Famous paintings literally step out of their frames and start drama. Art history but make it unhinged.
Season 1 • Episode 6
LatestInspired by David Hockney's "Pool with Two Figures," this episode chronicles the events in the life of its main character. Merce Sugarwater, a successful lawyer, and his art dealer wife live in the luxury afforded them by their combined careers content with the lifestyle reflective of the American dream. Dreams turn to nightmares however when the attempted murder of Merce and his wife is revealed to have been planned by their children Murray and Paula. The would-be assassin is released and exonerated by Merce himself when the children blackmail him with the shocking secrets of the Sugarwater household.
Famous paintings come to life to tell a story by renowned authors, directed by world class directors.
Direction
Six different directors bringing wildly different energies to each painting.
Production
Lush period recreation that makes frames literally dissolve into lived-in worlds.
Writing
Authors like John Updike and Paul Auster penning scripts for dead painters.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Each episode was shot in the actual museum housing the original painting, with curators having veto power over historical inaccuracies. Some directors fought for weeks over wallpaper patterns.
This was Showtime's bizarre 1995 attempt to compete with PBS prestige—highbrow content disguised as premium cable. It lasted one season because apparently America wasn't ready for horny Caravaggio.
US
