Nancy Porter Movies
- 1999
This PBS program reviews many of Admiral Richard E. Byrd's outstanding accomplishments. As this program reveals, Byrd was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who gained critical flying experience during World War I. He made the first successful flight over the North Pole in 1926, before being financed by the U.S. government to make the first of several expeditions to Antarctica. Interviews with historians help bring Byrd's life into clear focus. ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi
- 1999
Harry Houdini was performing in a circus with his wife when he began dreaming about an even bigger career. This film recalls the highlights of his career, including his 1912 stunt that established him as the world's greatest escape artist. In that instance, Houdini had himself lowered into New York's East River in a crate that was wrapped in chains. In less than a minute, he escaped and came to the surface as both an admired and famous man. Archival footage and dramatic re-creations performed by professional escape artist Bob Fellows allow viewers to revisit some of Houdini's major stunts. On-camera interviews with such people as illusionist David Copperfield, psychic claims investigator James Randi, and many others shed light on Houdini's performing techniques. Actor Mandy Patinkin narrates this probing looking into this performer's life. ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi
- 1996
- Add American Experience: The Wright Stuff to Queue Add American Experience: The Wright Stuff to top of Queue
Written, produced, and directed by Nancy Porter, this documentary chronicles how the eccentric Wright brothers overcame their own sibling bickering and the skepticism of the world to build the first successful flying machine. As Tom Crouch of the National Air and Space Museum explains in an interview, "They weren't college graduate engineers, but at the same time, they were two of the best engineers working in the world at the time." Highlights include footage of a replica of the Wright brothers' plane built by Rick and Sue Young and flown at Kitty Hawk by Jacqueline Young and David Young. Narrated by Garrison Keillor. David McCullough hosts this program, which originally aired as an episode of the Emmy award-winning PBS series The American Experience. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi
- 1999
Houdini: People Came to See Him Die chronicles the unique life and mysterious death of Harry Houdini, the world's most famous escape artist. Featuring rare archival footage, photographs, interviews with historians and associates, and recently discovered memorabilia and papers, the 61-minute biography sheds new light on Houdini's pursuit of a place in history.
~ Kathleen Wildasin, Rovi
~ Kathleen Wildasin, Rovi
- 2005
- Add NOVA: Typhoid Mary - The Most Dangerous Woman in America to Queue Add NOVA: Typhoid Mary - The Most Dangerous Woman in America to top of Queue
This film examines the outbreak of Typhoid Fever that sacked the posh summer community of Oyster Bay, Long Island in 1906. Investigations later revealed that a single, Irish cook-a woman who was perfectly healthy by all appearances-was the source of the outbreak and was henceforth known as Typhoid Mary. Using modern technology to examine this event of the past, the film offers ideas about communicable disease and the role of the medical community in protecting the public at large. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
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