Maysles Brothers

US documentary film-makers. They began collaborating on documentaries in 1957, and became famous for their cinéma vérité techniques, developing their own style of ‘direct cinema’. Among their many acclaimed films are Salesman (1969), about a Bible salesman, and Gimme Shelter (1970), about the Rolling Stones.

The brothers were born in Brookline, Massachusetts. After military service, Albert taught at Boston University, making his first documentary, Psychiatry in Russia, in 1955. David, after military service, worked as the assistant to the producer of Bus Stop (1956) and The Prince and the Showgirl (1957). In addition to their personal projects, the brothers shot a number of industrial and promotional movies, and Albert worked as a cameraman on many documentaries for other film-makers.