Best Ken Burns Documentaries
Ken Burns is by far the Godfather of Documentary Cinema. His documentaries have been nominated for two Academy Awards and have won Emmy Awards among other honors. He has covered such serious matters as the US Civil War and World War II as well as more lighthearted subjects like Baseball and Mark Twain.While his subjects primarily cover life and history in the United States, his perspectives are far-reaching. His style of using archival photos and film footage has served to give a new life to the past. In fact, it was his step-father, a psychologist, who pointed out to Burns that his "whole work was an attempt to make people long gone come back alive."
Below are the best of his many documentaries. Some are fun, some are sobering, but all are informative and artistic.
I watched this series because I was so enamored with Ken's documentary on the history of Jazz. This series did not disappoint either. This man has an amazing gift, and his history documentaries should be compulsory viewing in schools around the nation.
If you haven't seen this series, you should. It gives the best insight into the "war against the states" ever really produced. Covering everything from slavery to major battles, you'll be brought to tears by the artistry.
I saw this film many years ago on TV around Christmastime. It was on late mornings for several days and left a lasting impression on me. What an amazing person Ken Burns must be to tell history in such a way that you feel as though you are there, experiencing this traumatic war for yourself.
What an informative, multi-faceted, in-depth, riveting, and deeply emotional documentary. It will have a profound impact on your soul regardless of where your political and nationalistic loyalties lie.
As the quote by Friedrich Nietzsche states, "To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering." This sobering documentary masterfully demonstrates this in an unforgettable way that will touch emotions you never knew you had!
The level of information and validation of statements made left me speechless.
The most thorough history of America's national pastime ever produced. Covering everything from the game's creation to its modern-day scandals, if you love sports, you'll love this series.
This series captures the cheers (Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, the 2004 Boston Red Sox), the tears (Lou Gehrig's farewell, the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn, 9/11), the controversies (the 1877 Louisville Grays, the 1919 World Series, Mark McGwire on trial), and the great players (Christy Mathewson, Mickey Mantle, Cal Ripken Jr.).
What a series!
Its Joeysworld
I went to hear him speak when he was working on this film. He chose a great way to tell the story of so many people, places, and events.
Best documentary on World War II by far. To be watched again and again. Ken Burns did a masterful job on this one.
An insightful look at World War II through the eyes of the United States.
Our national treasure must be preserved for future generations. This is a must-see for junior high to high schoolers, as well as all government officials, with a summary of what our elected officials understood by a bipartisan inquiry.
This is the series that won Ken Burns two Emmy Awards. It features the United States National Park system and traces the system's history.
Everything was beautiful, from the scenery to the score. I still listen to Mallard Island Hymn.
I knew nothing about them. This documentary was fascinating. Teddy, FDR, and Eleanor were like real-life superheroes. Being wealthy from birth, they could have done little and still been fine, but they all accomplished amazing acts that have benefited our country and mankind to this day.
I have watched this documentary a number of times. It's fascinating. I admire all three Roosevelts.
A history of the American West. Native struggles, frontiersmen, military conquest - this series covers it all.
This film is "The Grapes of Wrath" brought to life. Amazing.
What's not to like about a Ken Burns documentary? Just now watching the first installment:
#101 The Rub 1933. Next, a sampling:
#102 Hard Times 1945
#103 Hillbilly Shakespeare 1945-1953
#104 I Can't Stop Loving You 1953-1963
There are a total of eight segments, ending with the years 1984-1996.
It describes how the consumption and effect of alcoholic beverages in the United States were connected to many different cultural forces, including immigration, women's suffrage, and the income tax. Eventually, the Temperance movement led to the passing of Prohibition, the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A little biased against the avant-garde but otherwise very insightful.
Burns attempted to capture both the public and private personas of Mark Twain from his birth to his death.
It began as a non-fiction book by Tom Lewis but was adapted into a documentary and a radio drama. Ken Burns covers the major players in the field, as well as their feuds.
A detailed history of "Lady Liberty" from not only the view of the people but also the media.
A beautiful, insightful, and enthralling depiction of one of the most stirring collective achievements in American history. It is a film every citizen of the world should see.
The scenes in which the Corps of Discovery - which includes a wealthy white Southern gentleman, an Irish immigrant, an apparently manic-depressive leader, a teenage Indian girl, and a freed slave - decide where to spend the winter upon reaching the Pacific Coast by casting a public vote should be shown to every child on the planet. It shows a group of humans, each with strengths and weaknesses, after an incredibly difficult journey into the unknown, at humanity's best.
In short, it's worth watching.
JSH
The documentary provides background, interviews, expert analysis, and details of associated facts related to the Central Park jogger case and the conviction of the five suspects.
A great true story, more interesting than one might think to watch. The Mayo brothers were truly great people and pioneers in their field.
This one really opens your eyes to the power and dangers of uranium... the ultimate Pandora's box.
