Sanford Meisner: Remarkable Documentary by Sydney Pollack about America's Most Influential Acting Teacher

"Acting is the ability to live truthfully under the given imaginary circumstances." - Sanford Meisner

Here is a link to the 1984 PBS special Sanford Meisner: Theatre's Best Kept Secret.

A leading acting teacher who trained some of the most famous performers of the stage and screen, Sanford Meisner redefined Stanislavski's "Method" and revolutionized acting with his Meisner Technique.

In 1931, Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg and others established the Group Theatre. They were inspired by Stanislavski's work with the Moscow Art Theater - and their goal was to follow his example in America.

In 1933, while teaching and acting on Broadway, Meisner became disenchanted with pure Method acting. From that point until his death at age 91 in 1997, Meisner developed his own technique. Meisner was an instructor and head of the acting department at the Neighborhood Playhouse for forty-eight years.