Red, White and Bluegrass

A short documentary about Arthur Penn.

The film tells the story of the intimate and unprecedented encounter between the photojournalists of the Magnum Agency and the world of cinema. The confrontation of two seemingly opposite worlds – fiction and reality. For 70 years their paths crossed: a family of photographers, amongst them the biggest names in photography, and a family of actors and filmmakers who helped write the history of cinema, from John Huston to Marilyn Monroe to Orson Welles, Kate Winslet and Sean Penn.

In 1940, the Kilgore College Rangerettes became the first dancing drill team in the nation. They have been performing at half-time shows during college football games ever since.

Dustin Hoffman’s most challenging physical transformation occurred early in his career, when he undertook the role of Jack Crabb in the big screen adaptation of Thomas Berger’s novel, Little Big Man (directed by Arthur Penn). The role required Hoffman to portray a character who lives well past the age of 100. In The Many Faces of Dustin Hoffman, director Elliott Erwitt is providing a rare behind-the-scenes look into the process of movie-making. In this brief film, Hoffman discusses the craft of acting in general, but also talks specifically about his approach to the Jack Crabb character. This insider's glimpse into the mind of one of our greatest actors is a rare treat for both fans of Hoffman and anyone interested in the process of acting.