Biographies on Film

AN AMAZING GRACE (SV10326)
1978, B&W and Color, 60 minutes, NR.
Documentary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and role in the events that surrounded the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ‘60s.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN (2633/24259)
1974, Color, 110 minutes, Rated PG. 
Starring Cicely Tyson, Richard Dysart, Michael Murphy, and Katherine Helmond.
A historical drama based on a fictional 110-year-old woman whose life and endurance symbolize Black America’s struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.

WILBUR & ORVILLE WRIGHT:  DREAMS OF FLYING (36282)
1996, Color, 50 minutes, NR.
On December 17, 1903, they flew into history.  But the years that followed were anything but smooth sailing.  This video explores the personal life of the men who taught the world to fly.  See rare footage of their early experiments with gliders and the historic first flight.  Learn how a fatal crash in 1908 permanently injured Orville, and follow the many years of legal battles that put Wilbur in an early grave.  Explore how the pressures of success affected their private lives, and led Orville to sell the company, devoting the rest of his life to trying to secure the brothers' rightful place in history.

CATHERINE THE GREAT (32073 plus)
2000, Color, 100 minutes, NR. 
Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Omar Sharif, Jeanne Moreau, and Hannes Jaenicke.
Portrayal of the legendary German princess.  In 1744, young Sophia is crowned Catherine II, wife of Peter, a horrible despot and ruler of Russia.  Soon Catherine rises above her oppressive environment to become the famed Czarina of Russia.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (SV13824)
1985, Color, 135 minutes, NR. 
Starring Gabriel Byrne and Faye Dunaway.
This feature film presents the breakthrough voyage and subsequent trips Columbus made to the New World.  Historically exact, it recounts the tale of the explorer's desperate quest.

EINSTEIN (SV21866)
Color, 24 minutes, NR.
Einstein was considered by many to be the greatest thinker of the 20th century.  His amazing discoveries gave scientists around the world new insights about the universe in which we live.  The things we know today about time and space, mass and energy, and gravity and light, we can attribute to Einstein.

FIRST LADIES (SV8092)
1990, Color and B&W, 60 minutes, NR.
Spend an hour with America's most provocative, influential women:  Martha Washington, Dolly Madison, Mary Todd Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan, and Barbara Bush.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS (SV11318)
1983, Rated G. 
Starring Robert Hooks.
The story examines his life and the significant contributions this outstanding African-American made toward the abolition of slavery in America.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS (BLACK AMERICANS OF ACHIEVEMENT) (SV11826)
1992, Color, 30 minutes, NR.
This video biography contains interviews with leading authorities on Douglass' life, accompanied by fascinating archival footage, photographs, and period music.  Viewers will enjoy learning about this outstanding African-American and his accomplishments.

GREAT WOMEN IN AMERICAN HISTORY (SV21865)
24 minutes, NR.
Susan B. Anthony, Margaret Sanger, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sojourner Truth, and Helen Keller are inspirations for thousands of women everywhere.  These and many other women have made important contributions to the U.S. and paved the way for future generations.

I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS (SV18599)
1978, Color, 96 minutes, Rated PG. 
Starring Ruby Dee, Esther Rolle, and Diahann Carroll.
Based on the best-selling autobiography by the extraordinary Maya Angelou,  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is adapted with genuine, loving care and moving performances by an all-star cast.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF MARTIN (SV5170)
1986, B&W and Color, 60 minutes, NR. 
Corretta Scott King, Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Julian Bond, Former President Jimmy Carter, Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, Jesse Jackson, Senator Edward Kennedy, John Lewis, Bishop Desmond Tutu, and Andrew Young join together to provide a remarkable documentary honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dramatic archival footage traces King’s leadership in the Civil Rights Movement.  The powerful and moving “I Have a Dream” address is documented in this program.  Also included is King’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964; the violence that marked the March 7th Bloody Sunday in 1965; and King’s speeches against the Vietnam War.

MACARTHUR (3595)
1979, Color, 131 minutes, Rated PG. 
Starring Gregory Peck, Ed Flanders, and Dan O’Herlihy.
General Douglas MacAurthur reflects on the events of his life: his achievments as the head of the American forces in the Pacific during World War II, his years governing post war Japan, and his final campaign in Korea which lead to clashes with President Harry S. Truman.

MALCOLM X, part 1 & 2 (11512)
1992, Color, 201 minutes, Rated PR-13. 
Starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Spike Lee, Al Freeman, Jr., and Delroy Lindo.
The controversial chronicle of the life of spiritual and political leader, Malcolm X, assassinated at age 39 by black extremists.

MALCOLM X - EL HAJJ MALIK EL SHABAZZ (SV10327/SV11549)
B&W, 60 minutes, NR.
Malcolm X was considered to be one of the 20th century's most charismatic and controversial civil rights leaders.  This program traces Malcolm X's incredible odyssey from a Harlem street hustler to a self-made world leader.

MALCOLM X:  MAKE IT PLAIN (SV34422)
1994. Color and B&W, 136 minutes, NR. 
Narrated by Alfre Woodard.
Political philosopher and visionary, husband and father, dynamic orator and militant minister, Malcolm X was both loved and despised, revered and feared – until an assassin’s bullet cut him down in 1965.  This video is an in-depth film portrait that goes straight to the heart, the mind and the message of one of the modern era’s most complex figures.  His story is told through the memories of people who had close personal and working relationships with Malcolm X, from prominent figures, to Nation of Islam associates, to Malcolm’s own family members.

MANDELA (8654)
1996, Color, 120 minutes, NR.
This documentary traces Mandela’s story from his birth to his current status as a respected political leader, featuring interviews with Mandela and his contemporaries and newsreel footage that records the turbulent past of both Mandela and his nation.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: A PERSONAL PORTRAIT (SV3741)
Color and B&W, 53 minutes, Rated G.
A documentary using rare footage of the personal life of Dr. King.  Featured are many conversations never before available.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: THE SPEECHES COLLECTION (SV11543/SV34417)
1990, Color and B&W, 60 minutes, NR.
Follow Dr. King’s electrifying speeches from his early days as a young pastor in Montgomery to the great march on Washington, including the final prophetic speech in Memphis just days before his tragic assassination.

MICHAEL JORDAN TO THE MAX (31937)
2000, Color, 46 minutes, NR.
This film shows off the glittering life and career of arguable the greatest basketball player ever, Michael Jordan.  See this living legend from his childhood in North Carolina to his college days and his professional career, including his foray into baseball and culminating in the Chicago Bulls’ 1998 championship.

MIRACLE WORKER (SV8171/3389)
1962, B&W, 107 minutes, Rated G. 
Starring Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke.
Based on the book by William Gibson.  A screen adaptation of the Broadway play concerning the relationship between Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan.

THE MIRACLE WORKER (32388 plus)
2000, Color, 90 minutes, Rated PG. 
Starring Alison Elliott, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, David Strathairn, and Lucas Black.
Based on the true story of Helen Keller.  This sensitive version of the famous story about determination and perseverance was originally seen on The Wonderful World of Disney.

PATTON (SV32627)
1970, Color, 171 minutes, Rated PG. 
Starring George C. Scott, Stephen Young, Michael Strong and Karl Malden.
Biography of controversial World War II hero General George S. Patton.  The film covers his wartime activities and accomplishments, beginning with his entry into the North African campaign and ending with his removal from command after his outspoken criticism of U.S. postwar military strategy.

PRESIDENTS (SV8091)  
Color and B&W, 60 minutes.
From George Washington to George Bush, this program uncovers amazing, little-known facts about every American president.  Each one had a different style, whether he was a great warrior, a peanut farmer or a B-movie actor.

THE PRESIDENTS OF A NATIONAL STRUGGLE 1829-1901 (SV16111)
80 minutes, NR.
These 72 years of presidential history witnessed a national struggle between men who favored the right to own slaves and those who opposed it.  The 19th century was a time of instability in the office of the President.  During this time America went from adolescence to maturity.  Presidents Andrew Jackson through William McKinley.

THE PRESIDENTS OF A NEW NATION 1789-1829 (SV16110)
70 minutes, NR.
The first 40 years of our nation witnessed the extraordinary leadership of six great men.  These visionaries expanded the original colonial boundaries beyond the Mississippi and developed the institutions that under-girded a growing nation.  Presidents George Washington through John Quincy Adams.

THE PRESIDENTS OF A WORLD POWER 1901-1992 (SV16112)
70 minutes, NR.
In a little less than 100 years of the American Presidency, the United States became a world power and the principal force behind the most important issues of our time - maintaining world peace and preserving the human race.  Presidents Theodore Roosevelt through George Bush.

THE QUEST FOR FREEDOM: THE HARRIET TUBMAN STORY (SV19557)
1992, Color, 40 minutes, NR. 
Starring Reg Grant, Summer Selby, and David King.
In The Quest for Freedom we meet Harriet Tubman through the eyes of a young present-day man who has lost his courage to dream.  One day he enters a mysterious library.  Suddenly he’s trapped in the past – a slave on a plantation with Harriet.  And he discovers that without courage, there are no dreams…and without dreams, there is no future.

SOJOURNER TRUTH (SV11828)
1992, Color, 30 minutes, NR.
This video biography contains interviews with leading authorities on Truth's life accompanied by fascinating archival footage, photographs, and period music.

THE STORY OF HELEN KELLER (SV16106)
1991, B&W, 55 minutes, NR.
This is the story of a normal, attractive child who, at the age of 18 months, was suddenly shut off from the world of sight and sound.  Through courage and faith, Helen Keller grew into a highly intelligent and sensitive woman who wrote, spoke, and labored incessantly for the betterment of others.