Merrill Brockway

A study of Tennessee Williams's life and work as a whole, ranging from his youth in Mississippi and in St. Louis to success and acclaim, followed by the final difficult years. Includes some of the most celebrated scenes from film adaptations of Williams' work, among them extracts of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951),Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Night of the Iguana, The (1964), and Suddenly, Last Summer (1993) (TV). Contains footage of Williams being interviewed, including conversations with David Frost, 'Edward R. Murrow (I)', and Melvyn Bragg, as well as reminiscences from people who knew and worked with him, among them Edward Albee, Gore Vidal, and his lifelong friend, Lady Maria St. Just. Features readings from Elia Kazan's Notebook by Kim Hunter.

In 1974, five former activists from the 1960s meet in a bar, but do not relate. Each is lost in his or her own memories of more hopeful, revolutionary days.

This profile of acting coach Stella Adler includes interviews with Adler and with colleagues, students, and friends, along with clips from her own acting performances as well as from her classes.

Convinced of her limitless talent, charm, and ability, Rosie sweeps the neighborhood Nutshell Kids into the beam of her private spotlight as they perform in her pretend movie.

Widely regarded as the most influential photographer of the 20th century, he was born Eduard Jean Steichen in Luxenberg 1879. He worked in every aspect of the art fashion, industrial, nature, combat, portrait and tabletop photography. As the leading curator of the New York Museum of Modern Art he created the famous "Family of Man" photography exposition in 1955. In every branch photography up to which he laid his hand he became a master. His potraits of Gershwin, Garbo, Eugene O'Neill, Marlene Dietrich, Chaplin and George M Cohan are the definitive images by which we remember those celebrated artists.

America's great film director-actor Buster Keaton, discussed by film critic Andrew Sarris and Raymond Rohauer, cinema historian, with some unusual perspectives on his goals and motivations. Illustrated with many film excerpts from 1917 to 1928. Rohauer knew Keaton and was partly responsible from rescuing many of his old films from destruction. Sarris is a leading film critic who has often written about Keaton.

This film documents the major directions in modern American art during the first seven years of the 1960s. The keynote is that the artist has expanded his realm from the two-dimentional picture frame, climaxed by the artists of the 40s and early 50s, merged color with sculpture, and sought out modern media to express himself. This has produced the characteristic wide spectrum of interest, ideas, and products in contemporary art.

Two of the greatest stars of Japan’s kabuki theater reveal what has only rarely been seen: the actual acting techniques used in this most difficult and splendid of theater forms. Onoe Shoroku II and Onoe Baiko VII discuss and demonstrate their craft in conversation with the well-known author of works on Asian arts, Faubion Bowers. Includes film of great kabuki performances of the past. These great kabuki actors make the mechanics of theater kata (poses) clear and show some of the gestures and nuances of body language that communicate specific emotions and situations. Baiko, a famous player of women’s roles, performs a classic woman’s speech in full costume and heavy white-face make-up, and then does the same scene again in plain face and simple clothes. He shows how the Japanese fan speaks in its own language. He and Shoroku act out a fight scene; Shoroku demonstrates one of kabuki’s elaborate exit walk sequences, and compares different ways of making stylized gestures.

Toward the latter part of his life, George Balanchine talked about creating a "dictionary" of his technique, a visual reference for the students of ballet. The George Balanchine Foundation has helped to fulfill his wish by producing 'The Balanchine Essays". This part is about Port de Bras.

Toward the latter part of his life, George Balanchine talked about creating a "dictionary" of his technique, a visual reference for the students of ballet. The George Balanchine Foundation has helped to fulfill his wish by producing 'The Balanchine Essays". This part is about jumps.

Toward the latter part of his life, George Balanchine talked about creating a "dictionary" of his technique, a visual reference for the students of ballet. The George Balanchine Foundation has helped to fulfill his wish by producing 'The Balanchine Essays". This part is about the technique on the Barre.

Toward the latter part of his life, George Balanchine talked about creating a "dictionary" of his technique, a visual reference for the students of ballet. The George Balanchine Foundation has helped to fulfill his wish by producing 'The Balanchine Essays". This part is about Arabesque.

Toward the latter part of his life, George Balanchine talked about creating a "dictionary" of his technique, a visual reference for the students of ballet. The George Balanchine Foundation has helped to fulfill his wish by producing 'The Balanchine Essays". This part is about Pirouettes and Turns.

Toward the latter part of his life, George Balanchine talked about creating a "dictionary" of his technique, a visual reference for the students of ballet. The George Balanchine Foundation has helped to fulfill his wish by producing 'The Balanchine Essays". This part is about Transfer of Weight.

Toward the latter part of his life, George Balanchine talked about creating a "dictionary" of his technique, a visual reference for the students of ballet. The George Balanchine Foundation has helped to fulfill his wish by producing 'The Balanchine Essays". This part is about Pointe Technique.

Toward the latter part of his life, George Balanchine talked about creating a "dictionary" of his technique, a visual reference for the students of ballet. The George Balanchine Foundation has helped to fulfill his wish by producing 'The Balanchine Essays". This part is about Passé and Attitude.