Stella Adler: Awake and Dream! from "American Masters"

PBS American Masters presents Stella Adler: Awake and Dream!
Season 4, Episode 2
Narrated by actor Frank Langella, this documentary pays tribute to renowned acting guru Stella Adler (1901-1992), whose dissemination of "method" techniques developed by Konstantin Stanislavsky (1868-1938) helped transform acting in the United States. Directed by Merrill Brockway and produced by Catherine Tatge, this program features footage of Adler coaching her students, including superstars Warren Beatty, Marlon Brando, and Robert DeNiro. Other highlights include interviews with students, colleagues, and friends of Adler. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi

[@warrenbfeagins]

"You are NOT acting WORDS." Greatest lesson any actor can learn.

[@jermainegamble5631]

True

[@nasserhellal5486]

@@jermainegamble5631~0

[@jude999]

What does that mean? I like Spencer Tracy: "Stand up and tell the truth."

[@smurf902]

Even greater was when she said the words are not yours, they're someone else's, the actor must bring them to life. One aside I'd give is when people always say it's not what you say it's how you say it, which is really saying that HOW you said it reveals a completely different intention, it's the subtext that comes through then.

[@mk-ww7ii]

@@jude999 she is talking about putting some life under them

[@ThePoorBoy]

Seeing Stella chew out a young Ruffalo is priceless. Unfortunately, a lot of today's acting teachers chew their students out without really giving them the tools to grow -- her approach was great for herself, but many of today's young actors are greatly damaged by teachers who think they're Stella Adler.

[@marypolcari7321]

ThePoorBoy very well said

[@dduem13]

ThePoorBoy I have experienced this first hand at AADA. The "teacher" thinks she is meisner, but has no idea what she's doing. I dropped out and went somewhere with real information.

[@JackJensenTrader]

Priceless to see a young Ruffalo, but not sure how apt; in-line with what I saw her to do others. I was in a scene study with her, and she also chewed out an actor for having a rug in an apartment for a scene from the '30's. It may have been Golden Boy, but not sure. She was a part of the Group Theater in the 30's, and they were poor, and her point in chewing out the actor was that there is no way that the character would have a rug, because they would have sold it, as they were living hand-to-mouth. Perhaps, I don't know. But to me it smelt of being more of "look how much we suffered" as opposed to being true to the play.

[@simonbailey8814]

Attacking actors doesn’t help. It’s just a power play. Dispassionate analysis is what helps.

[@scottkuhn4026]

You might be right.

[@TheCSTERN]

Studied with her, Sanford Meisner, Gene Frankle and Robert X Modica, and she taught me the most and made me the great teacher I've become.

[@azion1433]

Incredible! Can you share something that has stuck with you from her teaching?

[@robertjosan]

I studied with Bob and Gene as well@@azion1433

[@CyleWithABigOleC]

Where do you teach now! Interested in studying with you!

[@missyogi]

I really don't like emotional memory, it digs some bad things on your brain, I'd rather use imagination, that's why her method is inspiring to me

[@Dancestar1981]

Juliana Caesar me too I’d like access to classes in Bendigo Australia using the Adler Method

[@devorahcutler-rubenstein7257]

Well said. Results are not where it is at. Fame is not the goal... touching down on your truth, you move people. If you are lucky, you are found and, if you are unlucky you are found. So do it for yourself, and the glory of expanding your reach within the world. One or many - art changes our perceptions. She was amazing. And changed my life!

[@kholekamkhize4264]

Wow this is so beautiful 🥺 you are so well spoken.

[@petermcgarry7985]

this is so true & well put. "if you are luck you are found and if yo are unlucky you are found" that is brilliant

[@smurf902]

I think it's important for actors to hear what her true gripe with Strasberg was straight from the horse's mouth: emotional memory vs imagination. Honestly though, in seeing captivating performances onstage and in film, even as a studied actor, one cannot see the wheels turning and tell what their preparation was nor their technique, it comes out in the moment and we're mesmerized. It's one of the toughest things, to take all that preparation and make it look spontaneous.

[@Meow_meowwww]

It will look spontaneous from training the scene a lot of times. The toughest thing is to get there, than you just need to let it go.

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

The "Method" was simply wrong, and truly distorted cinematic acting and much stage acting. That actors were able to draw useful benefit from it was due to their own talent and intelligence.

[@NostalgiNorden]

@@nonenoneonenonenone Dumbest take of the century.

[@gforceeatingcorrect]

I studied with Stella Adler for four years she was "AMAZING , INTELLECTUAL and PASSIONATE" !!! Never again will anyone come to her caliber and she really loved " The Actor !!"""

[@gforceeatingcorrect]

WILDKOALA10 I am a "WORKING " Actor for the last 47 years !!

[@gforceeatingcorrect]

***** No she passed away !!There are many life's lessons she taught us !!

[@linguatonica9782]

Deux Poissons Hats off to you and everyone else busy in theater or movie making .See ,I did not say industry or business or show biz.For me it is and will always be synonym of a group of artists of different disciplines whose aim is to deliver a piece of art to the audience.There.!

[@thelaughingblerd]

You are so fortunate what great memories he must have as well as lessons learned

[@zaheerpallamabdulla9649]

loved your comment

[@derycktrahair8108]

A great doco. "Acting is not about the words"...and it's the same in Music...it's not the notes, it's the way you play them. Stella Adler = a tough teacher. Sometimes we need someone like that to wake us up from our self satisfied egos. Thanks for posting that.

[@MillerTimeVoiceOver]

Amen!

[@matthewmauldon9219]

I read Stella Adler book on acting I believe it’s called it’s somewhere on my book shelf but I’m drinking wine right now and don’t care to get up because I have a broken foot and my crutches annoy me. Anyways her book literally changed my life and I’ve used one technique she describes vehemently in which she says to cast your voice as if before a great audience. There were many details in the book that opened my eyes in which she describes her experiences in Europe and how for example the doors and the door knobs seems timeless and or built for time where as in the US nothing is built to last. I strongly encourage you to read her book. I’m not an actor at least not in the sense of cinema however her words greatly influenced me. Cheers from Texas.

[@oosa358]

Can you share the title?

[@Ludens_LearningVoyage]

@@oosa358 It's called "The Art of Acting", great book!

[@nyctravis3381]

KZbin brings so many interesting films I would not have ordinarily sought out

[@DrummerBoy233]

Having read Stella Adler's 'The Art of Acting', then see and hear her teach in this video was just grand. There is so much information to soak up in this, also loved seeing a young Mark Ruffalo as a student being criticized.

[@A777K]

Omg where???

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

I had no idea it was him, but the shmatte he was wearing did come off as wrong, even if the length and cut was right. He didn't own it properly and it upset her rightly.

[@thapsaphiri]

I am an actor based in South Africa and this just awaken me.

[@StrawberryNinjaNibbles]

I think it’s interesting that the actress she thought was “brilliant” around 45:00 is the one that was acting in a fashion most similar to Stella’s herself....

[@paulcervenka]

I am absolutely smitten by Stella Adler's approach to acting. It's so compelling and I wish I could have met her.

[@ryang790]

I love when Mrs Adler said you dont own the words they are not ur privilege and the play is about ideas NOT words... You dont READ you FEEL.. you express. I wish this was longer i could take her in ALL day..People like this tend to be rare. People who talk deeper but it's put in simpler terms. I wouldnt try to sound clever for the sake of being clever in front of her. She wud prob ridicule you. Maybe alot of people have an idea of what acting is instead of acting??

[@thejackdiamondart]

I studied with Jeff Cory and George Shdanoff for years very similar classes. This brought back so many memories of those years. We were pushed to the limits and beyond but in a positive way that either made you or broke you. Not everyone is cut out to be an actor.Not every actor is cut out to be a teacher, words from Master teacher George Shdanoff. I am currently working to pass on that tradition.

[@MillerTimeVoiceOver]

“Listen with your blood”. Listen until it hurts. Wowzers!

[@aleksandraaleister667]

Absolutely Legendary...I wonder if I was to have a nervous breakdown If I had ever worked with Stella Adler

[@emhu2594]

Nothing she says is wrong...a lot of these actors are terrible and need it. That said she stays at 20/10 when everyone else is at a 2/10

[@lisamoroney3036]

I definitely would

[@lawsonj39]

Frank Langella's narration is music. Love his voice.

[@billybobdeniro]

"She is a bully, a genius, a tyrant, an angel." Lee Strasberg has been described in similar ways.

[@NostalgiNorden]

Ok?

[@simonbailey8814]

Stella was smart, dedicated and passionate. I think sometimes her intensity was counterproductive in teaching as it could just induce tension, which is the enemy of acting. I think when you act you should be free to use imagination AND emotion memory. We are all different and need to have a wide repertoire of techniques to draw on.

[@NostalgiNorden]

De Niro and others studied under both Adler and Strasberg.

[@SallyHampton]

Oh, I loved Stella. She was tough but such a brilliant teacher and person.

[@gabbymcdee6480]

Stella was absolutely Stellar!

[@mattd501]

The ONE! I knew it the first time she opened her mouth, it's like bricks hitting you at full force but somehow that blow is transforming and rebirthing your soul!! She's reared the finest actors including one of my personal all-time Mark Ruffalo..If you were meant to be she knew it and I know this without ever having met her...Incomparable from my seat

[@danielpincus221]

Very inspiring. At 54:42, this is the original quote: “The latest Gospel in this world is, Know thy work and do it. 'Know thyself:' long enough has that poor 'self' of thine tormented thee; thou wilt never get to 'know' it, I believe! Think it not thy business, this of knowing thyself; thou art an unknowable individual: know what thou canst work at; and work at it, like a Hercules! That will be thy better plan.” Thomas Carlyle

[@savedfaves]

She pushed herself quite hard, clearly. But still lived to 91. Goes to show.

[@bodder777]

Thank you for posting this. I didn't know enough to have studied w her, though I spent 4 years w the brilliant Stephen Strimpell who did. Stephen changed my life. Stella would probably have given me a new one. Ah well...I still feel so incredibly lucky to have been w Strimpell. This is a treat.

[@consuelaallen4372]

She is relentless ruthless fearless dynamic bold big and i think im in love with her

[@Young-es4gj]

This was incredible to watch.. I can't wait to get back to Stella Adler for my second semester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@b00i00d]

Oh, man, I love Adler! She was so direct, so compelling, so forceful, so open and honest, even on affectation! None of all that new age crap that has gradually seeped into modern acting, promulgated by self-appointed gurus who know very little and yet philosophise about everything, who Can't really walk that Big Stage walk and so endlessly talk about it to hapless students. I was wondering, by the way, what she'd have to say about that brilliant performance at 44:57. "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

[@Meow_meowwww]

I love her she talks as if she acts… the women is brilliant

[@shelbyalvarez874]

Love this woman so much!!!!

[@CelioMancias]

Wow! Love this interview with the greatest actress and coach of all time, Stella Adler. Thank you for sharing.

[@kartezjackson7602]

One of the greatest most profound quotes I have ever heard at 35:26!! Powerful made me look at things different!!!

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Ruffalo doing the Eric Roberts in lady pajamas thang. Stella was having none of it! Haha.

[@jujuyoga5296]

I absolutely love the Stella Adler methodo

[@sifugurusensei]

Can you summarize what that is? I dont live in a city where they teach that.

[@anangelskissinspring330]

44:58 AMAZING!!!

[@scattjax3908]

Stella teaches acting to the Hulk at 5:00. The Hulk complies cuz he doesn't want to make her angry.

[@antoaneta70]

Thx for uploading, this is truly priceless 👌❤️

[@rich8880]

Stella was more ' method' than anyone. She worked with the confidence of the actor. Sadly, I never studied with her but with some of her early students.

[@cinemablessed1234]

Oh my God, young Mark Ruffalo in that 1989 class!

[@abhijeetawari9371]

thanks a lot for this video...love u & Stella ...my stella

[@ym2852]

This video was so enlightening. Thank you so much for sharing! ❤

[@AnaHallie]

Why isn't Marlon Brando mentioned? He was a student of Stella Adler.

[@Dancestar1981]

QueenB so is Kate Mulgrew

[@CharlesMatheny]

So was DeNiro and she taught many other stars.

[@mustikit]

oh my god poor Mr Ruffalo

[@lynnturman8157]

***** Was that Mark Ruffalo? I thought it might be but thought...nah

[@JeffreyGillespie]

She's just the best kind of insane.

[@jujuyoga5296]

She really puts down Marc Buffalo on his clothes, but she's right. He made her mad but with his personality made her calm down.

[@scattjax3908]

I love Marc Buffalo! :)

[@rameyzamora1018]

This was first broadcast in 1989.

[@trebors69nc17]

Who the "heck" is that actor at 45:10? I'm in love with that woman! lol. Of course, I'm also in love with a dead woman. Stella Adler. I'm happy they've posted this on KZbin for all the rest of us.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Others have correctly identified Whoopie Goldberg and Garry Shandling in the audience, but I think I also see Hal Holbrook at the tail end of a later shot of the audience. Interested in who else anyone thinks they see in the audience of these sessions.

[@davidegoal]

A very young Mark Ruffalo !!

[@andyvanm1]

I see where Elaine Stritch, got her character

[@chachaandchicoshoraloca7665]

She's AWESOME

[@SAnderson54]

Who on earth is this actress @45:00 does anyone know? I could watch her all day she's brilliant!

[@TennehSillah]

i'm still trying to find out!

[@QED_]

You can tell she's a brilliant actress from a 20 second video clip (?) You don't realize that this is the easiest kind of scene to look good in -- loud, animated, histrionic monologue (?) And that she may not be in role much at all -- this may be her actual personality (?) It tells you nothing about how well she can do ensemble or interpret comedy, etc.

[@Novaxtheartiste]

Well if Stella says shes brilliant she must be, Stella has seen her and knows her and would never say that if she was just playing herself and it is truly brilliant its not JUST loud its something else shes not just yelling if you cant see that you obviously dont know much about acting and scenes like these ARE NOT the easiest simply because its a loud scene and its easy to fall in the trap of just being Angry but what that actress is doing is different from just anger look at what she says not too far off 47:35 "anybody can talk loud but that doesnt mean you're acting"

[@AryanAdhikary-fv9ph]

😮😮😮😮😮IN ORIGINAL CONDITION

[@iggyspirit]

she was quite a looker....but anyway, its fascinating how even without knowing her you kind of expect some kind of magic emit through her at any second...

[@bleepbloop9123]

Genius

[@roncipriano8352]

I couldn't be an actor as much I'm really interested in it. Confuses me with all these choices.

[@loveseptember9932]

I want to be an actress

[@johnlang1933]

She was very good in “Shadow Of The Thin Man”…

[@Jakub.K0]

5:57 that looks like Mark Ruffalo

[@tedlewis24]

+Jakub K It is! He studied with her for many years.

[@antagonista77]

+Jakub K It is.

[@sarahhalasz2258]

+Jakub K I thought the same thing!

[@sillyboy2223]

+Jakub K That was Mark Ruffalo. He trained with Stella Adler.

[@EvanWormald]

+Jakub K It is Mark Ruffalo, he studied under her.

[@claudiaboseli9135]

Adler i love you!!!!!!!!!

[@mariacristinaparedesojeda1809]

Stella tomo clases con Stanislavski y le dio clases a Brando?? X favor!!😮

[@khudaramanoranjan8246]

l m greatful

[@kevinzhang3313]

she sure talks fancy, how the american accent has changed

[@nkwari]

she called herself “affected” LOL 😂 remember the story she said about Tiffanys thinkibg she was from UK.

[@rheamangles1]

45:00!!! Who is this!??

[@QED_]

She's really invested in being Stella Adler . . . isn't she (?)

[@TheWalkingDavid]

Speak to the hamlet out there

[@romeysiamese6712]

This would make good subject for Doc Now! Fred Armisen, google it

[@Jesushealing]

URGENT! Anyone knows what the brilliant actress performes from 45.11?

[@Novaxtheartiste]

google

[@Novaxtheartiste]

its Mary of Scotland(for whoever is browsing through and is wondering too, not for her obvi it was useful to her a year ago)

[@passionforguns]

I wonder if she made Brando what he was or if he was just that good good regardless of the teacher?

[@erichaynes36]

She did

[@passionforguns]

So you studied with her?

[@siwakeman6410]

They was lovers as well. Brando credits Stella, and Stella cites Brando as the most naturally gifted performer who just had the instinct that can not be taught.

[@passionforguns]

Si Wakeman no, he tried, she rejected him. Read his auto-bio.

[@siwakeman6410]

Eric I thought they was, can't recall where I picked up the info, Watched and read so many film /actor docs and videos and books,Thank you for clearing it up, oddly I've never read Marlon brandos biography. I personally feel he was the kind of actor and perhaps the only great actor of that era (the strassberg /meisner /actors studio ) that was naturally gifted and didn't need to take classes or be reassured or prompted by a teacher, ive watched interviews and he breaks acting down so simply to its bare essentials that only a natural genius could do. Actors these days when talking about their craft tend to over indulge their intelligence and over complicate the thought process.

[@TennehSillah]

omg someone please tell me who that actress is at 44!!

[@CG-ee1cz]

Marlon thought highly of Stella and what he learned from her classes. As for Lee, Marlon felt the guy was full of himself and his teachings weren't useful to realism for acting.

[@scotnick59]

Stella's speaking voice reminds me of Sophie Tucker's a bit

[@katherinedeboor3894]

What time does she yell at mark ruffalo???

[@nkwari]

the guy who said he stole the clothes he’s wearing

[@strangersname]

I never studied with Stella, but I've seen many of them. They all had huge egos. Some of them really cared. It's obvious Stella did, but all that YELLING, my god. In a way, I understand because people have become so apathetic. When you're young, you can accept that "helpful" bullying. When you get older you don't want that in your life. And I don't agree that "the play has nothing to do with words...it has to do with ideas." Yeah, tell that to the playwright. Of course an actor doesn't "play" the words, but where does the Whole thing come from? The freakin' WORDS.

[@mariacristinaparedesojeda1809]

Traducir al castellano x favor?

[@gracenurse3365]

What was her hairdressing bill?

[@mandymelsingh7361]

is that John Ham?at 57:67

[@ggmo3664]

LOL xD

[@EducationOptions]

12:30 9 yr old gets professional acting training from her daughter

[@fabghassem]

🌋🌋🌋

[@pavlestanimirovic]

Karl Maden is my Serbian Cousin

[@chocolatesouljah]

35:00

[@LittleTimmyO]

The young guy at 50:00 was interesting, but I was really wanting to hear him lower his voice and speak to him on a deeper level, rather than just yelling yelling and screaming. His body language was already aggressive, his voice need not be that too

[@burpie3258]

Little Mark Ruffalo!

[@stevenfrasier5718]

I choose Adler over Strasberg. She knew from the beginning something was not quite kosher with "Emotional Memory".--LOL...

[@PortraitWure]

6:10

[@PortraitWure]

34:40

[@wabisabi7755]

Is she a good actress herself?

[@CharlesMatheny]

She acted on the stage and you can see her in the movie "Shadow of the Thin Man" starring William Powell.

[@PortraitWure]

20:00

[@sogood5373]

I don't CHAT YAAAAAAAASSS !!!!

[@mshmsh1995]

either teaching like stella, or nothing

[@gterrymed]

@45:40 this would be considered over-acting in today's Heroin-Fentanyl-Oxytocin world of 2024. And directors don't want this type of acting and it's a shame.

[@sachinb.v3151]

Ruffalo !! Damn.... is he?? Was he?? Wahhh....

[@Johnconno]

She's very Of The Theatre...😂

[@rheamangles1]

I thik the only thing Stella wouldve liked this year is Moonlight and Fences

[@Novaxtheartiste]

and The wizard of Lies

[@gterrymed]

@50:15. In 2024 it's, "here's some Xanax son; calm down;" we're probably not going to see any meaningful writing or acting in this Anti-depressant Age; "why act? Take Zoloft" 😆

[@obiestill5785]

I love her so much. So grateful this is made available to everyone. This content is not JUST for thespians, but for human beings. Long live ART by and for beating hearts.❤❤️🩵💙💜🧡💛🖤💚🩶🤎🤍❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@feijolierasmo]

coisa linda!💌