Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed

Aug 25, 2021

1h 32m

★ 6.7

Overview

Bob Ross brought joy to millions as the world's most famous art instructor. But a battle for his business empire cast a shadow over his happy trees.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

Number 19

On the Day

Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed Trailers

Cast

Self (archive footage)

Bob Ross

Self - Bob's Son

Steve Ross

Self - Bob's First Wife

Vicky Ross

Self - Artist and Friend

John Thamm

Self - Assistant Professor, Georgetown University

Ian Bourland

Self - Art Historian

Julia Friedman

Self - Bob's Friend

Dana Jester

Self - Author

Doug Blandy

Self - Director, The Joy of Painting

Sally Schenck

Self - Floral Painter

Gary Jenkins

Self - Floral Painter

Kathwren Jenkins

Self - Crew Member, The Joy of Painting

Andrea Baxter

Painter Zdzisław Beksiński, his wife Zofia and their son Tomasz, a well-known radio journalist and translator, were a typical and unconventional family, both at the same time. One of the father’s obsessions was filming himself and his family members. Using archival footage only, shot primarily by Zdzisław, as well many other materials, which have not been presented anywhere so far, the film tells a tragic story of the Beksińskis that has never ceased to fascinate Polish filmmakers.

0.0

Ikuska 9: Euskal artistak

Jan 20, 1980

Short film on the art in the Basque Country.

0.0

Ich. Immendorff

May 31, 2007

Documentary film about the painter and sculptor Jörg Immendorff who ranks among the most important German artists. The filmmakers accompanied Immendorff over a period of two years – until his death in May 2007. The artist had been living for nine years knowing that he was terminally ill with ALS. The film shows how Immendorff continued to work with unabated energy and how he tried not to let himself be restrained by his deteriorating health.

5.0

Petar Dobrovic

Jan 1, 1957

Documentary about painter Petar Dobrovic.

0.0

Hockney at the Tate

Oct 30, 1988

To mark his fiftieth birthday in 1988, London's Tate Gallery staged a major retrospective of his work. Melvyn Bragg joined David Hockney for an exclusive private view of the exhibition and they were filmed discussing pictures from all stages of Hockney's remarkable career.

7.5

Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos

Feb 18, 2020

Jeff Bezos is not only one of the richest men in the world, he has built a business empire that is without precedent in the history of American capitalism. His power to shape everything from the future of work to the future of commerce to the future of technology is unrivaled. As politicians and regulators around the world start to consider the global impact of Amazon — and how to rein in Bezos’ power — FRONTLINE investigates how he executed a plan to build one of the most influential economic and cultural forces in the world.

4.8

The Maestro Rides Again!

Jan 1, 2005

Les Blank continued filming the Maestro after the original film “The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists” was completed. Here are the Maestro’s latest creations and more on his uncompromising philosophy of art and life.

7.3

Young At Heart

Oct 2, 2008

Documents the true story of the final weeks of rehearsal for the Young at Heart Chorus in Northampton, MA, and many of whom must overcome health adversities to participate. Their music goes against the stereotype of their age group. Although they have toured Europe and sang for royalty, this account focuses on preparing new songs for a concert in their hometown.

6.5

Marcello Mastroianni, irrésistiblement libre

Apr 25, 2024

The 1960s opened with La Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini and its unforgettable lead: Marcello Mastroianni. The actor seemed to glide effortlessly through his roles — and through life — as if to say that life is not all that serious, or perhaps that it is far too serious not to be laughed at. But what kind of man was hiding behind the actor with the handsome, boyish looks, who appeared so gentle and nonchalant?

8.0

Zelensky

May 13, 2025

Ten years ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was just one of the many faces on Ukrainian television screens. He became a star thanks to the 2015 satirical series Servant of the People, in which he played a history teacher who becomes president. Four years later, what began as fiction became a reality. This French documentary follows the transformation of a popular TV comedian into a statesman on the front lines of the Russian invasion. Archival footage, family photos, television appearances, and interviews with Zelensky and those closest to him create a multi-layered portrait of a man who always longed for a large audience. At the same time, the film places his personal development in the broader context of post-Soviet Ukraine, which is also searching for its own identity.

0.0

The Last Becak's Sepatbor Painter

Aug 17, 2019

Tjipto Setiyono, 85, is a rickshaw painter. Despite being past his prime, he lives alone in a 3-by-3 meter square boarding room, in which Tjipto’s brush strokes give birth to his paintings.

6.7

Counter Shot: Departure of the Filmmakers

Feb 14, 2008

Documentary about filmmakers of the New German Cinema who were members of the legendary Filmverlag für Autoren (Film Publishing House for Authors). Among them are Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and Wim Wenders.

0.0

Namatjira Project

Sep 5, 2017

From the remote Australian desert to the opulence of Buckingham Palace - Namatjira Project is the iconic story of the Namatjira family, tracing their quest for justice.

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0.0

Josef Mánes

Jan 1, 1951

No overview available.

7.3

The Patent Scam

Aug 15, 2017

The corruption runs deeper than you'd ever imagine. A multi-billion dollar industry you've never heard of. This is the world Patent Trolls thrive in: A world created for them by our own U. S. Patent system. You can be sued for clicking on a hyperlink, using your own scanner, or sharing your Wi-Fi! It sounds insane, but the reality is even crazier. Patent Trolls look for obvious ideas, patent them, and then sue anyone they claim is infringing on their idea. People's lives and businesses are being destroyed.. and they have no way out. “The Patent Scam” exposes the underbelly of this system, and the people that commit this practice.

0.0

Constable: A Country Rebel

Sep 7, 2014

The Haywain by John Constable is such a comfortingly familiar image of rural Britain that it is difficult to believe it was ever regarded as a revolutionary painting, but in this film, made in conjunction with a landmark exhibition at the V&A, Alastair Sooke discovers that Constable was painting in a way that was completely new and groundbreaking at the time. Through experimentation and innovation, he managed to make a sublime art from humble things and, though he struggled in his own country during his lifetime, his genius was surprisingly widely admired in France.

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0.0

Martin Benka

Jan 1, 1954

No overview available.

0.0

Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde

Apr 9, 1997

Man Ray, the master of experimental and fashion photography was also a painter, a filmmaker, a poet, an essayist, a philosopher, and a leader of American modernism. Known for documenting the cultural elite living in France, Man Ray spent much of his time fighting the formal constraints of the visual arts. Ray’s life and art were always provocative, engaging, and challenging.

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0.0

Alšův rok

Jan 1, 1953

No overview available.

0.0

Requiem for Eternity

May 19, 2011

In August 2007, after some medical studies, I was diagnosed with bone cancer. This movie is based on my memories of those days.