The Best Episodes of American Masters Season 18

The dispute between one of America's most influential playwrights and a respected movie director over actions taken during the "red scare" of the 1950s.

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The highs and lows of the life of James Brown, the colorful and controversial "Godfather of Soul".

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“Eternally elegant” screen superstar Cary Grant (1904-86) is profiled. Included are clips from his films and interviews with ex-wife Betsy Drake and widow Barbara Grant. There are also comments from biographers and film critics, and costars Eva Marie Saint and Martin Landau. Helen Mirren is the narrator, and Jeremy Northam provides the voice of Grant.

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A retrospective on the life and work of George Balanchine, a founder of American ballet.

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A detailed examination of the celebrated vocalist's career, from her amazing successes to her self-doubts and personal problems.

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The brief but impressive career of the man most responsible for defining what is modern "country music".

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Julia Child was not a natural-born cook - when she married, she could barely boil an egg. But she fell in love with French food, and soon enrolled at the Cordon Bleu where she learned the great tradition of Classical French cuisine. Later, with two French women, she devoted years to writing a manuscript finally published as "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" which became a culinary classic and sold over one million copies. Warm and exuberant, Julia was a natural television star. In 1963, she appeared on public television in "The French Chef," a cooking series unlike anything yet seen on TV. Scooping up a spilled potato pancake or coaxing a reluctant soufflé, Julia was not afraid of making mistakes. Soon a nation fed on Shake n' Bake and Tang would be experimenting with quiche Lorraine and boeuf bourgignon and cooking would become a national pastime. This is the story of Julia's two great loves-love for her husband Paul and for cooking. Through an interview with Julia herself, filmed in her fabled kitchen, and rare images from the photo collection of Paul Child and from family photo albums, Julia Child is revealed as few have seen her before in this tribute and testament to a great American icon.

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