American Masters "The Doors:When You’re Strange"

Pictured: The Doors

Credit: Paul Ferrara ©DMC

This feature documentary tells the Doors' story using original footage shot between the group’s formation in 1965 and Morrison’s death in 1971.

The creative chemistry of four brilliant artists – drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison – made The Doors one of America’s most iconic and influential, theatrical and mysterious, thrilling and sometime frightening rock bands. Narrated by Johnny Depp, American Masters' The Doors: When You’re Strange, airing August 30, 2013 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV,is the first feature documentary about The Doors.

The film tells their story using only original footage – much of it previously unseen – shot between their formation in 1965 and Morrison’s death in 1971. “From the outset I decided to use only original footage of this astonishing band,” says Tom DiCillo, director and writer of When You’re Strange. “To me, there is nothing more powerful and riveting that seeing Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Jim Morrison leap into life on the screen.”