Harry Belafonte

The Player

A Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected - but which one?

Bobby

In 1968 the lives of a retired doorman, hotel manager, lounge singer, busboy, beautician and others intersect in the wake of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

The World, the Flesh and the Devil

Ralph Burton is a miner who is trapped for several days as a result of a cave-in. When he finally manages to dig himself out, he realizes that all of mankind seems to have been destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. He travels to New York City only to find it deserted. Making a life for himself there, he is flabbergasted to eventually find Sarah Crandall, who also managed to survive. Together, they form a close friendship until the arrival of Benson Thacker who has managed to pilot his small boat into the city's harbor. At this point, tensions rise between the three, particularly between Thacker, who is white, and Burton, who is black.

Kansas City

A pair of kidnappings expose the complex power dynamics within the corrupt and unpredictable workings of 1930s Kansas City.

White Man's Burden

The story takes place in alternative America where the blacks are members of social elite, and whites are inhabitants of inner city ghettos. Louis Pinnock is a white worker in a chocolate factory, loving husband and father of two children. While delivering a package for black CEO Thaddeus Thomas, he is mistaken for a voyeur and, as a result, loses his job, gets beaten by black cops and his family gets evicted from their home. Desperate Pinnock takes a gun and kidnaps Thomas, demanding justice.

Martin Luther King by Trevor Mcdonald

On the anniversary of Martin Luther King's death, Sir Trevor McDonald travels to the Deep South of America to get closer to the man who meant so much to him.

Buck and the Preacher

A wagon master and a con-man preacher help freed slaves dogged by cheap-labor agents out West.

Odds Against Tomorrow

An old-time crook plans a heist. When one of his two partners is found out to be a black man tensions flare.

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism

This film examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a "race to the bottom" in television news, and provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangerous impact on society when a broad swath of media is controlled by one person. Media experts, including Jeff Cohen (FAIR) Bob McChesney (Free Press), Chellie Pingree (Common Cause), Jeff Chester (Center for Digital Democracy) and David Brock (Media Matters) provide context and guidance for the story of Fox News and its effect on society. This documentary also reveals the secrets of Former Fox news producers, reporters, bookers and writers who expose what it's like to work for Fox News. These former Fox employees talk about how they were forced to push a "right-wing" point of view or risk their jobs. Some have even chosen to remain anonymous in order to protect their current livelihoods. As one employee said "There's no sense of integrity as far as having a line that can't be crossed."

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

While the Muppets prepare a tribute to the late Jim Henson, they learn about the life and career of the renowned puppeteer/film maker.

Uptown Saturday Night

Two blue-collar buddies search the underworld for a winning lottery ticket lost in a nightclub holdup.

Island in the Sun

A scandalous tale of politics, social inequality, interracial romance, and murder set on a fictitious British-owned Caribbean island.

Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

Ed Sullivan broke barriers by booking Black artists on his Sunday night variety show. This documentary spotlights the TV pioneer's legacy of equality.

Harry Belafonte in Concert

Harry Belafonte live at the Sankei Hall, Tokyo, Japan, 18 July 1960. Setlist: Did You Hear About Jerry, Gotta Travel On, Suzanne, John Henry, Man Smart (Woman Smarter), All My Trials, Mama Look a Boo Boo, Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma, The Marching Saints, Hava Nageela, Jamaica Farewell, I Know Where I'm Going, Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), La Bamba, Matilda, Sakura

Carmen Jones

In this musical set in an all-Black army camp, civilian parachute maker and "hot bundle" Carmen Jones is desired by many of the men. Naturally, she wants Joe, who's engaged to sweet Cindy Lou and about to go into pilot training for the Korean War.

The Muppet Revue

Kermit and Fozzie take a stroll down Muppet Memory Lane in this rollicking revue which contains both original production and material from the best of the Muppet Show series. Along the way, they share songs and laughs with Harry Belafonte, Rita Moreno, Linda Ronstadt and Paul Williams. Music spectaculars ranging from "Moonlight Sonata" to "Stayin' Alive" are interspersed with Muppet News, breakthroughs (and crackups) from Muppet Labs, culinary creations from the Swedish Chef, and much, much more.

Legenden: Audrey Hepburn

A German documentary about the life of Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn.

Sing Your Song

Most people know the lasting legacy of Harry Belafonte, the entertainer. This film unearths his significant contribution to and his leadership in the civil rights movement in America and to social justice globally.

Martin Luther King and the March on Washington

Documentary commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's March on Washington, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The film tells the story of how the march for jobs and freedom began, speaking to the people who organised and participated in it. Using rarely seen archive footage the film reveals the background stories surrounding the build up to the march as well as the fierce opposition it faced from the JFK administration, J Edgar Hoover's FBI and widespread claims that it would incite racial violence, chaos and disturbance. The film follows the unfolding drama as the march reaches its ultimate triumphs, gaining acceptance from the state, successfully raising funds and in the end, organised and executed peacefully.

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

The Drum Waltzes explores the life and music of legendary drummer, activist Max Roach, his creative peaks, personal struggles and re-inventions from the Jim Crow to Civil Rights eras, from heady days of post-war jazz to hip hop and beyond.

Rise Like Lions

Scott Noble's film Rise Like Lions takes the people, actions, and words from the camps and streets of Occupy Wall Street and provides a radical, compelling and inspiring account of what the movement is about. Watch it. Share it. Do it!

The Legendary Nat King Cole

The life and career of one of America's leading cultural figures, told through video clips and rare photos.

Bright Road

Teachers at an all-black school fight to save a problem child.

Mama Africa

Miriam Makeba was one of the first African musicians who won international stardom and whose music was always anchored in her traditional South African roots. Miriam Makeba was forced into exile in 1959. She sang for John F. Kennedy, performed with Harry Belafonte and Nina Simone, was married to Hugh Masekela and also Stokely Carmichael. Her life was tumultuous. She always stood for truth and justice. She fought for the oppressed most importantly for black Africans, as a campaigner against apartheid. She died November 2008 after a concert in Italy. Mika Kaurismäki's documentary, traces fifty years of her music and her performing life. Through rare archive footage of her performances and through interviews with her contemporaries we discover the remarkable journey of Miriam Makeba.

The Peace!

Amid an escalating war in Iraq, rising terror levels and the threat of nuclear attack, a growing body of intellectuals, religious leaders and community organizers are getting tough with their questions about peace -- and that's no oxymoron. To shed light on the answers, filmmakers Gabriele Zamparini and Lorenzo Meccoli record a variety of speakers, including Noam Chomsky, Desmond Tutu, Scott Ritter, Pete Seeger, Howard Zinn and Gore Vidal.

Hava Nagila: The Movie

A documentary on the history of the song "Hava Nagila."

Jazz '34

A recreation of 1934 Kansas City jazz jam session created by Robert Altman.

Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley

A feature documentary about Jackie "Moms" Mabley, an African-American stand-up comic and show-biz pioneer who emerged from the Chitlin' Circuit of African-American Vaudeville to become a mainstream star. Once billed as "The Funniest Woman in the World," Mabley pushed the boundaries of comedy by tackling topics such as gender, sex, and racism and performed up until her death in 1975. A true passion project for first-time director Whoopi Goldberg, the documentary shows Mabley's historical significance and profound influence as a performer vastly ahead of her time.

Prêt-à-Porter

During Paris Fashion Week, models, designers and industry hot shots gather to work, mingle, argue and try to seduce one another.

The Angel Levine

Morris Mishkin is a elderly religious Jew in New York. His wife Fanny is very ill. He's a tailor, but he can't work because his back has given out. He doesn't even have enough money for Fanny's medicine. Finally, a black fellow appears from nowhere in the Mishkin kitchen. He says he's an angel from God, sent to help Mishkin. The black angel is even Jewish, named Alex Levine? But will Morris believe in the angel? And can the angel perform the miracle that he promises?

Audrey Hepburn: The Fairest Lady

The story of how Audrey Hepburn survived World War II, became an award winning actress, and gave back to the world as a humanitarian.

Harry Belafonte: Between Calypso and Justice

Harry Belafonte wrote music history. How did the black boy from Harlem manage to become one of the greatest artists of the 20th century in the middle of racist America? The film portrait tells the story of the famous singer, actor, producer and activist.

Sidney

This revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier—iconic actor, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Featuring interviews with Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and more.

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

Tony Curtis, the man who influenced Elvis Presley and James Dean. A sex symbol, a matinee idol, a powerful and magnetic actor, Tony Curtis was the original movie star.

Is That Black Enough for You?!?

A look at the Black revolution in 1970s cinema, from genre films to social realism, from the making of new superstars to the craft of rising auteurs.

Mo & Me

Salim Amin, son and only child of Mohamed "Mo" Amin, undertakes a journey of recollection and reflection into the life of the frequently absent, globe-trotting father he loved, revered and feared. In his late teens, Mohamed Amin abandons his studies to pursue a career in photography which, over the course of thirty years, will turn him into a front-line cameraman extraordinaire - and, arguably, the most renowned photojournalist of his era. Training his candid lens across continents, Mo Amin's thirst for breaking news puts him repeatedly in harm's way - enduring weeks of torture, automatic arms fire, explosives and, ultimately, the amputation of his left arm - to become one of the most decorated news camera-man of all time. The documentary depicts Mo as an unbending, unforgiving and unapologetically rambunctious paterfamilias whose hunger for "the story" propels him to ever greater professional heights - often at the expense of those he cherishes.

Swing Vote

A newly-appointed Supreme Court Justice must settle a controversial moral and legal dilemma with his tie-breaking decision which may also have serious implications on his own family's harmony.

Free to Be… You and Me

Free to Be…You and Me, a project of the Ms. Foundation for Women, is a record album, and illustrated book first released in November 1972, featuring songs and stories from many current celebrities of the day (credited as "Marlo Thomas and Friends") such as Alan Alda, Rosey Grier, Cicely Tyson, Carol Channing, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross, among others. An ABC Afterschool Special using poetry, songs, and sketches, followed two years later in March 1974. The basic concept is to encourage a post-60's gender neutrality, while saluting values such as individuality, tolerance, and happiness with one's identity. A major thematic message is that anyone, whether a boy or a girl, can achieve anything.

The University of Sing Sing

An inside look at the notorious Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where one of the U.S.’s only in-prison college programs, Hudson Link, offers long-time inmates an education – and a new lease on life.

Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits

Some marvelous late-fifties memories of the one and only Nat King Cole. Singing (and occasionally playing) all-time Cole classics, like When I Fall In Love, The Christmas Song, Sweet Lorraine, and A Blossom Fell. Plus, there is a stellar list of other top tunes - including Stardust, Autumn Leaves, and Makin' Whoopee - each bearing his unmistakeable imprint. Nat, in solo performance, of course, but assisted, on occasion, by fellow greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Peggy Lee - and even the legendary Jazz at the Philharmonic.

The Greatest Night in Pop

On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the historic event.

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. This year’s Performer Inductees are Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon. Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will receive the Musical Excellence Award, Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotten the Early Influence Award, and Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine, and Sylvia Robinson the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert

There was a time when the biggest names in pop music believed they could change the world for the better. Faced with the intolerance and excesses of the established authorities, music celebrities decided to use their prestige to draw attention to the problems that less favoured people in the world faced. Wembley Stadium, London, 1988: thousands of English people fill one of the most famous football arenas in the world to celebrate an unforgettable pop music festival, with a lofty goal above entertainment - the celebration of the seventieth birthday of African leader Nelson Mandela.

Muppet Music Moments

Music was always an integral part of The Muppet Show, and assembled here is a collection of some of the classic music numbers interpreted as only the Muppets can. This compilation features a wide range of musical genres, including performances by guest stars Harry Belafonte, Elton John, and Linda Ronstadt.

The Unforgettable Nat King Cole

Enjoy the smooth voice and cool rhythms of legendary American recording artist Nat "King" Cole with this music set, which includes popular hits like "Mona Lisa," "Save the Bones for Henry Jones," "Shine On Harvest Moon," "Sweet Lorraine" and more. The first African-American to host a television variety show, Cole sold millions of records throughout the course of his career and continues to possess enduring popularity worldwide.

The Man Behind the White Guitar

José Neto is one of the guitar world's best kept secrets. Known to a discriminating international fan base and respected by legendary musicians and producers, Neto has flown under the radar in service to the music and not to his own ego. Shot in California, in the UK, and in Brazil, the Man Behind the White Guitar follows José Neto as he revisits the people and places that formed his musical career: Harry Belafonte, Steve Winwood, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, and Brazilian icon Filo Machado. Neto, as he is known to his friends and fans, follows a diverse musical path and faces significant life challenges, through which he maintains equanimity and a positive vision that speak through his compositions and his playing. Everyone he knows will say, "Neto is my good friend."

Following Harry

Featuring Harry Belafonte, Aja Monet, Aloe Blacc, and Jesse Williams, Following Harry explores the life and legacy of cultural and civil rights icon Harry Belafonte through the stories of those artists and activists carrying on his life’s work dedicated to social justice.

King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis

A presentation of key events in the life of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. Beginning with the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, MLK is followed through major steps in his struggle to promote racial equality. Including footage of King's stirring speeches, it is a fitting tribute to his legacy, and features clips narrated by a wide range of celebrities, including Harry Belafonte, Paul Newman Charlton Heston, Ruby Dee, Burt Lancaster, Anthony Quinn, Walter Matthau, Ben Gazzara, Clarence Williams III, Joanne Woodward, and James Earl Jones.

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975

Examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in US society from 1967 to 1975. It features footage of the movement shot by Swedish journalists in the United States during that period and includes the appearances of Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, Huey P. Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and other activists, artists, and leaders central to the movement.

Anecdotes about Fidel

23 Anecdotes that reveal a personal side of Fidel Castro, told by Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Alicia Alonso, Alice Walter, Aleida, Che Guevara's daughter, Harry Belafonte, Jessie Jackson, Hank Aaron, Comandante Almeida and others.

JFK: The Private President

In January 1961, a new generation in the guise of John F. Kennedy moved into the White House. All of a sudden politics were youthful, dynamic and sexy. During the brief period in which he was in office, the first pop star of politics accompanied America through the darkest days of the Cold War. At the same time, his signal to embark in new directions was eagerly welcomed by younger generations all around the world. Later on, Jackie Kennedy was to compare his presidency with Camelot - the legendary court of King Arthur. Yet, there were also dark sides to this popular president's life.

The Strolling '20s

Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier travel down memory lane to see what life was like back in the 1920s. Harry Belafonte introduces this musical, written by poet and playwright Langston Hughes, which pays tribute to Harlem in the 1920's. Sidney Poitier provides commentary on the era throughout the program, and George Kirby and Nipsey Russell portray various Harlem characters. Program highlights include: Gloria Lynne singing "Good Ol' Wagon"; Brownie McGhee singing "Let the Deal Go Down"; Diahann Carroll singing "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"; Sammy Davis, Jr., singing and tap dancing to "Doin' the New Low Down"; Joe Williams singing "Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning"; and Duke Ellington performing "Sophisticated Lady" with a sextet.

Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark

Take an in-depth look at the life and talent of the trailblazing musician who conquered racial barriers to leave an indelible mark on the jazz world.

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and historians discuss the image of black America on television from Amos and Andy to the present day. The interviews accompany clips from groundbreaking shows and performances by entertainment pioneers that create a timeline of the portrayal of African Americans throughout TV history.

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

On March 11, 1959, Lorraine Hansberry’s 'A Raisin in the Sun' opened on Broadway and changed the face of American theater forever. As the first-ever black woman to author a play performed on Broadway, she did not shy away from richly drawn characters and unprecedented subject matter. The play attracted record crowds and earned the coveted top prize from the New York Drama Critics’ Circle. While the play is seen as a groundbreaking work of art, the timely story of Hansberry’s life is far less known.

Grambling's White Tiger

A young white man goes to a historically black college for the chance to be the starting quarterback. There he encounters considerable resentment and learns what it's like to be in the minority.

Rise Up: The Movement that Changed America

When Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered in Memphis, TN on April 4, 1968, he left a legacy of profound change, yet there was still much unfinished work. This one-hour documentary explores the key battles in the Civil Rights Movement that transformed American society--from the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 to the Chicago Campaign which led to the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The special will uncover what it took to translate protest into real legislative change.

King in the Wilderness

A chronicle of the final chapters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, revealing a conflicted leader who faced an onslaught of criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

The history of the irreverent "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" and the content battles it fought with its television network.

The World of Nat King Cole

Combining rare original archive footage, home movies and authored by 40 intimate interviews with friends and celebrity fans this feature length film charts Nat "King" Cole's battle with racist 50’s America to become a superstar. An intimate portrait, it’s filled with music and accompanied the release of the album of the same name.

Petula

In 1968 Harry Belafonte and Petula Clark sang together her song On the Path Of Glory for this special on NBC. Not such a remarkable event in itself, but Petula touched Harry's forearm during the duet and made TV history. It was the first time a white woman had touched a black man on US television. The sponsor insisted the touch be cut from the programme, the programme makers refused. In the decade’s “year of revolt”, Clark found herself at the centre of a media controversy involving race, censorship and endemic bigotry in a newly desegregated yet depressingly divided US.

BlacKkKlansman

Colorado Springs, late 1970s. Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer, and Flip Zimmerman, his Jewish colleague, run an undercover operation to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.

The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years

Legendary showman Danny Kaye's greatest moments have been handpicked by Kaye's daughter, Dena, in this lighthearted compilation. Highlights ranging from Kaye's many television and film appearances are featured in all of their old Hollywood splendor, among them including his performance as a painfully shy man with the duty of escorting Lucille Ball to a restaurant, duets with Louis Armstrong and Harry Belafonte, and the famous tongue-twisting segment from The Court Jester.

Marsha Hunt's Sweet Adversity

In 1935, 17-year-old aspiring actress Marsha Hunt was discovered in Hollywood. She signed with Paramount Pictures and went on to a flourishing career at MGM. She made 54 films in 17 years before a series of unfortunate events led to her being unfairly blacklisted. After the blacklist, she championed humanitarian causes, forging a career as one of Hollywood's first celebrity activists. She was the FIRST Angelina Jolie. As far back as 1955, Eleanor Roosevelt was a mentor of hers as they both worked tirelessly to support the work that the United Nations Association was accomplishing in this country. At age 96, Marsha continues to fight for causes she believes in. This film is a call to action for activists of all ages.

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

For the first time in their careers, all the Muppets (except the ones that couldn't make it, like the Doozers, Gorgs and most of the Fraggles) have gathered together in one place to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary and honor the one who brought them together: Kermit the Frog (and by doing so, Jim Henson).

The World of Jim Henson

In this episode of PBS' Great Performances, the history and legacy of puppeteer Jim Henson is explored, from his six-second commercial beginnings to a five-season run on ABC of The Muppet Show to several theatrically released films, including five Muppet movies, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth.

Best Ever Muppet Moments

A review of the most memorable Muppet moments to commemorate Kermit the Frog's 50th anniversary.

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song is a documentary which examines how the song was written, how producer Quincy Jones and songwriters Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie persuaded some of the most popular performers in America to donate their services to the project, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the marathon recording session that produced the single.

Nationtime

A report on the National Black Political Convention held in Gary, Indiana, in 1972, a historic event that gathered Black voices from across the political spectrum, among them Jesse Jackson, Dick Gregory, Coretta Scott King, Richard Hatcher, Amiri Baraka, Charles Diggs, and H. Carl McCall.

Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

In this open-letter style documentary, Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis' rich lives guide their grandson on his personal quest to master lasting love, conscious art, and undying activism.

Dom Salvador & The Abolition

Dom Salvador & Abolição is a documentary about jazz pianist and composer Dom Salvador, who have been playing for 42 years at The River Café in Brooklyn. One of the architects of Bossa Nova in Brazil and a busy studio session musician and arranger, during the 60’s, Salvador played with the country's best. The man who is credited to be the pioneer of many musical styles, a name in more than a thousand records and the leader of the seminal band Abolition. After recording only one album, Salvador abandons a promising and successful journey with the band to pursue his passion for jazz, moving to New York in the early 70’s.

The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show

For one week in February 1968, Johnny Carson gave up his chair to Harry Belafonte, the first time an African-American had hosted a late night TV show for a whole week.

The Madding Crowd

"A great many conundrums." An assemblage of found footage.

Mr. SOUL!

On the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, one fearless black pioneer reconceived a Harlem Renaissance for a new era, ushering giants and rising stars of black American culture onto the national television stage. He was hip. He was smart. He was innovative, political, and gay. In his personal fight for social equality, this man ensured the Revolution would be televised. The man was Ellis Haizlip. The Revolution was soul!

JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala

Documentary about the star-studded pre-inaugural gala that took place on January 19, 1961 to celebrate John F. Kennedy's election.

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand presents the life and achievements of an extraordinary man. Athlete, singer, and scholar, Robeson was also a charismatic champion of the rights of the poor working man, the disfranchised and people of color. He led a life in the vanguard of many movements, achieved international acclaim for his music and suffered tremendous personal sacrifice. His story is one of the great dramas of the 20th century, spanning an international canvas of social upheaval and ideological controversy.

The One and Only Dick Gregory

This revealing portrait of comedian, activist, pop-culture icon and thought leader Dick Gregory documents his many personal reinventions throughout the decades, from celebrity to civil rights hero and beyond, while hearing from the incredible entertainers who have been inspired by his blueprint.

Night of 100 Stars

The most glittering, expensive, and exhausting videotaping session in television history took place Friday February 19, 1982 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The event, for which ticket-buyers paid up to $1,000 a seat (tax-deductible as a contribution to the Actors' Fund) was billed as "The Night of 100 Stars" but, actually, around 230 stars took part. And most of the audience of 5,800 had no idea in advance that they were paying to see a TV taping, complete with long waits for set and costume changes, tape rewinding, and the like. Executive producer Alexander Cohen estimated that the 5,800 Radio City Music Hall seats sold out at prices ranging from $25 to $1,000. The show itself cost about $4 million to produce and was expected to yield around $2 million for the new addition to the Actors Fund retirement home in Englewood, N. J. ABC is reputed to have paid more than $5 million for the television rights.

The Tallest Tree in Our Forest

A detailed biography of famed singer, actor, athlete and activist Paul Robeson. Complete with several interviews and footage of concerts and film clips.

Året var 1966

1966 - when Bob Dylan visits Sweden and Prime Minister Erlander has a difficult time with questions about housing. A special evening at the opera is arranged with Harry Belafonte and Martin Luther King. Esrange is inaugurated and in China the cultural revolution is underway.

Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist

A look at the confluence of the Red Scare, McCarthyism, and blacklists with the post-war activism by African Americans seeking more and better roles on radio, television, and stage. It begins in Harlem, measures the impact of Paul Robeson and the campaign to bring him down, looks at the role of HUAC, J. Edgar Hoover and of journalists such as Ed Sullivan, and ends with a tribute to Canada Lee. Throughout are interviews with men and women who were there, including Dick Campbell of the Rose McLendon Players and Fredrick O'Neal of the American Negro Theatre. In the 1940s and 1950s, anti-Communism was one more tool to maintain Jim Crow and to keep down African-Americans.

Altman on His Own Terms

A look at the life and career of acclaimed independent filmmaker Robert Altman...on his own words. The genius director who shook the cinema industry with countless films examines some of his most important works, along with friends and regular collaborators.

Nana Mouskouri, Momente ihres Lebens

Nana Mouskouri is the voice of the century. An internationally renowned personality and artist who seems to be eternally young. Her trademark: timeless haircut, center parting, straight hair and square, black glasses. The film takes up individual moments from the star's life in a long arc.

Motherland

Fusing history, culture, politics, and contemporary issues, Motherland sweeps across Africa to tell a new story of a dynamic continent. From the glory and majesty of Africa's past through its complex history. Africa as you have never seen it.

The Day of the Oath

"This film presents rare documentary footage of presidential inaugurations, from William McKinley in 1897 to Lyndon Johnson in 1965. The film conveys the strength, stability, and continuity of the U.S. government. Included in the program are highlights of the 1965 inaugural parade, footage from the inaugural balls, and performances by Carol Channing, Louis Armstrong, Margot Fonteyn, and Rudolf Nureyev. The film was produced by News of the Day, written and directed by Walter de Hoog, narrated by James Cagney, and includes original music by Bruce Herschensohn" (US National Archives).

CIRILO, A Legacy Untold

Born into poverty in Panama, Cirilo McSween’s journey is one of defiance, resilience, and triumph over systemic barriers. Against the backdrop of Jim Crow America, he confronts racism while pursuing the American Dream. From his arrival in the U.S. as an ambitious immigrant to his rise as a trailblazing entrepreneur and civil rights activist, McSween’s life stands as a testament to determination and community. Through tireless advocacy for equality and opportunity, he helped shape both Panama’s identity and Chicago’s civil rights movement. A confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a pioneering insurance executive, and a philanthropist empowering underserved communities, McSween’s story bridges nations and generations. CIRILO, A Legacy Untold illuminates a transformative figure whose legacy continues to inspire across the Americas.

Jim Henson Idea Man

Featuring unprecedented access to Jim Henson's personal archives, filmmaker Ron Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.

American Renegade: Confessions of a Radical Humanist

Activist, lover, visionary, renegade - For 75 years, Abe Osheroff fought on the front lines of social activism - from the battlefields of the Spanish Civil War to the killing fields of Nicaragua; from the witch hunts of McCarthy to the sharecroppers of Mississippi to streets all across the United States, Osheroff put his life on the line to keep justice alive. Through the unflinching lens of this documentary feature, this master storyteller takes us on an insightful journey inside the defining conflicts of 20th Century activism with irreverent humor and unwavering commitment to a lifetime of engagement. Osheroff's confessions strike a resounding chord in today's world with a singular voice that never stopped chanting "yes we can!"

We Shall Overcome

A documentary on the iconic song "We Shall Overcome" and its important legacy in the American Civil Rights movement, echoing all over the world as a recognizable song of struggle against social injustices. Singers and activists talk about its origins, used during a workers strike in the mid 1940's, and how the lyrics and its significance slightly changed in the next decades.

The Royal Variety Performance 1977

The 49th Royal Variety Performance, held at the London Palladium on the 21st of November, 1977. Presented by Bob Hope, includes his own performances, Julie Andrews, Paul Anka, Pam Ayres, Harry Belafonte, Brotherhood of Man, Tommy Cooper, Alan King, Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, John Williams, Little and Large, Shirley MacLaine, Jim Henson's Muppets, Rudolf Nureyev, Jack Parnell with special visits from Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Charles, Prince of Wales

Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute

Wembley Stadium hosts a concert featuring stars from the fields of music, comedy and film, in celebration of the 70th birthday of imprisoned ANC leader Nelson Mandela. Highlight of the evening is the one hour live performance of Dire Straits feat. Eric Clapton.

Donald McKayle: Heartbeats of a DanceMaker

Celebrate the life and work of Donald McKayle, whose contributions as choreographer, dancer and teacher have enriched our nation's cultural heritage. Never before seen archival footage enhances the narrations of Della Reese and Harry Belafonte as they guide you through McKayle s contributions to his time. Sit in on a complete conversation between Reese and McKayle and view the entire, unedited interview with Harry Belafonte in the Special Features selection. As the passion and optimism of McKayle's choreography transcends racial and cultural boundaries, his body of work reflects his faith in the human spirit and his belief in the redeeming quality of love. This documentary includes excerpts from Rainbow Round My Shoulder, Heartbeats, Saturday s Child, District Storyville, They Called Her Moses, House of Tears, Minstrel Man and Libertango. Enjoy the Special Features complete performance of Angelitos Negroes done by two different artists (Marceline Freeman and Tamica Washington).