—James Watson, the Man Behind the Double Helix, Confronts His Complex Legacy—
Thrust into the limelight for discovering the secret of life at age 25 with Francis Crick, influential Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson has thrived on making headlines ever since.
His discovery of DNA’s structure, the double helix, revolutionized human understanding of how life works.
He was a relentless and sometimes ruthless visionary who led the Human Genome project and turned Harvard University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory into powerhouses of molecular biology.
With unprecedented access to Watson, his wife Elizabeth and sons Rufus and Duncan over the course of a year, AMERICAN MASTERS explores Watson’s evolution from socially awkward postdoc to notorious scientific genius to discredited nonagenarian, also interviewing his friends, his colleagues, scientists and historians.
Controversial and unapologetic, Watson still thrives on competition and disruption.
The film uncovers his signature achievements, complexities and contradictions, including his penchant for expressing unfiltered and objectionable points of view.
WATCH ON YOUR SCHEDULE:
This film will be available to stream on demand for a limited time after broadcast beginning Jan. 3, 2019. Extend your viewing window with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members ($60 yearly) using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.
The film is available on DVD and you can pre-order it at ShopPBS.org.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE AMERICAN MASTERS PODCAST:
Listen to new interviews with contemporary artists, along with previously unreleased interviews from the series' award-winning documentary films. Subscribe now
JOIN THE DISCUSSION:
AMERICAN MASTERS is on Facebook, Instagram, tumblr, and you can follow @PBSAmerMasters on Twitter. #AmericanMastersPBS
CREDITS:
A production of ROOM 608 INC. and THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC’s AMERICAN MASTERS for WNET. Directed and produced by Mark Mannucci. Hannah Meagher is co-producer. Alex Ricciardi is editor. Scott Sinkler is director of photography. For ROOM 608 INC., Jonathan Halperin is executive producer. For AMERICAN MASTERS, Michael Kantor is executive producer.
