Both spiritual father and sustaining mother to an infant art, D. W. Griffith expanded the artistic horizons of audiences, safely shepherding cinema into adulthood and nurturing its unique language. Malcontent as a mere film actor, Griffith joined Biograph Studios in 1908 as a writer and director, del

Classic hollywood, Epic, Grand, Mythic, Pioneering, Political, Silent film

Niece of larger-than-life movie director Cecil B. de Mille, Agnes had star quality of her own and talent to burn. Trained in England at the Ballet Rambert, de Mille returned to the United States to help form the American Ballet Theater, and served as both dancer and choreographer. Credited with intro

Ballet goes hollywood, Dramatic, Ebullient, Grand, Monumental, Sincere

Stephen Sondheim earned his musical stripes alongside the best in the business: his first foray into creating a musical was as lyricist to Leonard Bernstein's composer for "West Side Story" (1957). After a second lyrical outing with Jules Styne's music for "Gypsy" (1959), Sondheim was ready to brave

20th-century music, Bubblicious, Grand, New american musical, Rhythmic, Witty

"Witty, warm, colorful, and hearty," gushes the mother of fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi in the documentary "Unzipped," referring both to her son and to his fashion designs. Mizrahi's clothes are like lovely comedies, mixing both vibrant and soft shades of color with shapes and fabrics previously use

Couture, Eclectic, Glamour, Grand, Quirky, Sophisticated