Skip to main content

American Masters: August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand DVD

$24.99
Item #: WB0542

Explore the life and legacy of August Wilson, the playwright some call America's Shakespeare, who chronicled the 20th-century black experience. Features James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Laurence Fishburne, Viola Davis, new dramatic readings and rare footage.

In Stock & Ready to Ship
Select Format:

Quantity:

Explore the life and legacy of August Wilson, the playwright some call America's Shakespeare, who chronicled the 20th-century black experience. Features James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Laurence Fishburne, Viola Davis, new dramatic readings and rare footage.


American Masters: August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand

Explore the life and legacy of playwright August Wilson (April 27, 1945 - October 2, 2005), the man some call America's Shakespeare, from his roots as an activist and poet to his indelible mark on Broadway. Film and theater luminaries including Viola Davis, Charles Dutton, Laurence Fishburne, James Earl Jones, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Phylicia Rashad share their stories of the career- and life-changing experience of bringing Wilson's rich theatrical voice to the stage.

With unprecedented access to Wilson's theatrical archives, rarely seen interviews and new dramatic readings, filmmaker Sam Pollard (Slavery by Another Name) brings to life Wilson's seminal 10-play cycle chronicling each decade of the 20th-century African-American experience, including the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning Fences and Pulitzer-winning The Piano Lesson. Family, friends, colleagues, and scholars trace Wilson's influences, creative evolution, triumphs, struggles, and quest for cultural determinism before his untimely death from liver cancer.

Producer: Sam Pollard, Julie Sacks
Executive Producer: Darryl Ford Williams, Susan Lacy
Production Company: Thirteen; WQED – Qed Communication
Production Year: 2015
Copyright Year: 2014
Rating: TV-PG
Talent: August Wilson
Writers: Stephen Stept
Number of Discs: 1
Length: 85 minutes
Subtitled: Y
Subtitle Languages: English (SDH)
Audio Format: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen


Highlighted Customer Reviews


I am buying this as a perfect gift
Review by Peter review stating I am buying this as a perfect gift
The man who I consider my best friend introduced me to August Wilson after I moved to the L.A. area. Since there is excellent theater in L.A., I have been able to see 3 of his plays and watch the prodcast of this DVD. The DVD is a gift for June, his 92 year old mother who is a fan of August Wilson. I have watched the film twice,and each viewing increased my amazment with this singular Black American master.
None
A mandatory look at American Society
Review by Pierced H. review stating A mandatory look at American Society
August Wilson is the most important playwriter of the Twentieth Century. He has given African Americans a ground on which to stand and a place to start in reconstructing their devastating history in the United States. He is equally important to all people, white, black, asian whatever to explore in poetic expression the kind of society we as American people have created and live in and a deep look into our spiritual depths. His work is deeply spiritual, poetic, practical, everything you can think of. August Wilson is a creative genius who has given so much more than we can ever imagine. The DVD gives a very good overview of his life and work.
All Hail August!
Review by Playgoer review stating All Hail August!
This DVD is an excellent introduction or Ive-already-seen-his-plays hour to be spent getting to know August Wilson as a person and his drive to portray African American life in various decades.

Virtual Catalog