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Masterpiece Theatre

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

About This Show

From Wikipedia:

Masterpiece (formerly known as Masterpiece Theatre) is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. It premiered on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on January 10, 1971, making it America's longest-running weekly prime time drama series. The series has presented numerous acclaimed British productions. Many of these are produced by the BBC, but the line-up has also included programs shown on the commercial services ITV and Channel 4.

Masterpiece is best known for presenting adaptations of novels and biographies, but it also shows original television dramas. The first title to air was The First Churchills, starring Susan Hampshire as Sarah Churchill. Other programs presented on the series include The Six Wives of Henry VIII; Elizabeth R; I, Claudius; Upstairs, Downstairs; The Duchess of Duke Street; The Citadel; The Jewel in the Crown; Reckless, House of Cards; Traffik; and Jeeves and Wooster. More recent popular titles include Prime Suspect; The Forsyte Saga; Sherlock; and Downton Abbey.

The theme music played during the opening credits is the Fanfare-Rondeau from "Symphonies and Fanfares for the King's Supper" by French composer Jean-Joseph Mouret. The theme was performed by Collegium Musicum de Paris. Roland Douatte was the conductor. It was recorded in 1954 by Vogue Records in Paris, France, and was later remastered in stereo and re-released by Nonesuch records in the 1960s.

During the first seasons in the 1970s, the theme music accompanied varying closeup shots of a waving British flag, which panned out into a still image of a British flag on a staff serving as the P in "Masterpiece." In the late 1970s the opening video switched to views of antique books and other literary artifacts.

In 1980, Masterpiece gained a sister series, Mystery!, featuring a mix of contemporary and classic British detective and crime series, such as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, and Touching Evil. In 2000, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the show, it presented Masterpiece: The American Collection, nine works by American writers, including Thornton Wilder's Our Town, starring Paul Newman.

Who Talked About This Show

  • Earl Hamner, Jr.
  • James L. Loper
  • Marian Rees

Featured Content

Video: Watch the opening credits of Masterpiece Theatre from 1983:

Resources

Link: 

Official website: Masterpiece

YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
  • Highlights
  • All Interviewee clips on this show

Highlights

  • Marian Rees on programming <i>Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection </i>Marian Rees on programming Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection 
    Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 06m 03s
  • Earl Hamner on producing an episode of <i>Masterpiece Theater</i> for PBSEarl Hamner on producing an episode of Masterpiece Theater for PBS
    Clip begins at: 26:59, Duration: 03m 35s
  • James L. Loper on <i>Masterpiece Theater</i> and other PBS programmingJames L. Loper on Masterpiece Theater and other PBS programming
    Clip begins at: 24:35, Duration: 02m 51s
  • Marian Rees on the politics at PBS regarding <i>Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection</i> and public reaction to the seriesMarian Rees on the politics at PBS regarding Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection and public reaction to the series
    Clip begins at: 19:09, Duration: 10m 43s

All Interviewee clips on this show

  • Earl Hamner, Jr.
    • Earl Hamner on producing an episode of Masterpiece Theater for PBS
      Clip begins at: 26:59, Duration: 03m 35s
  • James L. Loper
    • James L. Loper on Masterpiece Theater and other PBS programming
      Clip begins at: 24:35, Duration: 02m 51s
  • Marian Rees
    • Marian Rees on becoming involved with Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection  and selling the show
      Clip begins at: 13:41, Duration: 09m 26s
    • Marian Rees on gaining full creative control over Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection
      Clip begins at: 23:07, Duration: 05m 19s
    • Marian Rees on programming Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection 
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 06m 03s
    • Marian Rees on Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection's presentation of "Cora Unashamed"
      Clip begins at: 06:03, Duration: 10m 15s
    • Marian Rees on Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection's presentation of "A Death in the Family" and "Almost a Woman"
      Clip begins at: 16:18, Duration: 02m 51s
    • Marian Rees on the politics at PBS regarding Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection and public reaction to the series
      Clip begins at: 19:09, Duration: 10m 43s
    • Marian Rees on public reaction and the educational benefits of Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection's "Almost a Woman"
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 14m 48s
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