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D. A. Pennebaker
Director 1925 - 2019

D. A. Pennebaker

Evanston, Illinois, USA

Donn Alan Pennebaker (/ˈpɛniːbeɪkər/; July 15, 1925 – August 1, 2019) was an American documentary filmmaker and one of the pioneers of direct cinema. Performing arts and politics were his primary subjects. In 2013, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his... Read full bio →

Directed Films

Every film this person directed

11 titles
The War Room

The War Room

D. A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus 1993 1h 36m

A behind-the-scenes documentary about the Clinton for President campaign, focusing on the adventures of spin doctors James Carville and George Stephanopoulos.

101

101

D. A. Pennebaker, David Dawkins 1989 2h 8.0

A fascinating documentary focusing on backstage realities of art and business during the British synthesizer band's 1988 American tour.

Shake!: Otis at Monterey

Shake!: Otis at Monterey

D. A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus 1987 19m

Renowned documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker captures Otis Redding in his ascendancy, singing at the historic Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967.

Jimi Plays Monterey

Jimi Plays Monterey

D. A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus 1987 50m

Jimi Hendrix's debut American set at 1967's Monterey Pop Festival is generally considered one of the most radical and legendary live shows ever.

Town Bloody Hall

Town Bloody Hall

D. A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus 1979 1h 28m

Norman Mailer and a panel of feminists — Jacqueline Ceballos, Germaine Greer, Jill Johnston, and Diana Trilling — debate the issue of Women's Liberation.

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

D. A. Pennebaker 1973 1h 30m 8.0

Concert film of a David Bowie show in 1973. This was the last show with Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust persona, and with the Spiders from Mars band.

Original Cast Album: Company

Original Cast Album: Company

D. A. Pennebaker 1970 53m

In 1970, right after the triumphant premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking concept musical Company, the renowned composer and lyricist, his director Harold Prince, the show’s stars, and a large pit orchestra all went into a Manhattan recording studio as part of a time-honored Broadway tradition: the making of the original cast album.

Monterey Pop

Monterey Pop

D. A. Pennebaker 1968 1h 20m 7.0

Legendary California music festival (pre-Woodstock) that launched the state-side careers of several performers, most notably Jimi Hendrix. Check out Mama Cass being absolutely blown away while watching Joplin sing. Here there be REAL acid rock.

Dont Look Back

Dont Look Back

D. A. Pennebaker 1967 1h 36m 8.0

Don’t Look Back is a documentary of Bob Dylan’s 1965 tour of England. The film begins with the famous and some say best music video of all times "Subterranean Homesick Blues.” The cameras follow Dylan as he experiments with the electric guitar for the first time.

Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment

Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment

D. A. Pennebaker, Robert Drew 1963 52m

During a two-day period before and after the University of Alabama integration crisis, the film uses five camera crews to follow President John F. Kennedy, attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, Alabama governor George Wallace, deputy attorney general Nicholas Katzenbach and the students Vivian Malone and James Hood.

Adventures on the New Frontier

Adventures on the New Frontier

Albert Maysles, D. A. Pennebaker 1961 52m

A look at the daily business of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, with a focus on some of the political issues he faces six weeks into his term. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2007.

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