Apr 01, 2015
70 min
Full-HD

Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band (2015)

Jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams was a genius ahead of her time. From child prodigy to "Boogie-Woogie Queen" to groundbreaking composer to mentoring some of the greatest musicians of all time, she never ceased to astound those who heard her play. But for a Black woman in the early 1900s, life as a star did not come easy.

Category

Documentary

Country

Companies

Mary Lou Williams

Self (archive footage)

Alfre Woodard

Mary Lou Williams (voice)

Delroy Lindo

John Williams (voice)

Wendell Pierce

Andy Kirk (voice)

Stanley Crouch

Self

Robin D.G. Kelley

Self

Gary Giddins

Self

Tammy L. Kernodle

Self

Recommended For You

Documentary
2022
Movie

Halftime

Halftime

6.8
2022

Global superstar Jennifer Lopez reflects on her multifaceted career and the pressure of life in the spotlight in this intimate documentary.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
2018
Movie

Love, Gilda

Love, Gilda

7.2
2018

Diaries, audiotapes, videotapes and testimonials from friends and colleagues offer insight into the life and career of Gilda Radner -- the beloved comic and actress who became an icon on Saturday Night Live.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
2018
Movie

Quincy

Quincy

7.3
2018

An intimate look into the life of icon Quincy Jones. A unique force in music and popular culture for 70 years, Jones has transcended racial and cultural boundaries; his story is inextricably woven into the fabric of America. Jones came to prominence in the 1950s as a jazz arranger and conductor before working on pop music and film scores. He moved easily between musical genres, producing major pop hits of the early 1960s and serving as an arranger and conductor for several collaborations in the same time period.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
2014
Movie

To Be Takei

To Be Takei

7.2
2014

Over seven decades, actor and activist George Takei journeyed from a World War II internment camp to the helm of the Starship Enterprise, and then to the daily news feeds of five million Facebook fans. Join George and his husband, Brad, on a wacky and profound trek for life, liberty, and love.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
2013
Movie

Love, Marilyn

Love, Marilyn

6.6
2013

Using the book 'Fragments', which collects Marilyn Monroe's poems, notes and letters, and with participation from the Arthur Miller and Truman Capote estates who have contributed more material, each of the actresses will embody the legend at various stages in her life.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
2013
Movie

Milius

Milius

7.1
2013

The life story of ‘Zen Anarchist’ filmmaker John Milius, one of the most influential storytellers of his generation.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
2013
Movie

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

6.9
2013

An impressionistic portrait of the iconic actor Harry Dean Stanton comprised of intimate moments, film clips from some of his 250 films and his renditions of American folk songs.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
2023
Movie

The Only Girl in the Orchestra

The Only Girl in the Orchestra

6.6
2023

Trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien never wanted the spotlight, but when Leonard Bernstein hired her in 1966 as the first female musician in the New York Philarmonic, it was inevitable that she would become the focus of much interest and fascination. Now 87 years old and recently retired, Orin looks back on her remarkable life and career, insisting that a fuss should not be made, much preferring to play a supporting role to the family, students, friends, and colleagues that surround her.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
2020
Movie

Miss Americana

Miss Americana

7.8
2020

A raw and emotionally revealing look at one of the most iconic artists of our time during a transformational period in her life as she learns to embrace her role not only as a songwriter and performer, but as a woman harnessing the full power of her voice.

Genre : Documentary

Music
2016
Movie

Supersonic

Supersonic

7.4
2016

Supersonic charts the meteoric rise of Oasis from the council estates of Manchester to some of the biggest concerts of all time in just three short years. This palpable, raw and moving film shines a light on one of the most genre and generation-defining British bands that has ever existed and features candid new interviews with Noel and Liam Gallagher, their mother, and members of the band and road crew.

Music
2021
Movie

Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles

Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles

7.8
2021

Fresh off the heels of her brand-new album, "Happier Than Ever," this cinematic concert experience features an intimate performance of every song in the album's sequential order – for the first and only time – from the stage of the legendary Hollywood Bowl.

Documentary
2004
Movie

In the Realms of the Unreal

In the Realms of the Unreal

7.2
2004

In the Realms of the Unreal is a documentary about the reclusive Chicago-based artist Henry Darger. Henry Darger was so reclusive that when he died his neighbors were surprised to find a 15,145-page manuscript along with hundreds of paintings depicting The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is Known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glodeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Cased by the Child Slave Rebellion.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
1974
Movie

That's Entertainment!

That's Entertainment!

7.4
1974

Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.

Genre : Documentary

Music
2018
Movie

Whitney

Whitney

7.3
2018

Examines the life and career of singer Whitney Houston. Features never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive recordings, rare performances and interviews with the people who knew her best.

Documentary
2024
Movie

Frida

Frida

6.7
2024

An intimately raw and magical journey through the life, mind, and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo. Told through her own words for the very first time — drawn from her diary, revealing letters, essays, and print interviews — and brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork.

Genre : Documentary

Music
2020
Movie

Zappa

Zappa

7.3
2020

With the help of more than 10,000 dedicated Zappa fans, this is the long-awaited definitive documentary project of Alex Winter documenting the life and career of enigmatic groundbreaking rock star Frank Zappa. Alex also utilizes in this picture thousands of hours of painstakingly digitized videos, photos, audio, writing, and everything in between from Zappa's private archives. These chronicles have never been brought to a public audience before, until now.

Documentary
2011
Movie

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

7.2
2011

Beloved by children of all ages around the world, Elmo is an international icon. Few people know his creator, Kevin Clash, who dreamed of working with his idol, master puppeteer Jim Henson. Displaying his creativity and talent at a young age, Kevin ultimately found a home on Sesame Street. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary includes rare archival footage, interviews with Frank Oz, Rosie O’Donnell, Cheryl Henson, Joan Ganz Cooney and others and offers a behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Street and the Jim Henson Workshop.

Genre : Documentary

Documentary
1980
Movie

Making 'The Shining'

Making 'The Shining'

7.1
1980

Directed and edited by Stanley Kubrick's daughter Vivian Kubrick, this film offers a look behind the scenes during the making of The Shining.

Genre : Documentary