Harry Belafonte
Biography: Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, actor and activist, who popularized calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s. Belafonte is one of the few performers to have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT), although he won the Oscar in a non-competitive category. He earned his career breakthrough with the album Calypso (1956), which was the first million-selling LP by a single artist. Belafonte was best known for his recordings of "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)", "Jamaica Farewell", and "Mary's Boy Child". He recorded and performed in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards. He also starred in films such as Carmen Jones (1954), Island in the Sun (1957), Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), Buck and the Preacher (1972), and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). He made his final screen appearance in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman (2018). Belafonte considered the actor, singer, and activist Paul Robeson a mentor, and he was a close confidant of Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. He was a vocal critic of the policies of the George W. Bush and Donald Trump administrations. Belafonte acted as the American Civil Liberties Union celebrity ambassador for juvenile justice issues. Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category. Description above from the Wikipedia article Harry Belafonte, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: March 01, 1927
Deathday: April 25, 2023
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Known For
The Player
1992-04-03
The Player
Overview: A Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected - but which one?
Genres: Mystery Drama Thriller Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1992-04-03
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Bobby
2006-09-05
Bobby
Overview: 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.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2006-09-05
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The World, the Flesh and the Devil
1959-05-01
The World, the Flesh and the Devil
Overview: 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.
Genres: Drama Science Fiction Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1959-05-01
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Kansas City
1996-08-16
Kansas City
Overview: A pair of kidnappings expose the complex power dynamics within the corrupt and unpredictable workings of 1930s Kansas City.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1996-08-16
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White Man's Burden
1995-12-01
White Man's Burden
Overview: 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.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1995-12-01
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Martin Luther King by Trevor Mcdonald
2018-03-22
Martin Luther King by Trevor Mcdonald
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2018-03-22
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Buck and the Preacher
1972-03-17
Buck and the Preacher
Overview: A wagon master and a con-man preacher help freed slaves dogged by cheap-labor agents out West.
Genres: Action Comedy Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1972-03-17
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Odds Against Tomorrow
1959-10-15
Odds Against Tomorrow
Overview: An old-time crook plans a heist. When one of his two partners is found out to be a black man tensions flare.
Genres: Crime Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1959-10-15
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Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism
2004-07-14
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism
Overview: 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."
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-07-14
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The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990-11-21
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
Overview: While the Muppets prepare a tribute to the late Jim Henson, they learn about the life and career of the renowned puppeteer/film maker.
Genres: Documentary Drama Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-11-21
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Uptown Saturday Night
1974-07-26
Uptown Saturday Night
Overview: Two blue-collar buddies search the underworld for a winning lottery ticket lost in a nightclub holdup.
Genres: Comedy Crime Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1974-07-26
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Island in the Sun
1957-06-12
Island in the Sun
Overview: A scandalous tale of politics, social inequality, interracial romance, and murder set on a fictitious British-owned Caribbean island.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-06-12
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Sunday Best
2023-06-11
Sunday Best
Overview: The Ed Sullivan Show ran for more than a thousand episodes, and Sunday Best is packed with some of its greatest moments and performances. There are also interviews with legends like Harry Belafonte and Dionne Warwick, who offer a more intimate perspective on what Sullivan was like as a person and an ally. Within every frame of Sunday Best, there is an affection for the early days of television, but beneath the showbiz glitz, a human tenderness towards Ed Sullivan.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2023-06-11
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Harry Belafonte in Concert
1960-07-30
Harry Belafonte in Concert
Overview: 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
Genres: Music Documentary TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-07-30
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Carmen Jones
1954-10-28
Carmen Jones
Overview: At a parachute factory during WWII, vixen Carmen Jones seduces an engaged soldier to avoid imprisonment.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-10-28
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The Muppet Revue
1985-04-16
The Muppet Revue
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music Comedy TV Movie Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-04-16
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Legenden: Audrey Hepburn
2005-08-01
Legenden: Audrey Hepburn
Overview: A German documentary about the life of Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: de
Release Date: 2005-08-01
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Sing Your Song
2012-01-13
Sing Your Song
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2012-01-13
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Martin Luther King and the March on Washington
2013-01-01
Martin Luther King and the March on Washington
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2013-01-01
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Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes
2023-03-12
Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2023-03-12
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Rise Like Lions
2011-10-12
Rise Like Lions
Overview: 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!
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2011-10-12
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The Legendary Nat King Cole
2004-10-05
The Legendary Nat King Cole
Overview: The life and career of one of America's leading cultural figures, told through video clips and rare photos.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-10-05
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Bright Road
1953-04-17
Bright Road
Overview: Teachers at an all-black school fight to save a problem child.
Genres: Drama Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1953-04-17
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Mama Africa
2011-08-12
Mama Africa
Overview: 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.
Genres: Drama Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2011-08-12
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The Peace!
2005-09-20
The Peace!
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2005-09-20
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Hava Nagila: The Movie
2012-07-19
Hava Nagila: The Movie
Overview: A documentary on the history of the song "Hava Nagila."
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2012-07-19
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Jazz '34
1997-01-29
Jazz '34
Overview: A recreation of 1934 Kansas City jazz jam session created by Robert Altman.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1997-01-29
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Moms Mabley
2013-04-20
Moms Mabley
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2013-04-20
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Prêt-à-Porter
1994-12-23
Prêt-à-Porter
Overview: During Paris Fashion Week, models, designers and industry hot shots gather to work, mingle, argue and try to seduce one another.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-12-23
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The Angel Levine
1970-07-28
The Angel Levine
Overview: 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?
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1970-07-28
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Audrey Hepburn: The Fairest Lady
1997-03-21
Audrey Hepburn: The Fairest Lady
Overview: The story of how Audrey Hepburn survived World War II, became an award winning actress, and gave back to the world as a humanitarian.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1997-03-21
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Harry Belafonte: Between Calypso and Justice
2022-07-22
Harry Belafonte: Between Calypso and Justice
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: de
Release Date: 2022-07-22
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Sidney
2022-09-10
Sidney
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2022-09-10
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Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
2012-03-20
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2012-03-20
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Is That Black Enough for You?!?
2022-10-09
Is That Black Enough for You?!?
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2022-10-09
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Mo & Me
2006-03-16
Mo & Me
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2006-03-16
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Swing Vote
1999-04-19
Swing Vote
Overview: 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.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1999-04-19
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Free to Be… You and Me
1974-03-11
Free to Be… You and Me
Overview: 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.
Genres: Animation Family TV Movie Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1974-03-11
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The University of Sing Sing
2011-04-01
The University of Sing Sing
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2011-04-01
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Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music
Original Language: en
Release Date:
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The Greatest Night in Pop
2024-01-19
The Greatest Night in Pop
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2024-01-19
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2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022-11-19
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2022-11-19
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The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert
1988-01-01
The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1988-01-01
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Muppet Music Moments
2004-11-20
Muppet Music Moments
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-11-20
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The Unforgettable Nat King Cole
1989-01-01
The Unforgettable Nat King Cole
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1989-01-01
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The Man Behind the White Guitar
2019-06-10
The Man Behind the White Guitar
Overview: 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."
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2019-06-10
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Following Harry
2024-06-14
Following Harry
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2024-06-14
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Jim Henson Idea Man
2024-05-18
Jim Henson Idea Man
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2024-05-18
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King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
1970-03-24
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Overview: Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, the documentary follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activist to world-renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement. Rare footage of King's speeches, protests, and arrests are interspersed with scenes of other high-profile supporters and opponents of the cause, punctuated by heartfelt testimonials by some of Hollywood's biggest stars.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1970-03-24
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The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
2011-04-01
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2011-04-01
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Anecdotes about Fidel
2009-01-01
Anecdotes about Fidel
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2009-01-01
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JFK: The Private President
2013-01-01
JFK: The Private President
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2013-01-01
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The Strolling '20s
1966-02-04
The Strolling '20s
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music Comedy TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1966-02-04
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Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark
2014-05-13
Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2014-05-13
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TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004-01-01
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-01-01
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Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
2017-10-14
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2017-10-14
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Grambling's White Tiger
1981-10-04
Grambling's White Tiger
Overview: 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.
Genres: Drama Action TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-10-04
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Rise Up: The Movement that Changed America
2018-04-04
Rise Up: The Movement that Changed America
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2018-04-04
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King in the Wilderness
2018-01-22
King in the Wilderness
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2018-01-22
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Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
2002-12-04
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Overview: The history of the irreverent "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" and the content battles it fought with its television network.
Genres: Documentary TV Movie Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2002-12-04
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The World of Nat King Cole
2004-06-15
The World of Nat King Cole
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-06-15
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Petula
1968-04-02
Petula
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1968-04-02
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BlacKkKlansman
2018-08-09
BlacKkKlansman
Overview: 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.
Genres: Crime Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2018-08-09
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The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
1993-07-01
The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1993-07-01
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Marsha Hunt's Sweet Adversity
2015-09-13
Marsha Hunt's Sweet Adversity
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2015-09-13
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The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
1986-01-21
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Overview: 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).
Genres: Family Fantasy Music TV Movie Comedy Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1986-01-21
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The World of Jim Henson
1994-11-23
The World of Jim Henson
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-11-23
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Best Ever Muppet Moments
2006-03-11
Best Ever Muppet Moments
Overview: A review of the most memorable Muppet moments to commemorate Kermit the Frog's 50th anniversary.
Genres: Comedy Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2006-03-11
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We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
1985-01-28
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
Overview: 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.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-01-28
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Nationtime
1972-11-01
Nationtime
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1972-11-01
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Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
2014-06-22
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2014-06-22
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Dom Salvador & The Abolition
2020-09-09
Dom Salvador & The Abolition
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: pt
Release Date: 2020-09-09
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The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show
2020-04-15
The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2020-04-15
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The Madding Crowd
2017-02-01
The Madding Crowd
Overview: "A great many conundrums." An assemblage of found footage.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2017-02-01
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Selma
2014-12-25
Selma
Overview: "Selma," as in Alabama, the place where segregation in the South was at its worst, leading to a march that ended in violence, forcing a famous statement by President Lyndon B. Johnson that ultimately led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act.
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2014-12-25
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Mr. SOUL!
2018-04-27
Mr. SOUL!
Overview: 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!
Genres: Documentary Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2018-04-27
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I Am Not Your Negro
2017-02-03
I Am Not Your Negro
Overview: Working from the text of James Baldwin’s unfinished final novel, director Raoul Peck creates a meditation on what it means to be Black in the United States.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2017-02-03
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JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala
2017-05-23
JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala
Overview: Documentary about the star-studded pre-inaugural gala that took place on January 19, 1961 to celebrate John F. Kennedy's election.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2017-05-23
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Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
1999-02-24
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1999-02-24
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The One and Only Dick Gregory
2021-06-19
The One and Only Dick Gregory
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2021-06-19
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Night of 100 Stars
1982-03-08
Night of 100 Stars
Overview: 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.
Genres: Comedy Music TV Movie Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1982-03-08
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The Tallest Tree in Our Forest
1977-01-01
The Tallest Tree in Our Forest
Overview: A detailed biography of famed singer, actor, athlete and activist Paul Robeson. Complete with several interviews and footage of concerts and film clips.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1977-01-01
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Året var 1966
2016-02-08
Året var 1966
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary History
Original Language: sv
Release Date: 2016-02-08
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Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
1998-01-01
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1998-01-01
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