Ken Burns Civil War: One of the Best Documentaries Ever Made!


1989 saw the airing of "The Civil War", a brilliant 9-part and 13 hour documentary on PBS. 2002 has seen the entire series remastered from the original tapes and editing from the 1989. Ken Burns re-invented the entire approach of the documentary in several ways. Firstly, since we were dealing with a time period before moving pictures, he had to deal with still "daguerrotype", or tin type photography. After exhausting searches for the right photographs, the cinemetography of bringing these still photos to "life" was achieved by filming the photo itself, and zooming in or out in great detail, while scene was accompanied by either period music, or actual quotations read by select actors. The other way that Ken Burns changed documentaries is in his use of the interview of prominent Civil War historians. The other approach that Ken Burns uses here is the story line of select, key individuals, namely Joshua Chamberlain, Abraham Lincoln, Grant, Lee, Frederick Douglas, and two common soldiers from both sides, Sam Watkins and Washington Roebling(from their journals). Ken Burns' whole approach to making documentaries has had a lasting legacy on how documentaries are made, as evidenced by most documentaries aired on PBS, A&E, and the Discovery and Learning and History channels copying his style. The subject matter here, the American Civil War, literally comes alive, and came alive to me, in this series. I have always been interested in history, but never really got into American history that much, and Civil War history even less. This documentary series awoke a very keen interest in the Civil War in me personally. I will now give a synopsis/review of this epic documentary after giving a few of the "vital statistics" on this series.

Information.

Producer: Ken Burns
Number of Episodes: 9
Number of Hours:
Format: VHS
Cost: $129.99-149.99(used sets are about $99.99)
Date Published(Box Set): 1991
Cast List: Hoyt Axton, Derek Jacobi, Jeremy Irons, Jason Robards, Morgan Freeman, Shelby Foote, Stephen Oates, George Plimpdon, Gerrison Keiler, Paul Roebling, Sam Waterston, Pamela Reed, Colleen Dewherst, and Arthur Miller.
Narrator: David McCoullough


Episode 1. 1861: The Cause.

This introductory episode begins with a quote: "We have shared the incommunicable experiences of war..." , Oliver Wendell Holmes. Then we move on to to the haunting theme music for the series, and David McCoullough begins to narrate about how Wilmer Mclaine had the right to say that the Civil War started in his front yard, and ended in his front parlor, because the Battle of Bull Run was fought on his farm in 1861, and Lee surrendered to Grant at Mclaine's house at Appamatox Court House. The Civil War was fought in 1000 places, and Americans fought each other and killed each other wholesale, right here, in America. We learn the cause of the war was rooted in the Constitution and in slavery, and states rights, but mainly slavery. There are moving scenes in this episode, and one of the few actual movies we will see in this film, that is of some of the last Civil War veterans at the 50th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. We are also introduced to Shelby Foote, who tells us that any understanding of this country has to be based on an understanding of the Civil War. Shelby Foote is an individual who seems as if he was really there. Ken Burns' choice of using him was fantastic. In this episode, we cover the election of Lincoln, and the resulting secession by the southern states. We also cover the first battles of the war, including Bull Run, or Manassas. This is a wonderful introductory episode.

Episode 2. 1862. A Very Bloody Affair.

This episode covers the continuation of the Civil War. Such epic battles like Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Antietam, and the Peninsula Campaign are covered. We are introduced to George Mclellan, and his hesitant and cautious approach to battle, and how Lee whipped him on almost every occassion.
This is a great episode as well.

Episode 3. 1862. Forever Free.

This episode covers the latter half of 1862, and includes detailed accounts of the Battle of Shiloh, and Abraham Lincoln's release of the Emancipation Proclamation. There is also a nice focus on the whole issue of slavery in this episode, and the idea of using freed slaves as soldiers in the Union army. Morgan Freeman and Shelby Foote have some great parts in this episode.

Episode 4. 1863. Simply Murder.

This episode covers in great detail the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. General Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are shown as the military geniuses as they were. This episode sets the stage for Lee's plans to invade the north.

Episode 5. 1863. The Universe of Battle.

This is probably my favorite episode of the 9 part series.
This is one of the best treatments of the Gettysburg campaign that you will ever see, and experience. We meet all of the participants, Meade, Lee, Pickett, Longstreet, Chamberlain, Hancock, etc. in this episode. Some of the most exciting footage is presented in this episode, and it is simply great. Lincoln's Gettysburg address is read at the end of it, and it almost makes you cry to experience it in this context. The Battle of Vicksburg is also covered, as is the campaigns in Tennessee.

Episode 6. 1864. Valley of the Shadow of Death.

This episode chronicles the ascendancy of General Ulysses S. Grant to the head of the Army of the Potomac. General Lee now had a general who knew how to fight him, and the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the beginning of the siege of Petersburg are covered.


Episode 7. 1864. Most Hallowed Ground.

This episode continues to cover the war. Anti-Lincoln sentiment is rampant in the North, the Union is more threatened than ever by the possibility of losing the war by not having more decisive victories. The battles of Petersburg, and the Atlanta campaign are covered here as well. There is a nice section covering Nathan Bedford Forrest as well. The final capture of Atlanta right before the election of 1864 secures Lincoln's re-election.

Episode 8. 1865. War is All Hell.

Sherman's famous quotation "War is all hell" is the title of this episode. This episode covers how he made "Georgia howl!", as he took 125,000 Union soldiers on his "march to the sea", from Atlanta to Savannah. At Christmas, his doctrine of "total war" came to fruition, he captures Savannah. Meanwhile, Grant's siege of Petersburg nears completion.

Episode 9. 1865. The Better Angels of Our Nature.

This final episode is one of the best. In this episode, we see Lee break out of the siege of Petersburg, and flee westward, and the capture of Richmond, Virginia. We see the final surrender of Lee at Appamatox Courthouse, and the touching moment of surrender of Lee to Grant. We are also given moving coverage of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. This final episode is very moving and revealing about the nature of the war, and the reforming and re-union of the country. As Shelby Foote tells us, this made the United States and "is" as opposed to an "are", as we became a more perfect union, now finally free of the wickedness of slavery. The nation had to heal its wounds, but now without the genius of Lincoln.

All in all, the Civil War is my favorite documentary ever made on the American Civil War. It is a great place to begin when appreciating the American Civil War, and not the end. It is also the most successful documentary ever aired on PBS. It launched the career of Ken Burns, who has gone on to make several more epic documentaries, including "the West", "Baseball", and "Jazz". Burns has inspired whole new generations to be interested in history, and the American Civil War in particular. I am evidenced as one of these so inspired. I hope you will be too.

--James Zaworski


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older