David McCullough Movies

In this holiday-themed musical extravaganza, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir teams up with Grammy-award winning chanteuse Natalie Cole and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough, plus a full orchestra and a dance ensemble, for an homage to Christmas and everything it represents. Selections - many sung by Cole with the orchestra and choir backing her up - include "The Holly and the Ivy," "Caroling, Caroling," "Grown-Up Christmas List," and "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." The program also interpolates two readings - one by McCullough ("American Christmas Memories: The Story of a Cherished Carol and a Beloved Song") and another by Natalie Cole that finds her reading from St. Luke, Chapter 2. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Discover the important roles that John Adams and his wife Abigail played in the founding the United States as historians David McCullough, Joanne Freeman, and Joseph Ellis offer an intimate portrait of the marriage that helped to shape a nation. They say that behind every great politician is a great woman, and though John Adams (Simon Russell Beale) was a natural born leader, his wife Abigail (Linda Emond) was his greatest political ally. A loyal wife and trusted advisor, she was always present as a supporter and a confidant. By drawing on correspondences between the couple from when John was in Philadelphia working in the Continental Congress and serving as America's first ambassador to England, screenwriter Elizabeth Deane presents a side of their relationship that's often left out of the history books, but still remains a crucial chapter in the history of America. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

For his sophomore effort, director Gary Ross re-teams with Tobey Maguire and William H. Macy, stars of his directorial debut Pleasantville, for this depression-era sports drama about the legendary racehorse, Seabiscuit. Unlike 1949's fictionalized The Story of Seabiscuit starring Shirley Temple, this version attempts to present a factual account of the story, which centers around the three men who saw the famed horse to victory. Jeff Bridges stars as Charles Howard, an entrepreneur who owns the unlikely racehorse. Howard teams with partially blind boxer-turned-jockey Red Pollard (Maguire in his first performance since annihilating the 2002 box-office in Spider-Man) and horse trainer Tom Smith (Chris Cooper fresh off his best-supporting actor Oscar for Adaptation). Together, the three work to help the famed horse to several symbolic victories that helped to inspire a downtrodden 1930s America. The supporting cast, headed by Macy, includes Elizabeth Banks (Spider-Man) and real-life jockeys Gary Stevens and Chris McCarron. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

This is the final part of a three-video, six-hour program that originally aired February 19-21, 2001, as a presentation of the acclaimed PBS series The American Experience. The program focuses on the marriage of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, and is one of the first documentaries to do so. In the third part, a series of tragedies overwhelms Mary. Lincoln's urgent need to manage the war hurts the marriage, leaving Mary feeling isolated, especially in light of the death of their son Willie. Often accused of being a Confederate sympathizer, Mary ultimately loses three brothers in battle against the Union. After the president is assassinated, she's devastated. Six years later, after her son Tad dies young of tuberculosis, she loses her sanity and spends the last 17 years of her life institutionalized. Narrated by David McCullough, the program also features interviews with scholars and readings by actors David Morse and Holly Hunter. Highlights include period photographs. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi

In this edition of The American Experience, viewers investigate the life and work of one of America's greatest engineers, James Eads. Eads, a largely self-educated man, built the first ironclads, designed steel bridges, and, in the culmination of his career, designed the system of dams, levees, and jetties that control the mighty Mississippi and make it navigable for commerce. To do this, he came into direct conflict with another man, Andrew Humphreys, head of the Army Corp of Engineers. Their struggle to control the future of the river mirrors in many ways the conflict between civil and military authority that rages along the river today. This program presents a complex portrait of a complicated man. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Part of American Heritage Magazine's Great Minds of American History video series, this documentary goes behind the scenes for a look at America from 1865 to 1914. Journalist Roger Mudd interviews David McCullough, noted historian and Pulitzer-Prize winning author of such historical works as Truman and The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge, who chronicles this era in America through stories and research. McCullough highlights some of the events during this time, such as the transcontinental railroad, engineering developments, child labor laws, the rise of the urban city, European immigration, and advanced industrialization. Learn what monuments and symbols from this era are still around and in use today, such as the Brooklyn Bridge. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, Rovi

John Wesley Powell was a Civil War veteran dedicated to surveying one of the last uncharted territories in the United States: the Grand Canyon. His expedition established the Grand Canyon as a national landmark and -- not without scrutiny -- changed the country's attitude toward the West. American Experience: Lost in the Grand Canyon is an account of one man's journey to discover one of the last Great Unknowns. The beauty of the Grand Canyon was only matched by the dangers it presented to surveyors. Despite the perils, Powell achieved his mission. ~ Brooke Hodess, Rovi

The 19th century saw technological, industrial, and cultural advancements in America beyond the imagination. This four-part program documents America in the year 1900 where a series of tragic events would test the richness and optimism symbolic of its time: a deadly explosion in a coal mine in Utah; a devastating hurricane in Texas; two brutal wars overseas; and all year, assassins would plot to murder the president of the United States. It was a year of dichotomy, where inventions and expansion brought material and industrial richness while at the same time, the struggle for racial justice, worker's rights, and a growing immigrant population created shifts in power structures and change in our cultural landscape. From President William McKinley's fight for reelection and the sensation of his running mate Theodore Roosevelt to social campaigns on the environment and public morality, America struggled with its national identity as well as positioning itself as a world power. It was at the turn of the 20th century that America's prosperity and optimism seemed unstoppable. ~ Brooke Hodess, Rovi

Degenerate Art tells the story of Hitler's odd connection to important German art. In 1937, Hitler orchestrated an exhibition of paintings, gathering those he considered to be "degenerate art" or examples of what he thought was wrong with German culture. But his plan backfired when the artists he chose to criticize became some of the most respected of the 20th century. Artists who received Hitler's disdain include Max Beckmann, Emil Nolde, Oscar Kokoschka, Otto Dix, and Max Ernst. ~ Betsy Boyd, Rovi

Upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, Harry Truman became the 33rd president of the United States. This video captures the exciting details surrounding Truman's later race for re-election against Dewey, along with many other important historical moments. Viewers are reminded that Truman was a combat artillery captain during WWI and a highly respected U.S. senator before becoming vice president. As many recall, it was Truman who made the fateful decision to drop the first atomic bomb on Japan in 1945. Three years later, he chose to recognize the new state of Israel. Truman was also behind such important programs as the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, and the North Atlantic Treaty, which was designed to stop the Soviets from expanding further into Europe.
~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi

In December 1944, when Allied forces seemed to have decisively turned the tide in World War II, the German Army mounted one last major attack, which became one of the bloodiest battles of the war -- 80,000 American soldiers died, and German casualties were estimated at twice that figure. American Experience: The Battle of the Bulge offers a documentary look at this brutal event, recreating the story with newsreel footage and interviews with survivors of the battle. David McCullough narrates. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In 1846, a group of over eighty Westward-bound pioneers were headed to the coast of California from Illinois, which had itself only recently been brought up to "civilized" status. They made it to a pass high in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California when they were halted by a truly monstrous blizzard, followed by the snows of one of the worst winters in that century. Their attempts to go forward and backward were thwarted by the deep snow, and, in the small shelter they enjoyed, they slowly starved to death. Eventually, they resorted to cannibalism to survive, and after their story became more widely known, the pass they took shelter in became known as "the Donner Pass." To this day, it is frequently made impassable by heavy snows. Ironically, the forty or so who survived later discovered that, had they only forged ahead about a hundred yards, they would have won free of the deep snow which ensnared them. This documentary has gathered a surprising harvest of photos, notes and drawings in order to tell the pioneers' story. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Ken Burns' epic series begins with the causes of the Civil War in 1861 and ends with the war's aftermath in 1865. A combination of photographs, interviews, and narration create a sweeping historical documentary. Commentary and anecdotes by historian Shelby Foote add another level of authority to the film while providing the viewer insight into distant events and personalities. While Burns covers the major battles and personalities, he also emphasizes the plight of African-Americans and the common soldier. Each of the nine segments concentrates on a particular part of the war, allowing the viewer to isolate episodes of interest. For instance, episode five, The Universe of Battle, follows General Robert E. Lee into Pennsylvania for the devastating battle of Gettysburg. Social events are also given coverage. Each episode opens with a list of events simultaneously taking place around the world, while a more detailed treatment is provided for domestic affairs. Accounts of the draft riots in the North and famine in the South help to place the war within a larger social context. At the end of the nine episodes, Burns' ambitious series has offered a complete account of the causes of the war, the personalities of the generals and politicians who directed it, and the domestic and foreign events that shaped the war's outcome. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi