Artist)
- This first major profile of Andy Warhol's life and work since his death in February 1987 examines a career that spanned painting, film, publishing, rock music and television. Warhol is seen performing for the media in interviews ranging over years, as well as in previously unseen footage shot in London shortly before his death. 60 min. Video/C 3255
- [Warhol, Andy] Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film
- Andy Warhol and his entourage redefined painting, sculpture, film, music and celebrity at his Factory workspace-playroom. Through on-camera interviews and still and motion picture footage this extensive documentary expores the entire length of Andy Warhol's career in art from the 1940's until his death in 1987. Directed by Ric Burns. Dist.: PBS. 2006. 240 min. DVD 6510
- Ebony, David. "From "Raggedy Andy" to "Drella"--Warhol for TV.(FRONT PAGE)(Television program review)." Art in America 94.10 (Nov 2006): 41(2). UC users only
Williams, Gilda. "Andy Warhol." Art Monthly no. 302 (December 2006/January 2007) p. 47UC users only
- [Warhol, Andy] Superstar
- This stylish and definitive documentary about painter Andy Warhol traces his life from Pittsburgh schoolboy to pop art legend, from advertising illustrator to chronicler of the haut monde of New York City. The film includes behind-the-scenes looks at "Factory" life and several enigmatic interviews given by Warhol over the years, a dazzling array of images from his art and films and commentary by contemporaries and friends. 2000. 87 min. Video/C 7633
- [Warhol, Andy] Absolut Warhola
- This documentary explores Andy Warhol's Eastern European roots by travelling to Mikova, Slovakia, where his parents grew up, and interviewing members of his extended family: two cousins, two aunts, and a great-niece. Also interviewed are a Ruthenian Andy Warhol impersonator, and Dr. Michal Bycko, curator of the Andy Warhol museum in Medzilaborce, Slovakia, who discusses the museum's mission and shows some of its rarer pieces. c2001. 80 min. DVD 2348
- [Warren, Earl] Super Chief: The Life and Legacy of Earl Warren.
- Describes the life of Earl Warren, one of the most controversial Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, and the way the Warren Court changed American society due to landmark civil rights legislation. 88 min. Video/C 1772
- [Washington, Booker T.] Booker T. Washington.
- The life of Booker T. Washington, the most influential Black educational and political leader of the late 19th and early 20th Century. Talks about his stewardship of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. 30 min. Video/C 565
- [Wasserman, Lew] The Last Mogul: The Life and Times of Lew Wasserman.
- A biography of the Hollywood power broker who spent over 60 years at MCA and as head of Universal Studios. Wasserman rewrote the behind the scenes Hollywood rulebook as out of the ashes of the studio system, his MCA became the first-ever entertainment conglomerate, gobbling up artists and contracts and pioneering the modern blockbuster. Featuring frank interviews with his contemporaries, the film reveals show business's ultimate kingmaker through the voices of those who knew him and feared him the most. A film by Barry Avrich. 2006. 103 min. DVD 6024
- [Weidman, Charles]Charles Weidman, On His Own.
- Traces the career of modern dance pioneer Charles Weidman from his roots in Lincoln Nebraska to his beginnings with Denishawn, his association with Doris Humphrey, and the Weidman Theatre Dance Company. Includes: Lynchtown -- Men's Dance, from New Dance -- On my mother's side -- Flickers -- Brahm's waltzes -- Christmas oratorio. 1990. 60 min. Video/C 2021
- [Welles, Orson] Orson Welles
- Citizen Welles, Pt. 1 (27 min.) -- Citizen Welles, Pt. 2 (28 min.). A two part indepth examination of the radio, stage and film career of Orson Welles. Part 1 includes the famous radio broadcast of War of the Worlds and the events surrounding the release of the motion picture, Citizen Cane. Part 2 continues the review of the cinematic triumphs of Orson Welles. Produced in 1967 for broadcast on the television program Camera Three. 55 min. total Video/C 4606
- The Magnificent Welles. DVD 1601
The Battle Over Citizen Kane.DVD 555; also as a second disc with DVD 852 (Citizen Kane; VHS Video/C 4210
Working with Orson Welles. DVD 515; Video/C 4601
- [Welles, Orson] The Magnificent Welles
- Citizen Kane rocketed Orson Welles into Hollywood stardom and only in his mid-20s, he was given complete artistic control over his next film, The Magnificent Ambersons, but the film ruined Welles, who waged and lost a power struggle with the studio. This presentation, shot before a live audience, features an impersonation of Welles that investigates the making of The Magnificent Ambersons, as alone in a hotel room Welles gradually realizes his masterpiece is slipping away. From the stageplay "Lost Eden: an evening with Orson Welles," produced by Straight-Edge Theatrics in 2001 ; directed by David-Edward Hughes. "Shot on digital video before a live audience on location at The Odd Duck Studio Seattle, WA. 2002. 93 min. DVD 1601
- [Wellman, William] Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick
- This film explores the life and times of the prolific American filmmaker, William A. "Wild Bill" Wellman, as well as examining the social fabric of an emerging popular culture that he was helping to construct. A fighter pilot seriously wounded in WWI, he was not easily cowed by the brutality of the Hollywood studio system, and fought his way to carve out 76 films in a career spanning 35 years. 1997. 93 min. DVD X1427; vhs Video/C MM227
- [Wells, Ida B.] Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice.
- Chronicles the life of Ida B. Wells, an early black activist who protested lynchings, unfair treatment of black soldiers, and other examples of racism and injustice toward black Americans around the turn of the century. 1989. 58 min. DVD 3045; also VHS Video/C 1539
- [West, Dorothy] As I Remember It: A Portrait of Dorothy West.
- This portrait of author West provides a fascinating glimpse into the African American middle class in the 20's and the New Negro Movement. Explores the forgotten role of women in the Harlem Renaissance. 56 min. Video/C 3373
- [Weston, Edward] Remembering Edward Weston
- Presents a profile of the life and work of the famed American photographer Edward Weston. His close friends and family talk about his early years in California, the critical trip to Mexico, the significant time spent in New Mexico, his spartan way of living, his first exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art and the project prints completed late in his life. Originally produced: Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of New Mexico, c1992. 30 min. Video/C 8707
- [Wharton, Edith] The Secret Life of Edith Wharton
- A biography of American author Edith Wharton, best-known for her stories and ironic novels about upper class people. Wharton's central themes were the conflict between social and individual fulfillment, repressed sexuality, and the manners of old families and the 'nouveau riche.' Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and historians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 30 min. DVD X235
- [Wigman, Mary] Mary Wigman: Mein Leben ist Tanz.
- Details important stages in the work of modern dance pioneer Mary Wigman. Archival film footage shows Mary Wigman as she discusses her life and work; as she performs some of the dances she created; and as she directs other dancers in the performance of her work. Narration taken from her writings summarizes her theories of dance and the art of choreography. In German with English voiceovers. 199-?. 29 min. Video/C 5167
- When the Fires Dance Between Two Poles: Mary Wigman, 1886-1973. Video/C 2020
- [Wilder, Billy] Portrait of a 60% Perfect Man
- Billy Wilder's acerbic wit and indomitable talent shine through in this documentary. Michel Ciment, the French critic, interviews Wilder about his life and movie-making, and Tresgot also brings in discussions with Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon and I.A.L. Diamond. Few directors have been as consistently successful as Wilder who made movies as varied as Ninotchka in 1939, Witness for the Prosecution in 1957, and Casino Royale in 1963. At the time of this interview the director was 74 years old, and emphasizes the fact that his life is not just about movies. Born in Austria, he came to the U.S. to escape Nazi persecution and eventually, to find his own expression in the growing film industry. 1980. 60 min. DVD 8311
- [Williams, Danny] A Walk into the Sea
- Esther Robinson's portrait of her uncle Danny Williams -- Warhol's onetime lover, collaborator and filmmaker in his own right -- offers a exploration of the Factory era, an homage to Williams's talent, a journey of family discovery and a compelling inquiry into Williams's mysterious disappearance at age 27. Includes astonishing footage from Williams' recently discovered films. 2007. 92 min. DVD X843
- [Wilson, Woodrow] Woodrow Wilson: American Idealist
- A biography of President Woodrow Wilson with emphasis on his political ideals and philosophy. Wilson held out to the American people a vision of what domestic democracy could be and then what American democracy could mean to the world. He brought these ideals to the Paris Peace Conference after WWI. Only after his death were his ideas realized in the creation of the United Nations. Features archival film footage with commentary by authors, academics and politicians. Supplementary short issued with: The Adventures of young Indiana Jones. 2007. 29 min. DVD X235
- [Wood, Beatrice] Beatrice Wood: Mama of Dada
- This documentary on the life of potter Beatrice Wood provides a glimpse into her life, loves and influences. Included are rare archival photographs, original artwork, and insightful commentary by art historians and interviews with Beatrice herself. 1993. 55 min. Video/C 8471
- [Wright, Frank Lloyd] Frank Lloyd Wright.
- A film by Ken Burns, 1998. A two part documentary portrait of the life and work of architecture giant, Frank Lloyd Wright, a brilliant, arrogant figure unbowed by scandal and personal tragedy.
Part 1 reviews his early personal life, the beginning of his career and visits Wright's early architectural creations in the terraced "prairie houses" built in suburban Chicago in the early 1900s, the Larkin Building in New York, the Unity Temple in Oak Park, Ill., Taliesin East in Wisconsin and the Imperial Hotel in Japan. 77 min. DVD 8826; Video/C 5728
Part 2 continues to review his turbulent personal life, the advance of his career and examines Wright's architectural creations: Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, Taliesin West in Arizona and the controversial design of the Guggenheim Museum. 1998. 76 min. DVD 8826; Video/C 5729
- [Wright, Frank Lloyd] Frank Lloyd Wright: Prophet Without Honor.
- A look at one of the country's most famous architects. Through interviews, his controversial life and why he was never officially recognized in his home state of Wisconsin, are discussed. His house, Taliesin East, is the location for the discussion. 1975. 29 min. DVD 7159 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C 25
- [Wright, Olgivanna] A Partner to Genius: Olgivanna Lloyd Wright.
- Examines the life of the charismatic Olgivanna Lloyd Wright, wife of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Includes interviews with present and past members of the Taliesin Fellowship, daughter Iovanna and grandaughter Eve, family films, and archival footage of both Taliesin and Taliesin West. 1997. 58 min. Video/C 7844
- [Wright, Richard] Richard Wright: Black Boy.
- Biographical sketch of the Afro-American writer, Richard Wright. Includes a discussion of his literary works and the times in which he lived, weaving together dramatic recreations from Wright's work and recollections of friends and scholars. It follows Wright's journey from a childhood of poverty through the Chicago Black cultural renaissance of the 1930's, the Communist Party during the Depression, the MacCarthy-era, the American expatriate community in 1950's Paris and his final years. 1994. 87 min. DVD 3037; also VHS Video/C 3634
- [Wright, Richard] Richard Wright: Writing is His Weapon
- Discusses the life, work, and ideas of the black American novelist Richard Wright. Born to poor sharecroper parents in the deep South in 1908, this self-taught author, whose novels focus on the harsh life experiences of Afro-Americans refused to let the obstacles of segregation, limited educational facilities and racism discourage him. 1995. 25 min. Video/C 5342
- [Zinn, Howard]You Can't be Neutral on a Moving Train
- Documents the life and times of Howard Zinn, historian, activist and author of the best selling classic "A People's History of the United States," an eye-opening history from the perspective of the disenfranchised. Features archival materials, interviews with Zinn as well as colleagues and friends including Noam Chomsky, Marian Wright Edelman, Daniel Ellsberg, Tom Hayden and Alice Walker. 2004. 78 min. Video/C MM318
- [Wuornos, Aileen] Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer
- Co-producer/director, Nick Broomfield. Tells the true story of the first female serial killer in the U.S., Aileen Wuornos, and the opportunists who used her story. They include the born-again Christian woman who adopted Aileen while she was on trial and then sold Aileen's story, the lawyer who convinced Aileen to plead no contest, and Aileen's lesbian lover who got her to confess. 1992. 87 min. Video/C MM229
- Doherty, Thomas. "Aileen Wuornos: Superstar." Cineaste: America's Leading Magazine on the Art and Politics of the Cinema, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 3-5, Summer 2004.
UC users only
Greenberg, Harvey Roy. "Roadkill.(Critical Essay)." Psychiatric Times (May 1, 2004): 16.
Karno, Valerie. "Between Victim and Offender: Aileen Wuornos and the Representation of Self-Defense." Critical Matrix: The Princeton Journal of Women, Gender, and Culture, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 67-86, 1999.
Richardson, Mark. "Polemical Posturing versus Feigned Naivety in Documentary." Film Journal, vol. 1, no. 9, pp. [no pagination], Summer 2004.
Schilt, Paige. "Media whores and perverse media: documentary film meets tabloid TV in Nick Broomfield's Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer." Velvet Light Trap (Spring 2000): 50(12).
Vary, Adam B. "Killer conclusions: in his second film on serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Nick Broomfield argues that the label "lesbian" was used to dehumanize her.(film)." The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine) (Dec 23, 2003): 62(1).
UC users only
- [Zhelyazkova, Binka] Binka: To Tell a Story About Silence
- A film about Binka Zhelyazkova, (b.1923) the first woman film director in Bulgaria and her extraordinary life in cinema. In the span of 40 years in film, Binka Zhelyazkova, labeled "the bad girl of Bulgarian cinema" endured communism, censorship, stopped films and long periods of silence. Her films reached audiences far beyond Bulgaria at renowned film festivals at Cannes, Moscow, Brussels and Berlin. Much admired abroad she was intensely disliked at home for her bold personality and uncompromising attitudes. Her allegorical and urban dramas examined human rights, artistic freedom and the legitimacy of the political system itself. Intercut with scenes from her films and interviews with former Bulgarian film professionals, this provocative portrait reveals the pressures and complexities that arise when art is made under totalitarianism. Written and directed by Elka Nikolova. 2007. 48 min. DVD 9257
