Austin Hoyt Movies
- 2008
Originally produced as part of the "American Experience" documentary series, this in depth- look at the life and career of the 41st President of the United States draws on new scholarship and recently-conducted interviews with those closest to George H.W. Bush to highlight how an increasingly sluggish economy combined with a broken oath not to raise taxes ultimately prevented him from being elected to a second term in the Oval Office. While a decisive military victory in the Persian Gulf did well to boost Bush's popularity for a short while, the president's subsequent slip in popularity found him looked upon as something of an irrelevant relic of the Cold War era. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Ogden Stiers
- 2005
- Add American Experience: Victory in the Pacific to QueueAdd American Experience: Victory in the Pacific to top of Queue
Victory in the Pacific documents the ending of the fighting in World War II's Pacific Theater. The film shows how the brutality and fatalities increased, and lays out the timeline of the various choices that led to the dropping of the atomic bomb -- the act that led most directly to the end of WWII. This video is part of the American Experience series. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2002
An outgrowth of historian Donald L. Miller's massive City of the Century, this three-part, 270-minute series traces the history of Chicago from a settlement of only 300 or so transients in 1830, to the heavily populated site of the 1893 Columbian Exposition. After synopsizing Chicago's roots as a stopping-off point for explorers Marquette and Joliet in the 17th century, the series focuses on that era of the city's past that has been meticulously chronicled in print and on camera: the Great Fire of 1871, the Haymarket Riot of 1886, the ascension of the meatpacking "barons" to Gold-Coast aristocracy, the dominance of such high-profile figures as Cyrus McCormick, George Pullman, and Marshall Field (described in the narration as "buccaneers"), and the seeds of the social-consciousness movement sown by Jane Addams and her Hull-House. It is shown how the "landed gentry" of Chicago not only scorned the incoming Irish, Polish, and African-American immigrants, but also did everything in their power to expunge these minorities from the social mainstream (for example, the myth that "Mrs. O'Leary's cow" sparked the Chicago Fire is debunked as anti-Irish propaganda); it is also shown how those minorities ultimately battled their way to predominance in Chicago's political machine. Narrated by actor David Ogden Stiers, Chicago: City of the Century was produced for the PBS anthology American Experience in association with Chicago's Historical Society and the city's powerful public-TV outlet WTTW. The series originally aired on January 13, 14, and 15, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Ogden Stiers
- 2002
"Mudhole to Metropolis" is part one of American Experience: Chicago - City of the Century, based on the book by Don Miller. David Ogden Stiers narrates. The story begins in 1673, when French explorers took a canoe up the Illinois River and found a smelly marshland that the Indians called Chicagoua. The French chose not to settle there and the area was used as a fur trading post until the 1800s. When the Erie Canal was finished, the marsh was a good way to link the Mississippi to the Great Lakes. By 1833, the Potawatomi tribe was forced out and white men from New England bought up the land. Then the Irish immigrants who had dug the Erie Canal arrived looking for work. The city's first mayor, William Butler Ogden, helped make Chicago the world's largest railroad hub, lumber market, and grain port. The city experienced an economic boom until the great Chicago Fire of 1871. Over three miles of the city was destroyed. This program was originally broadcast on PBS in January of 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Ogden Stiers
- 2002
"The Revolution Has Begun" is part two of American Experience: Chicago - City of the Century, based on the book by Don Miller. David Ogden Stiers narrates. After the Chicago Fire of 1871, the city began to rebuild. Marshall Fields opens his dream department store on State Street and Cyrus McCormick rebuilds his reaper plant. But the big industry becomes cattle dealing, led by butcher Gustavus Swift. Immigrants from Eastern Europe flock to the city to work as meatpackers. The immigrants bring socialism with them, helping to jump-start the American labor movement. In 1886, a labor activist rally becomes violent in Chicago's Haymarket Square. Workers on strike from the reaper factory are killed by police during a riot, leading to a bombing. This program was originally broadcast on PBS in January of 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Ogden Stiers
- 2002
"Battle for Chicago" is part three of American Experience: Chicago - City of the Century, based on the book by Don Miller. David Ogden Stiers narrates. After the Haymarket Square incident, the unified work force was defeated and crime was on the rise. The various European immigrants in Chicago created ethnic ghettos in opposition to one another. Prostitution, corruption, and drug use increased. In 1889, social reformer Jane Addams established Hull House, a settlement house in the West Side that offered free social services and education for poor people. Social changes led to the construction of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Auditorium Theater. Chicago was named the site for the 1893 World's Fair. This program was originally broadcast on PBS in January of 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Ogden Stiers
General Douglas MacArthur is considered to be one of the most influential and important military personalities in America's history. American Experience: MacArthur provides a comprehensive biography of the controversial man's life and dramatic role in American military history. The program begins with a glimpse of MacArthur's childhood and education at the U.S. Military Academy, where he graduated with top honors. His graduation and training led to his crucial role in numerous victories during both World War I and World War II. Includes discussion about his involvement in the occupation of postwar Japan and his eventual firing by President Truman for his much publicized criticism of military officials. American Experience presents MacArthur's story with archived news footage and interviews with various historians.
~ Laura Mahnken, All Movie Guide
~ Laura Mahnken, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This lengthy (4 1/2 hours) TV documentary on Ronald Reagan, part of The American Experience series, intercuts film clips, network feeds, home movies, and interviews to survey the life, career, philosophy, and policies of the 40th President of the United States. Interview subjects include Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, Ed Meese, Donald Regan, Nancy Reagan, Maureen Reagan, Ron Reagan, Patti Davis, Dr. Helen Caldicott, George Will, and Reagan's official biographer Edmund Morris. Narrated by David Ogden Stiers and filmed by WGBH Boston for PBS, the documentary premiered as a two-parter on 23-24 February 1998. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, (more)
- 1997
The Richest Man In the World is a thoughtful portrait of one of history's most complicated men. Andrew Carnegie was a study in contrasts, a walking contradiction. He was a great philanthropist who endowed nearly 3,000 libraries, but he was also a ruthless businessman who dealt savagely with employee and competitor alike. This video deals with all facets of his puzzling personality in probing and careful fashion, relying both on original sources and testimony from historians and Carnegie's leading biographers. The major events of Carnegie's life are given close attention, from the Homestead Strike to his eventual sell-out to J.P. Morgan. A man such as Carnegie is inseparable from his age, and this volume of the American Experience puts the events of Carnegie's life in proper context. Its sober delivery and balanced tone make it appropriate for the college classroom though its length may preclude its use in this context. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This four-part series looks at five generations of England's House of Windsor, which has introduced the world to such intriguing monarchs as King George V and Edward VIII, both of whom are profiled in this episode. As history reveals, the latter man stunned the world when he abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson. One segment reviews why this royal family changed its name during World War I. Archival footage and interviews with historians and others bring the Windsor family's lives into focus. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This four-part series looks at five generations of England's House of Windsor, which has introduced the world to such intriguing monarchs as King George VI and Elizabeth. This episode profiles both of these individuals, revealing their many efforts to generate support for the monarchy. Archival footage and interviews with historians and others bring the lives of the Windsor family into clear focus during this program. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This four-part series looks at five generations of England's House of Windsor, which has introduced the world to such intriguing figures as King George V, Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana). This episode recalls Queen Elizabeth II's coronation day, as well as the many events that led up to it. Archival footage and interviews with historians and others bring the Windsor family into focus. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This four-part series looks at five generations of England's House of Windsor, which has introduced the world to such intriguing figures as King George V, Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana). This episode looks at why the marriage of the latter pair faltered, and recalls several embarrassing scandals that involved other young members of the extended royal family. Archival footage and interviews with historians and those who've known members of the royal family bring the House of Windsor's travails into focus. ~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1983
This video examines Lyndon Johnson's increased commitment to South Vietnam. With Ho Chi Minh on the verge of return and South Vietnam on the verge of collapse, Johnson was determined to do what it took to prevent either thing from happening. Though war was still undeclared, L.B.J.'s massive buildup left little doubt that the U.S. was indeed at war. Broad in scope and responsible in detail, this video makes good use of the huge amount of archival film available on the war. Its serious tone and responsible history make it entirely appropriate for use in the college classroom. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1983
This video investigates the Tet Offensive of 1968. A military disaster for the North Vietnamese, Tet nonetheless came to be a turning point for the entire war, and in the long run, one of the primary reasons the U.S. eventually lost. Fighting within Saigon and the embassy compound is covered, as well as the ordeal of U.S. Marines in their efforts to recapture the Imperial City of Hue. Tet is a perfect example of how the U.S. won a decisive battle and still lost the war. Broad in scope and responsible in detail, this video makes good use of the huge amount of archival film available on the war. Its serious tone and responsible history makes this episode entirely appropriate for use in the college classroom. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
