Cancer (film)
Cancer | |
---|---|
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee | |
Written by |
|
Directed by | Barak Goodman |
Starring | Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee |
Narrated by | Edward Herrmann |
Composer | David Cieri |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 3 |
Production | |
Producer | Barak Goodman |
Cinematography |
|
Editors |
|
Running time | 6 h (360 min) |
Production companies |
|
Original release | |
Network | PBS |
Release | March 30, 2015 |
Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies is a 2015 American
The film is narrated by Edward Herrmann, who was himself suffering from terminal brain cancer at the time of its production. He died on December 31, 2014, three months before the film's release, making the series his final performance.[5]
Episodes
No. | Episode[6] | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Magic Bullets" (to 1970) | March 30, 2015[7] | |
A summary of the history of cancer is presented. Dr. Sidney Farber pioneers chemotherapy while William Halsted pioneers surgical oncology. Emil Grubbe comes up with radiation treatment. Louis Goodman and Alfred Gilman begin targeting cancer cells with nitrogen mustard. The beginning of the "war on cancer" in the United States is presented. VAMP is discussed. | |||
2 | "The Blind Men and the Elephant" (1970–2000) | March 31, 2015[8] | |
The basic nature of cancer therapies are examined.
The 1950 Wynder and Graham Study is reviewed. The research of Bradford Hill and Richard Doll is covered with respect to chemical carcinogenesis.
Harold Varmus study the oncogene SRC. Robert Weinberg is interviewed discussing his search for a human oncogene and his finding of Ras .
William P. Peters develops the Solid Tumor Autologous Marrow Program (STAMP) regimen. Tamoxifen is invented in the 1970s. It is discovered that antibodies within the human immune system can fight oncogenes. Siddhartha Mukherjee says, "You could think of antibodies as intensely, exquisitely targeted missiles made in the body to target virus, bacteria, or other cells."
Brian Druker, working with Charles Sawyers and Nicholas Lydon among others, becomes interested in a fatal blood cancer known as CML following Janet Rowley's work in the 1970s. | |||
3 | "Finding the Achilles Heel" (2000–2015) | April 1, 2015[10] | |
Yervoy .
John Banzhaf convinces the Federal Communications Commission to rule that anti-smoking advertisements need to be aired on television to counter the tobacco company ads. Mary-Claire King finds the BRCA1 gene on human chromosome 17. |
Participants
The documentary film is narrated by Edward Herrmann, and includes the following participants:
- Dr. Arnold Levine
- Sherwin Nuland
- James P. Allison, episode 3
- Dr. Bernard Fisher
- Emil J. Freireich
- Carl June
- Howard Markel
- Dr. Donald Pinkel
- Dr. Eric Lander
- Dr. James Holland
- Dr. Jimmie Holland
- Dr. Jose Baselga
- Charles Sawyers
- Dr. Lori Wilson
- Dr. Robert Weinberg
- John Bailar
- Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee
- Dr. Sidney Farber
- Dr. Susan Love
- Dr. Suzanne Cole
- Dr. Todd Golub
- Dr. Vincent DeVita
- Edward R. Murrow
- Jerome Groopman
- Mary Lasker
Gallery
Critical response
According to a review in the Los Angeles Times, the film is "the single most personally relevant documentary of this or any year".[2] According to a review in The New York Times, the series is "absorbing", is "structured as an ever-evolving medical detective story, but the filmmakers give it heart as well by juxtaposing the history lessons with present-day personal profiles of cancer patients", seems perhaps "too much like a promotional video for cancer researchers and hospitals", and "touches only briefly on the significant issue of costs" but "achieves its main goal, which is to show the human impact of cancer."[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Genzlinger, Neil (March 27, 2015). "Review: In 'Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies,' Battling an Opportunistic Killer". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ a b McNamara, Mary (March 30, 2015). "Review: PBS' 'Cancer' documentary cuts to the heart of the matter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^ Szabo, Liz (March 29, 2015). "Ken Burns tackles history of cancer". USA Today. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^ Herper, Matthew (March 31, 2015). "What I Hope Everyone Learns From PBS' Big Cancer Documentary". Forbes. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^ Oldenburg, Ann (January 1, 2015). "'Gilmore Girls' actor Edward Herrmann dies". USA Today. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ Staff (2015). "Cancer - Episode Guide". PBS. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ Staff (2015). "Cancer - Episode 01". PBS. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ Staff (2015). "Cancer - Episode 02". PBS. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ Gallagher, James (April 3, 2015). "Health - Personal cancer vaccine research 'exciting' say experts". BBC News. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ Staff (2015). "Cancer - Episode 03". PBS. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Cancer: The Emperor of all Maladies on Ken Burns' website
- Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies at IMDb
- Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies trailer on YouTube