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30:13

Documentary Filmmaker Robert Drew

Documentary filmmaker Robert Drew has revolutionized the genre by dispensing with narrators and adopting a more dramatic, theatrical approach. His best known movie, Primary, follows the presidential run of John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey.

Interview
04:01

Postponing "The Bombing of West Philly"

The Frontline documentary, about the conflict between MOVE activists and the Philadelphia Police, will be broadcast this week throughout the country -- except for Philadelphia, which has a mayoral primary. TV critic David Bianculli reviews the program and questions why the broadcast has been delayed in the region.

Review
03:36

The End of "Our World"

TV critic David Bianculli says that the documentary show, which shared a time slot with The Cosby Show, didn't deserve to be canceled -- despite its low ratings.

Review
03:39

A Disappointing Documentary.

Television Critic David Bianculli previews the eight-hour PBS series "Television." The series is composed of clips from vintage and recent television programs as well as interviews with the creative people behind some of the best news and entertainment shows.

Review
04:00

Incredible Documentary About "The Man Who Shot John Lennon."

Television Critic David Bianculli previews "The Man Who Shot John Lennon," the "Frontline" documentary on Mark David Chapman. The program relies on audiotaped psychiatric interviews with Chapman, and on a close analysis of the novel The Catcher in the Rye, which Chapman followed as though it were a script for Lennon's murder.

Review
06:54

A British Documentary on the African Influences on African American Music.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Repercussions," the British documentary series on African and Afro-American music. One segment features American jazz drummer Max Roach; another highlights the Los Angeles rhythm-and-blues scene and "highlife" musicians from Ghana. The series is now available on home video.

Review
03:50

HBO's Powerful Vietnam War Documentary.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews a new HBO documentary "Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam." It's combines footage of the war with the voices of actors like Robert De Niro and Sean Penn reading letters the troops wrote home.

Review
04:00

Examination of the Religious is Worth Watching.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done," a PBS special on the fundamentalist movement. The program features candid interviews with Bakker and others about televangelism and the fundamentalist right.

Review
04:59

Public Television's New Point of View

PBS's newest show, POV, showcases a diverse selection of documentaries, many of which have been screened in theaters or broadcast on other networks. TV critic David Bianculli has this review.

Review
03:52

Tapping into a New Summer Audience

TV critic David Bianculli recommends two returning, unexpectedly popular PBS shows. Alive from Off Center showcases avant-garde performers and musicians, while American Masters features a diverse array of documentaries -- including, Bianculli says, some real masterpieces.

Review
03:48

Confronting Memories of the Vietnam War

Film critic David Bianculli says the drama China Beach and a special episode of Nightline deal with the lives of Vietnam veterans in respectful and powerful ways; both are worth watching.

Review
03:32

Watch the 1969 Moon Landing "As It Happened."

Television Critic David Bianculli reviews the Arts and Entertainment Network's tribute to the 20th anniversary of man's walk on the moon. (The anniversary is on July 20th.) This special comes as most all the networks are airing a tribute to the event. But in this instance the program tries to re-create the sensations that accompanied the event by playing back, in real time, the live network transmissions as the story unfolded. Former NBC correspondent Edwin Newman is the host.

Review
03:31

A Behind the Scenes Look at "Jeopardy!" and Its "Wise Guys!"

Television Critic David Bianculli reviews "Wise Guys!," an installment of "P.O.V." (Point of View), the PBS series that showcases independently produced documentary films. This program follows contestants as they prepare for, and perform on, the game show "Jeopardy."

Review
10:42

Lee Grant's New Documentary about Battered Women.

Actress and director Lee Grant. As an actress, Grant won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Shampoo," Emmys for her work on "Peyton Place" and "Electra," and an Obie for "The Maids." As a director, she won an Academy Award for her documentary "Down and Out in America." This month, HBO is showing Grant's latest production, "Battered." It's a documentary about the victims, and perpetrators, of domestic violence. "Battered" airs as part of HBO's "America Undercover" series.

Interview
22:18

Television Producer William Link.

Screenwriter William Link. With his partner Richard Levinson, Link created more than a dozen T-V series, including "Columbo" and "Mannix." They also wrote the books "Stay Tuned: An Inside Look at the Making of Prime-Time Television," and "Off Camera: Conversations with the Makers of Prime-Time Television."

Interview

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