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Epicurus.com - The Congress
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List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $9.89
Your Save: $ 5.09 ( 34% )
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: PBS Home Video
Directed By: Ken Burns
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786304048665
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 6304048661
Label: PBS Home Video
Manufacturer: PBS Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: PBS Home Video
Release Date: 1997-02-18
Running Time: 90
Studio: PBS Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1996
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Editorial Reviews:
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In this elegant, penetrating and moving portrait of the United States Congress, filmmaker Ken Burns profiles an American institution whose ideals and actions affect us all. Narrated by David McCullough, the program employs historic film footage and interviews with "insiders" including David Broker, Alistair Cooke and Cokie Roberts to detail the personalities, events and issues that have animated Congress' first 200 years. The program chronicles the extraordinary careers of some of Congress' most notable members. It also charts the continuing growth of the Capitol building and features readings from diary entries, letters and famous speeches that have shaped Congressional history and reinvent the way America did business.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Most Pithy Documentary in the World
Comment: If you know anythin about politics, and are interested in the INDIVIVUAL congresspeople that have served, than this is not the documentary for you. In by far the most shallow documentary I have seen, this movie glosses over entire eras (almost all of the 1920's, the 80's, the 90's, the late 40's), and speaks of only about 10 congressman in the 20th century. Not only that, but Ken Burns seems to want to prove that the congress is more insignificant than we think. He talks at length about Everett Dirksen, who was a senator, and spends four minutes on each decade, and RARELY goes into specific congressman. This is incredibly pithy, no Newt Gingrich, no John Nance Garner, barely any congressman. This documentary despises profiles of interesting people and love long, pedantic descriptions of buildings.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Highlight of Two Main Themes: Growth and Civil Rights
Comment: This richly-narrated documentary chronicles the story of the U.S. Congress through the framework of the two major themes that have dominated its proceedings since the founding: growth and civil rights. Westward expansion, the addition of new states and territories, the rise of American industry with the labor barons' challenge to the federal government's power, and massive immigration were all factors with attendant political implications that Congress had to deal with through legislation and a reassertion of its power. Civil rights was a tension inherent in the beginning of the nation, with black slaves at first not even counted as full persons in the census--being 3/5 of a person according to the Constitution. The process of according blacks real and legal status as equal citizens was a tumultuous one, and women also had to fight for their rights. These themes continue in our national life, as racism and discrimination goes on, and the rise of Hispanic culture, among other things, impacts our political underpinnings.
The Founding Fathers wanted a weak Executive Branch and a strong legislature, and this documentary also shows how Henry Clay, with his brilliant oratory, led Congress to fulfill that design. Yet with the growth of the Federal Government and the bureaucracy, the Executive has probably become more powerful than the Founders intended.
In sum, this is an informative and entertaining production that helps us understand more about the Congress and the American people.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good Film with Great Insight
Comment: Good Film with great insight on such Congressmen as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Jeannette Rankin, Joe Cannon, and Sam Rayburn. I do wish the film was a little longer, but that may just be me.
It would be nice if Ken Burns makes and updated version in the next few years. I also wished Senators Strom Thurmond, Fritz Hollings and Edward M. Kennedy would have been quoted and/or interviewed. The film does include Senator John C. Stennis, which is nice. Even if Burns doesn't update the film, it stands up well over time. I think many people will like the quotes from James Madison given during the early part of the film.
I hope every Congressman owns a copy of this DVD.
"All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree." --James Madison, speech at the Constitutional Convention, July 11, 1787
Some of Daniel Webster's speeches:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dwebster/speeches/
Customer Rating:
Summary: Horribly outdated and poorly made
Comment: This DVD is just an update of a VHS from 1988 with no new information. It is poorly made, shows nearly nothing about the history of the capital buildings, only stupid tidbits about congressional members over time. Fails to metion the other house buildings on capital hill, or even what a representative does as a member.
Horrid video, most boring and sleepy 1:45:00. Don't waste your money on this video, spend it on pizza and doritos for more of an education.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A resource for Teachers, sent from heaven
Comment: My students loved it! My classroom was a scene of heated debate and excitement. I couldn't have asked for a better tool to aid in the teaching of our Congress.
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