American Masters

Julia Alvarez and her sisters recount the day they had to escape from the Dominican Republic with their parents, because of her father's involvement in a plot to overthrew the dictator, Rafael Trujillo. The experience inspired a scene in her first novel, "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents."

Explore the story of Dominican-American poet and novelist Julia Alvarez, who burst onto the literary scene and blazed a trail for a generation of Latino authors.

For her second novel, "In the Time of the Butterflies," Julia Alvarez wanted to write about dictatorship from a female perspective. She chose the stories of the Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva, María Teresa and Adela, the first three of which were assassinated by the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic for oppossing the government.

In this outtake from “Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames,” Rob Marshall recounts the touching moment when Blake Edwards gifted him his trusted viewfinder to celebrate the release of Marshall’s first film “Chicago” (2002).

Explore the story of director, screenwriter and producer Blake Edwards, known for cinema classics such as “Breakfast at Tiffany's,” “Days of Wine and Roses” and the “Pink Panther” series. This version of the trailer contains extended audio description and open captions.

Blake Edwards was looking to cast the “perfect woman” in his film “10” and offered the role to Bo Derek, whose performance shot her to stardom. “Blake changed my life forever,” said Derek.

Paul Feig recalls watching “The Pink Panther” for the first time and being enamored by not just the acting, but how the film was being directed. “I remember then watching the credits and seeing, ‘Directed by Blake Edwards,’ and that name just stuck with me,” said Feig in this outtake from “Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames.”

Explore the story of director, screenwriter and producer Blake Edwards, known for cinema classics such as “Breakfast at Tiffany's,” “Days of Wine and Roses” and the “Pink Panther” series.

Jennifer and Geoffrey Edwards reminisce on the first time they realized their father was a renowned film director.

Explore the story of director, screenwriter and producer Blake Edwards, known for cinema classics such as “Breakfast at Tiffany's,” “Days of Wine and Roses” and the “Pink Panther” series. This version of the trailer contains on-screen ASL interpretation.

Watch the first ten minutes of The Incomparable Mr. Buckley in this sneak preview. Discover how political commentator William F. Buckley, Jr. galvanized the modern conservative movement. The preeminent public intellectual grew up on a sprawling estate in Sharon, Connecticut, where his father's own idea of pedagogy had a lasting impact on his future ideals.

William F. Buckley, Jr. hosted Firing Line for 33 years. During his tenure as host, he debated a number of influential public figures on topics ranging from comedy to imperialism. This compliation shows Buckley in conversation with five of his most memorable guests on matters that are still important today.