Ken Burns Movies
After earning his BA at Hampshire College, Brooklyn-born Ken Burns pursued a career as a documentary filmmaker. At age 22, he formed Florentine Films in his home base of Walpole, New Hampshire. Dissatisfied with dry, scholarly historical documentaries, Burns wanted his films to "live," and to that end adopted the technique of cutting rapidly from one still picture to another in a fluid, linear fashion. He then pepped up the visuals with "first hand" narration gleaned from contemporary writings and recited by top stage and screen actors. Burns' first successful venture was the award-winning documentary The Brooklyn Bridge, which ran on public television in 1981. While he was Oscar-nominated for his 1985 theatrical release The Statue of Liberty, Burns' work has enjoyed its widest exposure on television: such films as Huey Long (1985), Thomas Hart Benton (1986) and Empire of the Air (1991) (a bouquet to the pioneers of commercial radio) have become staples of local PBS stations' seasonal fund drives. In 1990, Burns completed what many consider his "chef d'oeuvre": the eleven-hour The Civil War, which earned an Emmy (among several other honors) and became the highest-rated miniseries in the history of public television. Civil War was the apotheosis of Burns' master mixture of still photos, freshly shot film footage, period music, evocative "celebrity" narration and authentic sound effects. In 1994, Ken Burns released his long-awaited Baseball, an 18-hour saga which, like The Civil War, was telecast at the same time as the publication of a companion coffee-table book. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1982
Directed by Ken Burns, this video takes a penetrating look at the role played by Chicago during World War II. Besides the rail, road, and water networks that made the city an important nexus of national trade, the city was, and is, the major site for Naval basic training. This video offers a broad overview of the changes wrought as the "City With Broad Shoulders" girded itself for war. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1982
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Fresh out of college, aspiring filmmaker Ken Burns (The Civil War, Baseball) read David McCullough's history of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and decided that the labyrinthine tale of tragic setbacks and incredible engineering feats would be the perfect subject for a documentary film. As he experimented with ways of bringing the story to life, Burns, a Brooklyn native himself, developed innovative techniques that would later become his trademark -- using a moving camera over still photographs, having first-person accounts such as diaries and letters read aloud, and taking the time to create exquisite live cinematography of his subject. The result is an emotional and visually stunning account of one of the most ambitious building projects in American history -- a rare treat for history and film buffs alike. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide
- 1985
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This excellent documentary on one of America's most well-known national symbols was nominated for an Academy Award in 1985. Director (Ken Burns) details the perilous history of the Grand Dame, the difficulties in creating her in a Paris suburb and shipping her to New York, and then the heated arguments that arose Stateside as to whether or not she should even be set up in New York's harbor. Pity the dedicated French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi who created her with infinite care, a topic covered by photographs and narration in the first segment of the film. As famous immigrants comment on the meaning of the Statue of Liberty to themselves, it is noted that at the time of her inauguration in 1886 her 152-ft. height on top of a 150-ft. pedestal made her the tallest structure in the U.S. Director Burns quite fairly points out that to some Americans, including Afro-Americans, the Statue of Liberty does not necessarily raise her torch for everyone equally. Nevertheless, The Statue of Liberty is an entertaining documentary by any measure. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- 1985
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Under the official title of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Coming, the Shakers created one of the most fascinating and idiosyncratic religious movements in American history. In this engrossing volume of the seven-part series America, renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns brings to life the unique confluence of history, politics, and dynamic personalities that made this phenomenon possible and that make it symbolic of all that America is and was. Out of the many experimental utopian communities that migrated to America in hopes of finding religious freedom, the Shakers may be the only one to have made a lasting impression upon both the scholarly and the popular imagination. Known to many only for their stunning and influential furniture design, the Shakers were a commune strictly devoted to ideals of work, communal property, celibacy, and prayer. Don't miss this in-depth look at America's religious past. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide
In this excellent documentary, the controversial life and political career of Louisiana governor and state senator Huey P. Long is admirably covered from all possible angles. Director Ken Burns does not spare the politician's personal corruption nor ignore his critics while citing the benefits he brought to his dirt-poor state during his tenure in office (1928-1935). Mendacious and charismatic from the beginning, Long was trained in law and made his way to the gubernatorial mansion by first becoming railroad commissioner. Long's oratory shines forth in archival footage, interviews with family and critics lay bare the private and public persona, and commentary fills in a context and a background on the man and his times. (History has always held that Long was assassinated by Dr. Carl Weiss in the State Capitol building on the night of Sept. 8, 1935. New evidence put together in the 1990s suggests that Weiss was framed.) ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- 1988
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Renowned documentary-maker Ken Burns uses archival film clips, interviews, newspaper stories, and journals to bring the story of the U.S. Congress and the characters involved in its fascinating and sometimes dubious history to life. The film explores the popularly-elected Legislative branch of our government and observes its modes of functioning, along with its past and present strengths and weaknesses. Famous historical figures who served as Congressmen (Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and others) are featured, as are contemporary members and events. Burns uses his skills to draw our sometimes admiring, sometimes skeptical attitudes toward this group of power-entrusted individuals into full perspective, pointing out the valuable role the Congress is designed to serve - potentially providing balance in extreme situations or weighted political atmospheres.
~ Alice Duncan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David McCullough
- 1989
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Documentarian Ken Burns, better known for his epic studies of the Civil War and of Baseball, here explores the life and works of one of the hallmark painters of the U.S., Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975). He is most famous for his ability to evoke the vast rolling spaces of the Great Plains, and for his murals and other large works depicting life and work in rural America. He is the namesake and grand-nephew of the unusually well-remembered U.S. Senator from Missouri, whose career was intertwined with that of President Andrew Jackson. Benton the painter was born in Neosho, Missouri, started his art career as a newspaper cartoonist, and then studied in Paris and Europe. For a while, his work reflected the fashionable avant garde syles of painting, including cubism, but the work for which he is best remembered combines his earlier gift at cartooning in a realistic style which might be called "neo-realism." The period which saw the greatest proliferation of his work was the 1930's. Though later his works were collected and displayed at major museums, and one of his students went on to considerable fame himself (Jackson Pollock), his works were not critically acclaimed during his lifetime, in part due to his extreme homophobia and disdain for the New York art scene, and he has his detractors even today. The documentary includes interviews with Benton's wife, with critics and museum curators, and features many of his paintings. Also included are scenes from Benton's home movies. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1990
When Abraham Lincoln took office in 1861, the United States faced the worst crisis of its 75-year history. Because of Lincoln's lack of experience, many believed -- including his own cabinet -- that he wasn't qualified to be president. Convinced that the war could be over in three months, Lincoln chose George B. McClellan to build the Army of the Potomac; when it came time to pursue the enemy and fight, however, McClellan hesitated. In other theaters, the ironclad ships of the Confederate and Union Navies, the Merrimac and the Monitor, fought an epic four-and-a-half hour battle, revolutionizing naval warfare. In April, the troops of Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Sidney Johnston became embroiled in a murderous battle at Shiloh, MS. The battle's 23,000 casualties proved the bloodiest battle (up to that time) in American history, exceeding the combined casualties of the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War. Landmines, repeating guns, and the longer range of the new minie ball assured that this battle was only a harbinger of things to come. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1990
The Cause -- 1861 opens Ken Burns' epic series on the Civil War, detailing the multiple factors that led the North and South to war in 1861. In 1860, four million African-Americans were held in bondage in the South, serving as forced labor to harvest cotton on vast plantations. The institution of slavery, with its harsh treatment of African-Americans by their owners, led to an abolitionist movement in the North. Harriet Beecher Stowe and William Lloyd Garrison called for an end to slavery in the United States. The Dred Scott case, "Bleeding Kansas," and Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin increased North/South tensions over the slavery issue, but it was radical John Brown who added the final spark. Although Brown's attack on Harper's Ferry in 1859 failed to start a slave revolt, he became an idealized symbol to the abolitionists. The incident, however, led to more distrust in the South. When Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, Southern states began to secede from the Union. On April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter, beginning the Civil War. When Union forces retreated following the Battle of First Bull Run on July 21, hopes for a brief war evaporated. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1990
After winning Atlanta in September of 1865, General Sherman proceeded to take the war to the people of Georgia: His army would cut a path to the sea, living off the land and destroying anything of value along the way. They tore up railroads, twisted railroad ties, and burned houses, causing approximately 100 million dollars worth of damage on the 425-mile trip. The Union Army's march into South Carolina would prove even more destructive. The Confederate government, meanwhile, had begun to disintegrate. After Lee abandoned Petersburg and traveled west, Richmond, the Confederate capital, was defenseless. Jefferson Davis and his cabinet relocated to Danville, VA, while fleeing Southerners looted and burned the city. Food became a scarce commodity in the South and many Confederate soldiers deserted after receiving letters of the harsh conditions at home. Lee and his dwindling army continued west, hoping to join Johnston's forces in North Carolina, but were finally surrounded by Grant's army. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, VA. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1990
By the summer of 1864, the Union faced its darkest hour. Although its troops and resources far outnumbered those of the South, campaigns against Petersburg and Atlanta were bogged down. Northern protesters complained about Grant's massive losses and General George McClellan, once commander of the Union army, was nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. Without a decisive victory, Republican Lincoln believed he would lose the election. The life of a soldier, meanwhile, continued as before. In lulls between battles, soldiers played cards and baseball; they gambled on cock fights and boxing matches; and they drank and visited houses of prostitution. Men continued to enlist and re-enlist, and during the summer, Congress passed legislation to give equal pay to African-American soldiers. Imprisoned soldiers faced severe conditions, none worse than those held at Andersonville prison in Georgia. The stalemate of the war ended on August 31 when Sherman successfully hurled his army against John Bell Hood's forces: on September 1, Union troops marched into Atlanta. This victory helped to assure Lincoln's re-election against McClellan in the fall.
~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1990
Although the Civil War basically came to a close following Lee's surrender to Grant in the spring of 1865, sporadic fighting continued. Jefferson Davis remained defiant to the very end, dreaming of escaping to Texas and somehow revitalizing the Confederate cause. By the time of his capture, however, even Southerners reviled and blamed their president for the loss of the war. The aftermath of the war proved awesome for both sides. Over 600,000 had died during the four years of fighting. In the South, one out of every four men of fighting age had been lost. African-Americans, free for the first time, wandered the roads searching for work and food. Also sobering was the unexpected assassination of President Lincoln a few days after the surrender at Appomattox. As the funeral train carried the President back to Springfield, IL, citizens met the train at each stop, overwhelmed with grief. The legacy of the Civil War, establishing the predominance of the federal government and dismantling the institution of slavery, forever stands as a dividing point in American history. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1990
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., All Movie Guide
- 1990
As the war continued, the hardships and the human cost became more evident. Many soldiers had little to eat and inadequate clothing, while others became addicted to alcohol. Soldiers also suffered when their officers made mistakes. At the battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862, Union General Ambrose E. Burnside sent troops on a suicidal charge, leading to 12,000 casualties. As President Lincoln continued to search for the right general to lead the Union forces, many Northerners were unhappy with the war effort. An antiwar group calling themselves Copperheads openly criticized the president, leading many to be imprisoned. Meanwhile, Jefferson Davis, with governors asserting states' rights and objecting to the draft, found it as difficult to preside over the Confederacy. On May of 1863, the Union suffered a devastating defeat at the battle of Chancellorsville, VA. The death of General Stonewall Jackson, however, proved a serious setback to the Confederacy. Further south, General Grant began laying siege to Vicksburg in an attempt to cut off Confederate access to the Mississippi River. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1990
In 1862, Confederate Generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee came to prominence. Jackson and 18,000 troops successfully pinned down two armies with more than twice as many soldiers in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Lee assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia after General Joseph E. Johnston was severely wounded during the battle of Seven Pines. Lee faced General John Pope at the Second Battle of Manassas, a Union defeat that found Lincoln once again turning to George B. McClellan for military leadership. When the general failed to pursue Lee's army after the battle of Antietam, however, the president permanently removed McClellan from command. As the war continued, abolitionists and African-American leaders like Frederick Douglass pressured the president to recognize abolishing slavery as the central issue. Lincoln had insisted that the conflict was about preserving the Union, not about slavery, but five days after the battle of Antietam, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation also shifted the moral cause of the war, making it less likely that England or France would aid the South. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1990
In May of 1864, the two foremost generals of the North and South finally met in battle: the withdrawn Grant, fresh from a string of victories, and the beloved Lee, struggling to hold together an army short on men and supplies. In Virginia, the Union army began its relentless pursuit of the smaller Confederate force, fighting fierce battles at Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. In Petersburg, the two armies stalled. Lee and his troops remained entrenched for ten months, withstanding sun, rain, flies, and sharpshooters. Throughout the wilderness campaign, Union casualties proved so heavy that critics of the war labeled Grant a butcher. The casualties on both sides overwhelmed hospitals, leading many to look on these facilities as warehouses for the dying. Meanwhile, Grant's friend, General Sherman, began to move south from Chattanooga, TN, pushing General Johnston's troops back until both armies halted before Atlanta. Lincoln was pleased with both generals, but the extended war had undermined his popularity. He badly needed a victory to support his dwindling chances for re-election in the fall.
~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1990
Two pivotal events would change the course of the Civil War in 1863. General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia traveled to Pennsylvania, hoping to strike a victory deep in the enemy's territory. The battle that ensued, however, owned more to chance than an orderly plan. When Confederate troops came to the town of Gettysburg to look for shoes, they encountered Union forces. The three-day battle culminated in a disastrous Confederate charge under the command of General George E. Pickett, resulting in a stunning defeat for Lee. Lincoln would travel to the battlefield three months later to deliver the Gettysburg Address. Grant, meanwhile, continued his siege of Vicksburg until the 31,000 Southern troops ran low on food and surrendered. This gave the Union control of the entire Mississippi river, cutting off supplies to Confederate troops. While these events offered encouragement to the North, the draft, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the enlisting of black soldiers led to a backlash. This would cumulate in a deadly New York Draft Riot where Irish mobs attacked African-Americans at random, resulting in 100 deaths. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Movie Guide
- 1991
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Adapted from Tom Lewis' best-selling book, this documentary by premier historic filmmaker Ken Burns examines the legendary figures who took the small-scale hobby of radio and turned it into a major industry -- not to mention a revolutionary force for social change. Empire of the Air recreates the compelling drama through the stories of three important men: Edwin Howard Armstrong, the inventor of the FM system and of AM receivers practical for widespread use; Lee de Forest, the eccentric who almost got patents on a series of groundbreaking new technologies and who also championed the cultural uses of broadcasting; and David Sarnoff, the Russian immigrant who would create NBC and become president of RCA. Narrated by Jason Robards, this inside look at the science, the squabbles, and the entrepreneurial genius behind the modern communications age features interviews, archival footage, insightful commentary, and ($Ken Burns' characteristic and deeply felt emotional drama. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Robards, Jr.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara becomes this sprawling historical epic. As in Shaara's novel, director Ronald Maxwell focuses on a handful of major players to dramatize the events of July 1863, when the armies of the Union and Confederacy clash at the small Pennsylvania town of the title. Among them are Martin Sheen as General Robert E. Lee, who disagrees with his top advisor, General James Longstreet (Tom Berenger) over battle strategy, and Jeff Daniels as Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a college professor whose unorthodox techniques save the day (and possibly the war) for his beleaguered army. Other cast standouts include Richard Jordan in his final film appearance as the ill-fated General Lewis Armistead, and cameo roles for Civil War buff Ken Burns and media mogul producer Ted Turner. Filmed on-location at Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg was shot as a television miniseries for Turner's TNT cable channel, but earned a limited theatrical release. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Sheen, Jeff Daniels, (more)
- 1994
The classic black-and-white newsreel clips and old photographs that dominated the first seven innings of Ken Burns' documentary tribute to America's pastime now give way to color clips as baseball enters the '60s in Ken Burns' Baseball: Inning 8 -- A Whole New Ballgame. In this decade, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris tried to overtake Babe Ruth's home run record, Sandy Koufax made a name for himself, and Bob Gibson and Denny McLain had MVP pitching seasons. In other highlights, fans said goodbye to Ted Williams, welcomed the New York Mets, and Curt Flood challenged the reserve clause as institutional slavery when he refused to be traded from the Cardinals to the Phillies. ~ Kathryn Tamms, All Movie Guide
- 1994
New York held sway in the world of baseball from 1950-1960, and the seventh episode -- or "inning" -- of Ken Burns' documentary series focuses on the dominating forces of the Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants. At least one of these teams played in every World Series between 1949 and 1958, and six of those series saw the Yankees pitted against either the Dodgers or the Giants. Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle of the Yankees, Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella of the Dodgers, as well as Willie Mays and Bobby Thompson of the Giants are just some of the legendary players who lit up the newsreel clips and increasingly popular TV screens. It was a decade of moving franchises, as the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, the Giants to San Francisco, and the Braves to Milwaukee. But in the seventh inning, the game is far from over. ~ Kathryn Tamms, All Movie Guide
