THIRTEEN's American Masters Series Produces
New Documentary Bing Crosby Rediscovered,
Featuring
Unprecedented Access to Crosby's Archives
Premieres nationwide Tuesday, December 2 on PBS and DVD
Bing Crosby (May 3, 1903-October 14, 1977) was, without
doubt, the most popular and influential multimedia star of the first half of
the 20th century. For more than three decades, through radio, film, television
and records, he reigned supreme.
The new documentary American Masters: Bing Crosby
Rediscovered, premiering nationwide Tuesday, December 2 at 8 p.m. on
PBS (check local listings) as the series' Season 28 finale, explores
the life and legend of this iconic performer, revealing a man far more complex
than his public persona. The film is available December 2 on DVD from PBS
Distribution. A holiday encore presentation airs Friday, December 26 at 9
p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Crosby's estate, HLC Properties, Ltd., granted American
Masters unprecedented access to the entertainer's personal and
professional archives, including never-before-seen home movies, Dictabelt
recordings, photos and more. Narrated by Stanley Tucci, the film features new interviews with all surviving
members of Crosby's immediate family: wife Kathryn, daughter Mary and sons
Harry and Nathaniel. The film reveals Crosby's struggles with his first wife,
Dixie Lee, and their sons Gary, Dennis, Phillip and Lindsay. Mary addresses
accusations of abuse first published in Gary's 1983 memoir, which tarnished
their father's legacy. Gary speaks candidly about both his and his mother's
alcoholism as well as his difficulties with his father in a never-before-seen
1987 interview. Other
new interviews include singers Tony Bennett and Michael Feinstein, record
producer Ken Barnes,
biographer Gary Giddins, and writers Buz Kohan and Larry Grossman, who
both share the story behind Crosby's Christmas special duet with David Bowie.
American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered --
The Soundtrack features songs heard in the documentary, including 16
previously unreleased recordings, and is available November 25, 2014, via Bing
Crosby Archive and Universal Music Enterprises.
"I've never seen an entertainer more comfortable in
his own skin, more certain of who he was," says Emmy-winning director
Robert Trachtenberg, whose past films for American Masters
include Mel Brooks: Make a Noise, On Cukor, Gene Kelly:
Anatomy of a Dancer and Cary Grant: A Class Apart. "With the
new material I've found, I think the breadth, depth and candor of his story
will hopefully allow people to see him in a new light."
Thirty-seven years after his death, Crosby remains the
most recorded performer in history with nearly 400 hit singles, an achievement
no one - not Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley or the Beatles - has come close to
matching. A brilliant entrepreneur, Crosby played an important role in the
development of the postwar recording industry. As one of Hollywood's most
popular actors, he won the Oscar for 1944's Going My Way and starred in
the iconic "Road" films with Bob Hope.
"We naturally think of Bing at Christmastime, but
with more No. 1 recordings than anyone, it is easy to overlook all of his other
achievements. Thankfully, this film delves deeply into all of his remarkable
work, and will surprise many viewers with a unique perspective on his private
life," says Michael Kantor, executive producer of American Masters.
Launched in 1986 by series creator Susan Lacy, American
Masters has earned 28 Emmy Awards -- including 10 for Outstanding
Non-Fiction Series since 1999 and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special --
12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other
honors. Now in its 28th season on PBS, the series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC
for WNET. WNET is the parent
company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21, New York's public television stations, and
operator of NJTV. For more than 50 years, THIRTEEN has been a partner with the
tri-state community, using its rich resources to inform and inspire the
passionate people of New York and the world to better understand and address
the issues that challenge our diverse communities.
To take American Masters beyond the
television broadcast and further explore the themes, stories and personalities
of masters past and present, the companion website (http://pbs.org/americanmasters)
offers streaming video of select films, interviews, photos, outtakes, essays
and other resources. American Masters is also seen on the WORLD
channel, a 24/7, full-service multicast channel featuring public television's
signature nonfiction documentary, science and news programming, broadcast in
nearly two-thirds of the United States.
American
Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC's American
Masters for WNET. Robert Trachtenberg is writer, director and
producer. Gillian McCarthy is editor. Junko Tsunashima is supervising producer.
Julie Sacks is series producer. Susan Lacy and Michael Kantor are executive
producers.
American Masters is made possible by the
National Endowment for the Arts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Rosalind P. Walter, Anne Ray Charitable Trust,
Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation,
Rolf and Elizabeth Rosenthal, Jack Rudin, The André and Elizabeth Kertész
Foundation, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation and public television
viewers.
Believe it or not, I am actually a big fan of Bing
Crosby’s music, specials, and of course, his holiday recordings. Bing Crosby
Rocks!
