"American Masters" (1983)TV series

Seasons:

9 | 15 | 18 | 19 | unknown

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Music | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Won 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Lee Grant	...	Herself / ... (5 episodes, 1991-2007)
Peter Bogdanovich	...	Himself / ... (4 episodes, 1998-2007)
Richard Schickel	...	Himself / ... (4 episodes, 1998-2006)
Jack Lemmon	...	Himself (3 episodes, 1989-2000)
Don Hewitt	...	Himself (3 episodes, 1988-2006)
Bobby Short	...	Himself / ... (3 episodes, 1990-1997)
Eli Wallach	...	Himself / ... (3 episodes, 1991-2005)
Quincy Jones	...	Himself / ... (3 episodes, 1991-2006)
Tony Bennett	...	Himself (3 episodes, 1993-2007)
Mike Dann	...	Himself (3 episodes, 1995-2004)
David Thomson	...	Himself (3 episodes, 1998-2006)

(more)

Series Directed by
Susan Steinberg		(3 episodes, 1988-2007)
Catherine Tatge		(3 episodes, 1991-2006)
Michael Epstein		(3 episodes, 1998-2007)
Susan Lacy		(2 episodes, 1995-2004)
Phillip Schopper		(2 episodes, 1996-1999)
Kyra Thompson		(2 episodes, 2005-2007)
Gail Levin		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Samuel D. Pollard		(2 episodes, 2006-2008)

Series Writing credits
Michael Epstein		(3 episodes, 1998-2007)
Thomas Wagner		(2 episodes, 1995-2000)
Susan Lacy		(2 episodes, 2003-2004)
Stephen Stept		(2 episodes, 2004)

Series Produced by
Susan Lacy	....	executive producer / executive producer: American Masters / ... (43 episodes, 1988-2008)
Tamar Hacker	....	senior producer / senior producer: American Masters / ... (9 episodes, 1996-2000)
Julie Sacks	....	supervising producer / consulting producer / ... (7 episodes, 1988-2008)
Karen Bernstein	....	associate producer: American Masters / associate producer / ... (7 episodes, 1996-2000)
Prudence Glass	....	series producer / producer (6 episodes, 1988-2008)
Harlene Freezer	....	coordinating producer / coordinating producer: American Masters / ... (5 episodes, 1988-1991)
Diane Dufault	....	associate producer / associate producer: American Masters (5 episodes, 1989-1991)
Kirk D'Amico	....	producer / executive producer (4 episodes, 1987-1991)
Susan Steinberg	....	producer / co-producer (3 episodes, 1988-2007)
George Feltenstein	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2004-2006)
Brian McDonald	....	associate producer / co-producer (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kenneth Bowser	....	producer (2 episodes, 1989-2006)
Jac Venza	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1989)
Catherine Tatge	....	co-producer / producer (2 episodes, 1991-2006)
Dominique Lasseur	....	co-producer / producer (2 episodes, 1991-1994)
Thomas Wagner	....	co-producer / producer (2 episodes, 1995-2000)
Julian Schlossberg	....	producer (2 episodes, 1996-1999)
Michael Epstein	....	producer (2 episodes, 1998-2007)
Calvin Skaggs	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1999-2007)
Jessica Cohen	....	co-producer (2 episodes, 2003-2006)
Cheryl van Grunsven	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 2004)
Gail Levin	....	producer (2 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Original Music by
Thomas Wagner		(5 episodes, 1988-2006)
Todd Boekelheide		(2 episodes, 2000-2003)
Joel Goodman		(2 episodes, 2003-2007)

Series Cinematography by
Ed Marritz		(4 episodes, 2000-2007)
Terry Hopkins		(3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Michael Chin		(3 episodes, 1998-2008)
Mead Hunt		(2 episodes, 1988-1993)
Dewald Aukema		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Film Editing by
Deborah Peretz		(4 episodes, 1988-2004)
Pamela Scott Arnold		(3 episodes, 1998-2007)
Kate Hirson		(2 episodes, 2000-2004)
Ed Barteski		(2 episodes, 2003-2007)
Kristen Huntley		(2 episodes, 2004-2006)
Claire Scanlon		(2 episodes, 2005-2007)
Pascal Akesson		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Steven Wechsler		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Casting by
Phyllis Huffman		(1 episode, 2001)
Deborah Brown		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Production Design by
David Wasco		(1 episode, 1995)
Mitchell Greenberg		(1 episode, 1996)
Kennon Rothchild		(1 episode, 2007)
Stephen McCabe		(1 episode)

Series Art Direction by
Bernardo F. Munoz		(1 episode, 1995)
Molly Hughes		(1 episode, 2001)
Matthew Anderson		(1 episode, 2007)
Ricardo Andrade		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Set Decoration by
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco		(1 episode, 1995)

Series Costume Design by
Hilary Wright		(1 episode, 1995)
Jenny Fulton		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Makeup Department
Felicity Bowring	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1995)
Karl Wessen	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1995)
C. Romania Ford	....	makeup artist: Lena Horne (1 episode, 1996)
Kathleen Richards	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1997)
J. Roy Helland	....	hair stylist: The Crew Company / makeup artist: The Crew Company (1 episode, 2000)
Charlene Roberson	....	hair stylist: The Crew Company / makeup artist: The Crew Company (1 episode, 2000)
David Lawrence	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 2007)
Jeffrey Paul	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (1 episode, 2007)
Kristen Paynter	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 2007)
Michele Rutter	....	key hair stylist (1 episode, 2007)
Amy Tagliamonte	....	assistant hair stylist / assistant makeup artist (1 episode, 2007)
Brenda Todd	....	hair stylist: Ms. Burnett / makeup artist: Ms. Burnett (1 episode, 2007)
D. Garen Tolkin	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (1 episode, 2007)
Miriam Vukich	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (1 episode, 2007)
Daniel Walker	....	assistant hair stylist / assistant makeup artist (1 episode, 2007)
Sachi Worrall	....	hair stylist: Ms. Burnett / makeup artist: Ms. Burnett (1 episode, 2007)

Series Production Management
Jane Buckwalter	....	production manager / series production manager (3 episodes, 1988-2007)
Peter Wentzel	....	production manager: American Masters / series production manager (2 episodes, 2000)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Leveen	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1995)
Timothy Marx	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1995)
Nicole Amato	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1996)
Michael Kantor	....	director: Julie Andrews interview (1 episode, 2007)
Craig Perry	....	assistant director (1 episode)

Series Art Department
Morgan Sendall	....	graphic artist (1 episode, 1989)
Emily Ferry	....	property master (1 episode, 1995)
Greg Arent	....	carpenter (1 episode, 1997)
Chris Barnabo	....	carpenter (1 episode, 1997)
Bruce Colgate	....	graphic artist (1 episode, 1997)
Geoffrey B. Dean	....	carpenter (1 episode, 1997)
Peter J. Gould	....	graphic artist (1 episode, 1997)
Cynthia Madansky	....	design services: Parlour (1 episode, 2000)
Thomas Robinson	....	props consultant (1 episode, 2006)
Jessica Stiles	....	props consultant (1 episode, 2006)
Andy Warhol	....	artwork (1 episode, 2006)
Eric Epstein	....	computer graphics (1 episode, 2007)
Penny Hardy	....	designer (1 episode, 2007)
Elizabeth McNeil	....	computer graphics (1 episode, 2007)
Brian Santalone	....	art implementation (1 episode, 2007)
Shannon Shelly	....	designer (1 episode, 2007)
John Sicoransa	....	storyboard artist (1 episode, 2007)
Ying Zhou-Hudson	....	production artist (1 episode, 2007)

Series Sound Department
Roger Phenix	....	sound / additional sound (9 episodes, 1989-2006)
Mark Mandler	....	sound recordist / sound mixer / ... (7 episodes, 1996-2007)
Peter Waggoner	....	sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 1988-2003)
John Zecca	....	sound / sound recordist (2 episodes, 1991-1996)
Ken Hahn	....	sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 1999-2006)
Bob Bryan	....	sound (2 episodes, 2000-2006)
Margaret Crimmins	....	sound editor / sound editor: Dog Bark Sound Inc. (2 episodes, 2000-2004)
Greg Smith	....	sound editor / sound editor: Dog Bark Sound Inc. (2 episodes, 2000-2004)
Eddie Campbell	....	sound mixer (2 episodes, 2004-2005)
Bob Bronow	....	re-recording mixer / sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2005-2007)
Louis Block	....	sound / sound recordist (2 episodes, 2007-2008)
Ed Campbell	....	sound mixer / sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Special Effects by
Paul Staples	....	special effects (1 episode, 1995)

Series Visual Effects by
Matthew Tucker	....	motion control camera (1 episode, 1996)
Sheldan C. Collins	....	photo enhancement (1 episode, 2000)
Tim D'Amico	....	visual effects (1 episode, 2007)
Paul Docherty	....	visual effects (1 episode, 2007)
Oliver Mancebo	....	digital imaging engineer (1 episode, 2007)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Scott Brinson	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 1989-1996)
Ned Hallick	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2000-2006)

Series Animation Department
Rob Issen	....	animation consultant / photo animator / ... (3 episodes, 1988-1995)

Series Casting Department
Deborah Brown	....	voice casting (1 episode, 2004)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lora Dole	....	assistant costume designer (1 episode, 2007)
Jenny Fulton	....	assistant costume designer (1 episode, 2007)
Christine McDowell	....	assistant costume designer (1 episode, 2007)
Lea Umberger	....	assistant costume designer (1 episode, 2007)

Series Editorial Department
Jane Rizzo	....	associate editor / assistant editor (3 episodes, 2000-2004)

Series Music Department
Thomas Wagner	....	composer: series theme / composer: theme music (7 episodes, 1996-2007)
John Adams	....	music services / music service (3 episodes, 2000-2007)
Rosie Fishel	....	music services / music service (3 episodes, 2000-2007)
Pamela Scott Arnold	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1999-2007)

Series Other crew
B.T. Whitehill	....	title design: American Masters / series title designer / ... (8 episodes, 1988-2007)
Jac Venza	....	director of cultural and arts programs: American Masters / director of cultural and arts programming: American Masters / ... (5 episodes, 1996-2000)
Nicole London	....	production coordinator / series production coordinator (4 episodes, 1988-2007)
Dina Hossain	....	research coordinator: American Masters / production assistant (4 episodes, 1996-2000)
Neil Parker	....	publicist: American Masters (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Tioka Tokedira	....	production coordinator: American Masters (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Barbara Grandvoinet	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2000-2003)
Michelle Sullivan	....	researcher / archival associate producer (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Elizabeth Kosakowska	....	production assistant / production coordinator (3 episodes, 2007-2008)
Joy Birdsong	....	researcher / senior researcher (2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Shawn Fornari	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1993-1995)
Alan Weeks	....	research coordinator: American Masters (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Michael Warwick	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1998-2003)
Elgin Smith	....	production assistant / production coordinator / ... (2 episodes, 2000-2007)
Joan Cohen	....	additional researcher / archival researcher (2 episodes, 2000-2004)
Margaret Smilov	....	director of culture and arts documentaries / director of culture and arts documentaries: WNET (2 episodes, 2000)
Ben Beshaw	....	office manager / series office manager (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Thanks
Kevin Brownlow	....	acknowledgment: film source / special thanks (2 episodes, 1989)
William K. Everson	....	special thanks (2 episodes, 1989)

Production Companies

• Eagle Rock Entertainment

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Company:

Eagle Rock Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Marge Gamer (#18.17)" (2007)

best Gershwin documentary

A fine documentary both as a presentation of the composer's life as well as his music including many observations and opinions. It is interesting that Virgil Thomson's negative remarks are given at some length but these are expressions of envy in my opinion. I don't recall his exact remarks but they are to the effect that all of Gershwin's serious music, consists merely of strung-together show-tunes.

While I agree that the "Rhapsody in Blue" is not satisfactory as a "classical" work, it's form is too diffuse and the composer didn't really know what he was doing at this time, I think he made up for it later on and then some. (His Second Rhapsody has never had the fame of the "Rhapsody in Blue" but is, to my mind, much more satisfying as a concert work.) Mr. Thomson's contributions to the American opera may be considerable with his two Gertrude Stein collaborations but can, in no way, compete with the infinitely greater Porgy and Bess which is probably the greatest American opera of all time.

A minor quibble: Morris and Rose Gershwin did not have two older sons named "Ira" and "George" but rather "Israel" and "Jacob"; they both changed their names fairly early on.

Many of the usual "musical-documentary gang" are here including Kitty Carlisle Hart, one of the geriatrics wonders of the world. At age 95, she was, of this writing, still able to clearly express herself even taking part in the recent pledge break for PBS. (She died April 2007.) Others include the late Kay Swift, George's "girlfriend" and sometimes collaborator and the two "Michaels", Feinstein and Tilson Thomas both looking rather young here. In fact, MTT has made a specialty of the Second Rhapsody, playing and conducting it from the keyboard a la Bernstein.

Many film excerpts from "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American in Paris" are presented though there is an obvious effort to avoid showing Robert Alda as George in the first film. (Oscar Levant, George's friend and disciple who appears in both films, is shown at some length.) The music is presented in chronological order and this works very well here.