The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns
starring: David McCullough, Sam Waterston, Jason Robards, Morgan Freeman, Garrison Keillor
directed by: Ken Burns
directed by: Ken Burns
List Price: $99.99
as of 09/02/2010 13:07 EDT
Amazon.com's Price: $86.49
You Save: $13.50 (14%)as of 09/02/2010 13:07 EDT
Product Description:
Studio: Paramount Home VideoRelease Date: 09/30/2005Director: Ken Burns
Amazon.com:
The most successful public-television miniseries in American history, the 11-hour Civil War didn't just captivate a nation, reteaching to us our history in narrative terms; it actually also invented a new film language taken from its creator. When people describe documentaries using the "Ken Burns approach," its style is understood: voice-over narrators reading letters and documents dramatically and stating the writer's name at their conclusion, fresh live footage of places juxtaposed with still images (photographs, paintings, maps, prints), anecdotal interviews, and romantic musical scores taken from the era he depicts. The Civil War uses all of these devices to evoke atmosphere and resurrect an event that many knew only from stale history books. While Burns is a historian, a researcher, and a documentarian, he's above all a gifted storyteller, and it's his narrative powers that give this chronicle its beauty, overwhelming emotion, and devastating horror. Using the words of old letters, eloquently read by a variety of celebrities, the stories of historians like Shelby Foote and rare, stained photos, Burns allows us not only to relearn and finally understand our history, but also to feel and experience it. --Dave McCoy
On the DVD
The DVD features on The Civil War provide a wealth of insight, creative philosophy, historical perspective, and educational enjoyment. Twelve years after its premiere broadcast, the film was given a digital facelift, sharpening image clarity, correcting color, and enriching its soundtrack with a remastered 5.1-channel mix, as demonstrated in the "Civil War Reconstruction" featurette. In interviews from 2002, producer-director Ken Burns, historian Shelby Foote, journalist George Will, author Stanley Crouch, and composer-musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason reflect upon The Civil War's enduring significance. And Burns's eloquent commentary--selectively included on each disc and totaling five hours--illuminates the historical importance and creative impulse behind crucial chapters of the film. Fifty-seven onscreen biography cards detail important North, South, and civilian figures, and two 1990 featurettes—"Making History" and "A Conversation with Ken Burns"--provide a more personal perspective on the creation of this extraordinary film. Useful for both personal and academic study, these features stand as a fitting supplement to one of the greatest documentaries ever produced. --Jeff Shannon
Studio: Paramount Home VideoRelease Date: 09/30/2005Director: Ken Burns
Amazon.com:
The most successful public-television miniseries in American history, the 11-hour Civil War didn't just captivate a nation, reteaching to us our history in narrative terms; it actually also invented a new film language taken from its creator. When people describe documentaries using the "Ken Burns approach," its style is understood: voice-over narrators reading letters and documents dramatically and stating the writer's name at their conclusion, fresh live footage of places juxtaposed with still images (photographs, paintings, maps, prints), anecdotal interviews, and romantic musical scores taken from the era he depicts. The Civil War uses all of these devices to evoke atmosphere and resurrect an event that many knew only from stale history books. While Burns is a historian, a researcher, and a documentarian, he's above all a gifted storyteller, and it's his narrative powers that give this chronicle its beauty, overwhelming emotion, and devastating horror. Using the words of old letters, eloquently read by a variety of celebrities, the stories of historians like Shelby Foote and rare, stained photos, Burns allows us not only to relearn and finally understand our history, but also to feel and experience it. --Dave McCoy
On the DVD
The DVD features on The Civil War provide a wealth of insight, creative philosophy, historical perspective, and educational enjoyment. Twelve years after its premiere broadcast, the film was given a digital facelift, sharpening image clarity, correcting color, and enriching its soundtrack with a remastered 5.1-channel mix, as demonstrated in the "Civil War Reconstruction" featurette. In interviews from 2002, producer-director Ken Burns, historian Shelby Foote, journalist George Will, author Stanley Crouch, and composer-musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason reflect upon The Civil War's enduring significance. And Burns's eloquent commentary--selectively included on each disc and totaling five hours--illuminates the historical importance and creative impulse behind crucial chapters of the film. Fifty-seven onscreen biography cards detail important North, South, and civilian figures, and two 1990 featurettes—"Making History" and "A Conversation with Ken Burns"--provide a more personal perspective on the creation of this extraordinary film. Useful for both personal and academic study, these features stand as a fitting supplement to one of the greatest documentaries ever produced. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- The Civil War...Ken Burns
This was everything I had been led to believe that it was. I came to appreciate the great examples of honor and commitment that were found in the men who helped to preserve the Union and lay the foundation for the great nation that we have today.
Rating: - The Best of American Television.
I had this set on Laser Disc some years back and now have bought the series on R2 DVD. I now wish I had bought the R1 version as this has many extras spread over 5 DVDs.
This would have cost a lot more than the £23.00 I bought it for but if your a fan then it would be worth it.
Rating: - We enjoy Civil War history!
We really enjoy The Civil War series by Ken Burns.The product arrived in good condition, and in a relatively timely manner.I recommend this product to anyone who has a passion for the American Civil War.
Rating: - A great work
This is a brilliant analysis and record of one of the seminal events in history.It is a story that is told with a scrupulous foundation of factual material, but is never dry or detached.It engenders a constant emotional connection with the people who were the players in this tragic drama of truly epic proportions.It engages like few historical works ever manage.
Rating: - The best 11 hours I ever spent in front of a television
Praise for Ken Burns' "Civil War" is truly endless. However, I have a story that I think will prove the greatness of "The Civil War." Recently, I was stuck grounded on a plane. A powerful thunderstorm caused the closing of the entire airport, and due to the lightning we were unable to leave the plane. We were stuck. It had been a very long week and I was very anxious to get home to my family so adding additional time on a sweltering plane was the last thing I wanted. I then remembered that I had ... Read More
- The Civil War...Ken BurnsThis was everything I had been led to believe that it was. I came to appreciate the great examples of honor and commitment that were found in the men who helped to preserve the Union and lay the foundation for the great nation that we have today.
Rating:
- The Best of American Television.I had this set on Laser Disc some years back and now have bought the series on R2 DVD. I now wish I had bought the R1 version as this has many extras spread over 5 DVDs.
This would have cost a lot more than the £23.00 I bought it for but if your a fan then it would be worth it.
Rating:
- We enjoy Civil War history!We really enjoy The Civil War series by Ken Burns.The product arrived in good condition, and in a relatively timely manner.I recommend this product to anyone who has a passion for the American Civil War.
Rating:
- A great workThis is a brilliant analysis and record of one of the seminal events in history.It is a story that is told with a scrupulous foundation of factual material, but is never dry or detached.It engenders a constant emotional connection with the people who were the players in this tragic drama of truly epic proportions.It engages like few historical works ever manage.
Rating:
- The best 11 hours I ever spent in front of a televisionPraise for Ken Burns' "Civil War" is truly endless. However, I have a story that I think will prove the greatness of "The Civil War." Recently, I was stuck grounded on a plane. A powerful thunderstorm caused the closing of the entire airport, and due to the lightning we were unable to leave the plane. We were stuck. It had been a very long week and I was very anxious to get home to my family so adding additional time on a sweltering plane was the last thing I wanted. I then remembered that I had ... Read More
