Ken Burns' new documentary, "The War", begins Sund

[Bill P]

Just a reminder, this Sunday Ken Burns' new documentary, "The War" begins. If it's half as good as the "Civil War" it'll be the 2nd best Documentary ever.

http://www.pbs.org/thewar/.

I think that the "Civil War" was the finest piece of film work I've ever seen bar none. His series on baseball and jazz were very good but nothing was as good as the "Civil War".

The "Civil War" chapter titled "Honorable Men" where actor Mason Adam's reads Sullivan Ballou's final letter to his wife was one of the most moving things I have ever seen/heard. The use of Mason Adam's voice, Ballou's words, and the background music were, without a doubt, one of the greatest moments in filmaking.



Bill

[sdtripper2]

I too will be recording and watching this series on WWII.

Ken Burns weaves music from the era in such a way as to be a platform
for the images and stories being told about that time in our history.

The music Ken chooses can bring those that lived during that time a flash
back unparalleled by touch-stoning their memories. It is sure to bring
emotion to the spirits that watch.

Here are some links to help those that wish to decide if this documentary
may be worth watching.

Click on the LISTEN button uP toP to hear an excerpt and see if you want
to watch the program on TV.
http://tinyurl.com/22uba7

Other stories from Ken Burns on his masterpiece "The War"

http://tinyurl.com/yrotnm
http://tinyurl.com/2fot3l

[Mike C.]

I really enjoyed Ken Burns "Civil War". Looking forward to "The War".
I think he is a master documentary film maker. I think it is the historical detail he puts into them.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Read a front page article about this in today's local paper.
Says that the segment which airs on the 30th is gonna feature three local Native Americans...

[Bill P]

What I've read in the papers, and what I heard on the radio today, indicates that this, like the Civil War, is a masterpiece. Rather than a top down big politics/strategy approach, he looks at how the War affects ordinary people from 4 small towns, the largest is Sacramento. It follows those who go to War and those at home and how they were affected.

According to the interview I heard, the music of the 40's he chose, interviews with the participants, pictures, and movies are simply amazing.

My Dad and two Uncles fought in Europe and the Pacific.

I can't say I'm a big fan of Tom Brokaw, however, he summed it up best by proclaiming them, "The Greatest Generation".

My Dad always told me, "Thank a teacher for teaching you to read books and thank a Vet that you can read them in English."

Bill

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Whoops...
I was reading Steve's links and didn't see anything mentioned about the three local Native American Vets that I read about in the Eureka Reporter Article and all the towns were wrong...
Turns out our local PBS station recieved one of eighty $10,000 grants to produce a companion documentary to Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's, "The War"...
In addition to the 10K grant, our local PBS station also recieved an additional $5,000 to produce the companion documentary from the Native Cultures Fund.
Still sounds like a good watch along with "The War"...
The article also mentions that this companion documentary will be offered to other PBS stations for national viewing.