Bonhoeffer

Starring:Eberhard Bethge, Klaus Maria Brandauer, John De Gruchy, Geffrey Kelly, Richard Mancini, Adele Schmidt, Desmond Tutu, Ruth Alice von Bismarck
Studio: First Run Features
Product Type: DVD

The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

No closed captions/provisions for hearing impaired
Greatest WWII overview
Surely the best?
Just okay ...
World at War--Good look at history!

The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Sir Max Aitken , Vannevar Bush , Christabel Bielenberg , and Edward Butler (II)
Director: John Pett , David Elstein , and Hugh Raggett
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The First World War - The Complete Series
Victory at Sea - The Legendary World War II Documentary (History Channel)
BBC History of World War II
World War 1 in Color
The Nazis - A Warning from History

ASIN: B0002F6AH0
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Amazon.com essential video

Sir Jeremy Isaacs highly deserves the numerous awards for documentaries he has earned: the Royal Television Society's Desmond Davis Award, l'Ordre National du Mérit, an Emmy, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. His epic The World at War remains unsurpassed as the definitive visual history of World War II.

The Second World War was different from other wars in thousands of ways, one of which was the unparalleled scope of visual documents kept by the Axis and Allies of all their activities. As a result, this war is understood as much through written histories as it is through its powerful images. The Nazis were particularly thorough in documenting even the most abhorrent of the atrocities they were committing--in a surprising amount of color footage. The World at War was one of the first television documentaries that exploited these resources so completely, giving viewers an unbelievable visual guide to the greatest event in the 20th century. This is to say nothing of the excellent, comprehensible narrative. Some highlights:

A New Germany 1933-39: early German and Nazi documentation of Hitler's rise to power through the impending attack on Poland
Whirlwind: the early British losses in the blitz in the skies over Britain and in North Africa
Stalingrad: the turning point of the war and Germany's first defeat
Inside the Reich--Germany 1940-44: one of the most fascinating documentaries that exists on life inside Nazi Germany, from Lebensborn to the Hitler Youth
Morning: prior to Saving Private Ryan, one of the only unromanticized views of the Normandy invasion
Genocide: this film is one of the most widely shown introductions to the Holocaust
Japan 1941-45: although The World at War is decidedly focused more on the European theater, this is an important look into wartime Japan and its expansion--early 20th-century history that lead to Japan's role in World War II is superficial
The bomb: another widely shown documentary of the Manhattan Project, the Enola Gay, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki

The World at War will remain the definitive visual history of World War II, analogous to Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. No serious historian should be missing The World at War in a collection, and no student should leave school without having seen at least some of its salient episodes. Rarely is film so essential. --Erik J. Macki

Customer Reviews:

No closed captions/provisions for hearing impaired.......2007-07-07

The miniseries was terrific but the DVD has one unacceptable (for me) flaw: It has no provisions for the hearing impaired. There is no closed captioning. I bought this as a gift for someone who is hearing impaired and was forced to return it.

Such a cheap, shoddy decision for production is unworthy of the fine miniseries.

Greatest WWII overview.......2007-07-05

We have seen several very good overviews of the 2nd world war. This one is the yardstick that we measure them by. So many people are trying to rewrite history that young people can't really understand how it was. 'World at War' and 'Victory at Sea' give the even handed history that we need today.

Surely the best?.......2007-06-25

For me, as a British viewer this is almost like the `authorised' documentary television series about The Second World War. Considering the fact that most of the participants in this conflict, as young men and women were now middle-aged at the time of the production of this series in the early 1970's; they could relate their individual experiences which for them would have been recent memories.

American viewers criticize the lack of emphasis on the war in the Pacific. At the time, long before the concept of home video, cable and satellite television was conceivable I'm sure it was thought very unlikely that this excellent series would ever tempt the American broadcasting networks to buy it. So therefore it is not surprising that the series emphasises the war from the British point of view.

As there was little British, or British empire participation in the Pacific theatre it can hardly come as a surprise that the bitter conflict in Burma, Malaya and New Guinea should hold our primary attention. Should the series be made today, with the avowed intention of making a documentary series that would have to be sold around the world to recoup production costs alone, the story would more encompassing in its scope.

Please don't forget that the war began for Britain and France when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in September 1939 and the security of the British people and homeland did not finally arrive until the surrender of Germany in May 1945. Our focus was on the war in Europe and the Soviet Union. The war in the Pacific was a dim and distant event for the "Blacked-out" and severely rationed British people more concerned with the daily struggle just to keep body and soul together.

Just okay ..........2007-06-19

The very first episode was great ... after that it was hit and miss. I found multiple times I wanted to fall asleep on some episodes, but stayed awake out of some desire to feel I watched the whole thing. It is also narrated from a British perspective, and so as an American, I found little to entertain my appetite. Especially Pacific theatre combat with the Americans was almost none existent, as if British combat and especially in Burma was the only real thing that happened. It does have good insights into the Nazi's and rewards itself here and there, but overall I think the British slant and focus ruined the series.

I also found it humorous that the narrator tried to label Hitler as "right-wing" when he was a Socialist dictator. What?

World at War--Good look at history!.......2007-06-18

World at War is a classic! The combination of high-level policymakers' viewpoints and individual citizens' and soldiers' viewpoints gives excellent understanding of the events and issues. I highly recommend it for individuals or classes who want to learn about WWII.

Average customer rating:

Living upon what he believed
Factual account of an important theological figure, but...
Maybe the only human German under Nazi Germany
Worth Viewing -- would have liked broader historical context
Christian Pastor Who Resisted Hitler...

Bonhoeffer
Starring: Eberhard Bethge , Klaus Maria Brandauer , John De Gruchy , Geffrey Kelly , and Richard Mancini
Manufacturer: First Run Features
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Luther
Letter and Papers from Prison
The Cost of Discipleship
Ethics
The Magic Never Ends - The Life and Work of C.S. Lewis

ASIN: B0001GH7W2
Release Date: 2004-04-20

Customer Reviews:

Living upon what he believed.......2007-04-14

Bonhoeffer was a German Christian theologian who worked during WWII in the Resistence against Hitler. He was imprisoned during the last years of the war, and little before the fall of Berlin he was killed. In prison he wrote his famous "Letters", his first book that I read, and which is a must read companion book to this dvd.

This is an excellent documentary, not only about the man, but about the times he lived in, the difficult task of having to decide between doing what God called us (in this case him) to do, or choosing not to get involved in what is going on around us. Bonhoeffer realized that he could not escape the war and go to America, and then expect to have any role in post-war Germany, preaching what people should do.

One of the great things he said was that whenever we read the Bible we should believe that God is speaking to us, right there, and right then. His crime, according to the Nazis, was that he reminded people who their real Fuhrer was: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Factual account of an important theological figure, but..........2007-03-20

Bonhoeffer's life is certainly worthy of popular examination. This DVD provides a factual account of many crossroads in his life, but does so with a feel reminiscent of classroom educational films of old. As a "movie" experience, it doesn't exhibit the excellence of, say, Ken Burn's Civil War series. Still, until someone makes a better documentary about Bonhoeffer, this one is the tops and so I give it four stars. I would encourage interested readers to review books by and about Dietrich Bonhoeffer to understand more fully the impact that this man had and why many regard him as a modern saint. And, no, I'm not Lutheran. d:c)

Maybe the only human German under Nazi Germany.......2007-02-27

What is the point of this documentary? that one German (we should add maybe Schindler and Stauffenberg) were slightly more humans than the other millions who willingly supported Hitler in his evil plans to destroy
5,5 million Jews. This is not so impressive and Bonhoeffer's initiatives even if couragous seem to be a bit mild. I think that the film is trying to make a case that not all Germans were racist and anti-semites under Hitler? Well 99 % were so congratulations Bonhoeffer to fight pacifically against the Devil but that was not very efficient. As for Stauffenberg this was rather late and it was because Germans were losing the war on the Eastern front. What about Schindler? well didn't he need cheap labor anyway. Show me a real German soal who acted in a pure altruistic way to save the Jews. There are alsmost none. The film is an attemps to look for humanity in the heart of evil and for that alone the filmmaker should be commanded. But I don't think the film accomplishes the initial purpose to show that not all Germans were nazis. They were for 99.99999 % a the time.

Worth Viewing -- would have liked broader historical context.......2007-01-06

This was definitely worth viewing. However, I feel that it could have benefited from broader historical perspective, with more connections to the world at the time. Bonhoeffer was an important figure and his courage and grace is most appreciated against the backdrop of what the rest of German society in general and the religious community was doing in his time. The beliefs and actions of Bonhoeffer and people like him should be understood by all so that the it is known that even in the face of unimaginable evil there are heros.

Christian Pastor Who Resisted Hitler..........2006-11-24

Notable for its presentation, interview "gets" and unique archival footage, BONHOEFFER: PASTOR, PACIFIST, NAZI RESISTOR is a powerful, concisely comprehensive look at Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life as a theologian, pastor, and ultimately double-agent who actively resisted Hitler, in contrast to most of Germany's church who were either indifferent or in active support of the Nazis, as seen in film photos of pastors giving the Nazi salute and enormous swastikas over church marriage ceremonies. PhD at 24, hanged at 39, Bonhoeffer's example and writings live on, thanks to the efforts of his student and best friend Eberhard Bethge, whose last interview is included in this documentary. Also interviewed are Bonhoefer's niece, his nephew (whose own father was executed for the conspiracy), other former students, the sister of his fiance Maria, Desmond Tutu, and various theologians and historians.

Of the films on Bonhoeffer, this is the one to watch first since it manages to fit both in and together so many pieces of Bonhoeffer's full life--vibrant worship at a Harlem church, influence of Niebuhr, early radio criticism of Hitler, shame and torment over not speaking at the funeral of his sister's Jewish father-in-law, writings on topics such as the relationship of church and state, setting aside a trip to visit Gandhi in order to start an illegal seminary, and becoming a spy ostensibly travelling to gather info for the Nazis but in reality trying to garner support from the worldwide church and the allies. The movie is filled with excerpts from Bonhoeffer's timeless writings, with samples being included in the DVD special features. And beyond Bonhoeffer, the movie draws attention to the German context, particularly the failure of the church, both the church that alligned with Hitler as well as the Confessing Church that broke off but was largely silent. The overall film emphasis, though, is on Bonhoeffer's belief of the necessity of active faith, responding to the will of God.

(There is one DVD negative, an accompanying movie trailer: Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky In Our Time. Chomsky's life and teaching are antithetical to what Bonhoeffer stood for and including this trailer disgusts me as it totally turns Bonhoeffer's message of the church suffering with the oppressed on its head. In the name of peace, Chomsky instead aids enemies of peace through his antiIsrael words and activities, such as meeting with the terrorist group Hizbullah. Bonhoeffer specifically saw the Jewish of his time as oppressed, even drawing parallels of their oppression with the black Americans he encountered in Harlem. Bonhoeffer, based on his reliance upon scripture and keen discernment, would see that despite today's propaganda, it is tiny Israel who is oppressed and in need of church support as she is surrounded by enormous Arab and Muslim populations to destroy her.)

Average customer rating:

Bonhoeffer's Role in the Resistance Movement
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace
Great story

Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace

Manufacturer: Vision Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Bonhoeffer
Hanged On A Twisted Cross
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Memories and Perspectives
Letter and Papers from Prison
Luther

ASIN: B0002HRKVS

Product Description

What is a moral person to do in a time of savage immoraality. Dramatization of life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German clergyman who opposed Hitler and the Nazis. Winner Best Film Monte Carlo television festival

Customer Reviews:

Bonhoeffer's Role in the Resistance Movement.......2006-08-10

For anyone with any interest in WWII and the Nazi regime this film is worth watching. It is the biography of Deitrich Bonhoeffer who was a Lutheran minister and a counter spy for the resistance movement during the war.

The film highlights Bonhoeffer's religious faith and theology, discusses his family and friends, and explains how he came to be a martyr for the German resistance movement.

I am not a history buff or particularly interested in religious theology, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film and learned a lot from it. My husband who is a history lover and knew much of the history during this time period appreciated the life on Bonhoeffer and learned some things he didn't know about the government and daily life in Germany at the time.

This film is well worth watching.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace.......2006-03-04

I recently purchased this DVD from Amazon, because I'm a fan of Director Eric Till's great movie "Luther". To be honest, I had never even heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer before and I knew very little about the underground German resistance to Adolf Hitler in WW2. Till's movie raises an interesting dilemma, what is a religious person who believes that our elected leaders were placed over us by God do in a time savage immorality? Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran Minister, could have fled Germany to safety; but instead, chose to actively oppose Hitler. I was amazed at how Bonhoeffer kept his faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ, while his world was crumbling around him. Till's effort portrays a man who continued to minister to the needs of others while others would have quit -- myself included. Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace won the Best Film Award at the Monte Carlo Television Festival in 2000. I highly recommend this movie.

Great story.......2006-02-23

Of all his great works, Bonhoeffer's life was the most marvelous. This film portrays well the sequence of events that led this particular disciple to pay the full price. This is not a slick Hollywood production; it is more a reenactment of a biography by actors who are creditable, not exceptional. Nevertheless there are some unforgettable scenes. The movie is quite worthwhile for one who wants to learn more about Bonhoeffer, as is the 2003 documentary, Bonhoeffer by Doblemeier. It will not offer much, however, to the viewer looking for a great deal of action and excitement.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Memories and Perspectives

Average customer rating:

Don't Miss It!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Memories and Perspectives

Manufacturer: Vision Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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Hanged On A Twisted Cross
Bonhoeffer
Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography
Letter and Papers from Prison

ASIN: B000F6ZDY2
Release Date: 2006-05-24

amazon.com

For those who want a close and intimate portrait of Bonhoeffer. This video follows the life of the martyred theologian as vividly recalled by those closest to him: his friends, family, and students. Included are Bonhoeffer family photographs that have never been shown before. An emotionally wrenching documentary that probes the struggles and motivations of Bonhoeffer in a way that makes one ask anew: What does it mean to be a Christian in the 20th century world? B & W

Customer Reviews:

Don't Miss It!.......2006-08-20

Of all the documentary/biographies this easily rank my #1.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a compelling person, whose faith and life were consistent against Nazi evil. While I enjoy any well-done biography of the man, this production ranks above the other, newer efforts. First, it incorporatess commentary from family and others who worked with him. That generation is now gone, making this a historically significant piece of work that emphasizes reporting/documentary. This aspect is enhanced by the black and white format; it feels like the 1940s. Second, it is developed thematically, so that the significance of how Bonhoeffer impacted the church and the world in the context of WWII Germany, and the German Resistance is powerfully conveyed.

Having used this in video format for college applied Ethics classes as well as writing classes learning to construct critical commentaries, for 15 years or more, I can honestly say that this one 90-minute documentary has had a more profound effect on more students, than anything else I have used in teaching. I've seen it at least 50 times, and it never wears thin. The challenge of Bonhoeffer's life and work needs to be presented to succeeding generations. He teaches us how to live, and how to die.

I'm SO grateful it is being rereleased on DVD, as it is one of the most important items in my vast video collection.

Average customer rating:

No closed captions/provisions for hearing impaired
Greatest WWII overview
Surely the best?
Just okay ...
World at War--Good look at history!

The World At War - Complete Set
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Sir Max Aitken , Robert Boothby , McGeorge Bundy , and Christabel Bielenberg
Director: Martin Smith (VII) , Hugh Raggett , and Ted Childs
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Military & War | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The First World War - The Complete Series
Victory at Sea - The Legendary World War II Documentary (History Channel)
BBC History of World War II
World War 1 in Color
The Nazis - A Warning from History

ASIN: B00005NOOH
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Amazon.com essential video

A New Germany 1933-39: early German and Nazi documentation of Hitler's rise to power through the impending attack on Poland
Whirlwind: the early British losses in the blitz in the skies over Britain and in North Africa
Stalingrad: the turning point of the war and Germany's first defeat
Inside the Reich--Germany 1940-44: one of the most fascinating documentaries that exists on life inside Nazi Germany, from Lebensborn to the Hitler Youth
Morning: prior to Saving Private Ryan, one of the only unromanticized views of the Normandy invasion
Genocide: this film is one of the most widely shown introductions to the Holocaust
Japan 1941-45: although The World at War is decidedly focused more on the European theater, this is an important look into wartime Japan and its expansion--early 20th-century history that lead to Japan's role in World War II is superficial
The bomb: another widely shown documentary of the Manhattan Project, the Enola Gay, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki

Description

The award-winning series narrated by Laurence Olivier. A powerful and devastating historical chronicle of war, composed of penetrating interviews with world leaders, statesmen and the military, along with the experiences of the ordinary men and women of a

Customer Reviews:

No closed captions/provisions for hearing impaired.......2007-07-07

Greatest WWII overview.......2007-07-05

Surely the best?.......2007-06-25

Just okay ..........2007-06-19

World at War--Good look at history!.......2007-06-18

Average customer rating:

The World at War
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Sir Max Aitken , Vannevar Bush , Christabel Bielenberg , and Edward Butler (II)
Director: John Pett , David Elstein , and Hugh Raggett
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition)

ASIN: B00004VVR8

Average customer rating:

I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

The World at War Part 2
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Sir Max Aitken , Vannevar Bush , Christabel Bielenberg , and Edward Butler (II)
Director: John Pett , David Elstein , and Hugh Raggett
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VVR5

Customer Reviews:

I would give it more than 5 stars if I could........2006-10-18

...although this documentary is more than 30 years old, its content, its interviews, and its narration stand the test of time. I have not seen such a moving and informative documentry on WWII since I cannot recall. Laurence Olivier's narration, interviews with personnel and civilians of the war give the viewer an insight into WWII that few shows have matched. The amount of original footage that is shown is the best collection I've ever seen and is paced excellently. If you are a WWII buff, this series belongs in your collection. Even if you only have a casual interest in one of history's greatest conflicts, this series is a MUST see. You will not be dissapointed.

Average customer rating:

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition)

ASIN: B00004VVR7

World War II - Vol. 5: The World At War/ Appointment In Tokyo

Average customer rating:

two astonishing documentaries

World War II - Vol. 5: The World At War/ Appointment In Tokyo
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Sir Max Aitken , Vannevar Bush , Christabel Bielenberg , and Edward Butler (II)
Director: John Pett , David Elstein , and Hugh Raggett
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6304870752
Release Date: 1997-12-09

Customer Reviews:

two astonishing documentaries.......2005-01-13

These two documentaries are a pictorial record of the WWII European and Pacific theaters, with footage that will astound anyone interested in history.
"The World at War" states "nothing has been staged, everything is authentic", and goes back to the roots of WWII, from the Japanese in China, Mussolini in Ethiopia, German involvement in Spain, and Hitler in Munich.
There is President Roosevelt with his "a day that will live in infamy" speech to Congress, but mostly, it has film captured from the enemy, with amazing footage taken from Luftwaffe bombing flights, and the rapid invasion of country after country by Hitler leaving devastation in its wake; it also has a segment of the Soviet army, but what this film really makes one realize, is that if the US had not joined and lost so many of its finest for freedom, the world would have turned into a horror. Total running time is 44 minutes.

"Appointment in Tokyo" is unforgettable. This is a "must see" documentary for everyone but children and the squeamish, as it shows much of the carnage of battle very close-up, in the jungle as well as in the city of Manila.
Very well written (though not politically correct), there is a gripping intensity to this film, and the footage of the young men who fought so bravely is extremely moving.
The incredible scene of the signing of the surrender of Japan on the USS Missouri is shown, with Gen. Douglas MacArthur looking and sounding like a god, as he says "a free people had come to triumph over the lords of war".
Total running time is 55 minutes.
The sound is a little "old" as one would expect for these films, though "Appointment in Tokyo" has a rousing soundtrack.
DVD extras include a very brief film reel of women and children in Nazi concentration camps.
God bless the brave souls who went through this hell for our freedom.

Average customer rating:

Bad
Overpriced for only 2 DVDs

The World at War Part One
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Sir Max Aitken , Vannevar Bush , Christabel Bielenberg , and Edward Butler (II)
Director: John Pett , David Elstein , and Hugh Raggett
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition)
The First World War - The Complete Series
Victory at Sea - The Legendary World War II Documentary (History Channel)

ASIN: B00004VVR4

Customer Reviews:

Bad.......2006-06-27

User sent me the wrong format. He sent me one that is for eurpoean origin. Took a while for me to get my money back

Overpriced for only 2 DVDs.......2006-04-28

I bought this item for $74 thinking it was the ENTIRE DVD set of the World at War. It isn't. It's only for volume 1 and runs 7 hours on 2 DVDs. I wasn't able to get a refund from the seller. For ten dollars more, I could have bought the entire set from a different dealer, so I figured this was way overpriced for only two DVDs. Save your money and buy the entire box set for some excellent documentaries.

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