American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided

Starring:David Morse, Holly Hunter, David McCullough (II), Mary Genevieve Murphy, David Herbert Donald, Margaret Washington, Kevin Hershberger, David E. Long, Judge Frank J. Williams, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Mark E. Neely Jr., Donald Miller (III), Jean Harvey Baker, Charles B. Strozier, Douglas L. Wilson, Linda Levitt Turner
Director: David Grubin
Studio: Pbs Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Description

From award-winning film-maker David Grubin, this miniseries weaves together the troubled lives of a dirt-farmer's son and a wealthy Southern slave-owner's daughter. Together, Abraham and Mary Lincoln ascended to the pinnacle of power at the most difficult time in the nation's history, the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln's legacy as the Great Emancipator reshaped the nation while his tragic death left Mary reclusive and forgotten.

Customer Reviews:

Very well done!! Excellent!.......2007-04-26

This is an excellent dvd. The depth of the information presented is the best I've seen thus far! I have only one criticism of it -- there was no mention of the conspiracy to kill Lincoln!! That's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. However, either A&E or the History Channel did a fantastic job in portraying the plot to kill Lincoln and also would be worth investing in. It had the whole elaborate plan about how Boothe conspired to kill not only Lincoln, but the vice president and the secretary of state as well. Between the two products, you would have an excellent representation of what actually happened. After seeing both these dvds, I can honestly say I was glad to know that Boothe had been shot!! Not that I advocate shooting anyone for any reason!!

The material on this particular dvd was very well presented and used some reenactment scenes. I enjoyed hearing all the views of each of the historians as the information given brought it more to life than just reading about it!

In my opinion, this dvd was very definitely well worth the price and I would highly recommend it!

Fine treatment of a somewhat neglected aspect of Lincoln.......2004-06-17

It has often been observed that Abraham Lincoln has been enshrined to the point of deification. During the recent Ronald Reagan obsequies, rituals laden with religious references, we the television viewers were treated again & again to images of the Lincoln Memorial, as though Lincoln himself were some sort of national demigod to whom proper deference must be rendered from time to time. All this has served to strip away much of Lincoln's humanity, to the point that we find it hard to believe that he was, just as most of us are, an ordinary spouse & parent, trying to balance the demands of home with the demands of work.

This documentary helps to remind us of that side of Lincoln, as we see the young ambitious lawyer/politician & his equally ambitious wife struggle to make a life together. It is a story, above everything else, of great personal loss (for both Abraham & Mary Lincoln), and at times it makes this documentary painful to watch. As one watches Abraham Lincoln cope the overwhelming stress of a wartime presidency, having already lost two children, one yearns for the time when Abraham & Mary Lincoln can finally, even for a little while, relax in retirement and enjoy each other's company once again, without the demands of the office to distract them. Despite knowing it never did happen, I found myself feeling this way. Of course, the story takes the viewer through to a marriage ended by murder & a subsequent emotional collapse. It is exhausting to watch.

The documentary provides a great amount of detail. Some have complained that one sees the same images of the Lincolns over and over again, although I would think that after "The Civil War," people would be used to seeing an unending series of still photos on the television screen. It comes with the territory, and unless you want actors dramatizing the life of the Lincolns, you really have little choice in presentation. My only objection with the documentary is that it is a little too sympathetic at times. For example, the fact that the Lincolns were not particularly good parents is overlooked. Even in the best of times, Robert Lincoln's relationship with his parents was ambivalent, and was sometimes downright chilly. Tad Lincoln, on the other hand, was so spoiled and overindulged that by the time he was around 12, he was a virtual illiterate because his parents didn't have the heart to make him attend to his studies. One gets no sense of this in the documentary.

Everyone loves a happy ending, but unfortunately there really isn't one to be found here. However, the saddest tales generally are the ones that leave the most lasting impact. One cannot watch this story without being deeply moved.

Outstanding Documentary on the Lincolns.......2004-06-06

This documentary on the life of Abraham Lincoln is an excellent exploration of the character and inner life of our 16th president. At the same time it provides the viewer with much valuable information about the character of his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, their marriage, the tragic deaths of two of their children, and how Lincoln continued to love his wife until his death, even though she was in many ways a liability for him. While the Lincolns as individuals are the focus of the series, the viewer is not shortchanged in regard to the presidency or the Civil War. Lincoln's growth during his four years in office is examined critically and fairly by various historians.

The story of the Lincolns was originally shown on PBS's program "American Experience," and follows the format that has made that series so respected by viewers. Photographs, drawings, paintings, maps, and other artifacts contemporary to the times alternate with new film footage that enhances the story line. Well known performers do the voiceovers -- in this case David Morse is Lincoln, and Holly Hunter is the voice of Mary Todd Lincoln. There are no stagey recreations of events with unknown performers taking the parts of historical characters, which one often sees in series made for The History Channel or Arts and Entertainment Network. The three volume set runs about six hours and contains bonus materials that appear on each individual disc. The quality of the picture and sound is outstanding. The music is excellent and of the time period, and is never distacting.

While people of all ages and backgrounds in American history could enjoy this series, I especially recommend it to families with high school or college age students, along with Ken Burns "The Civil War" and the PBS video biography of General Grant. This would also make an excellent gift for Father's Day or for a Civil War buff's birthday.

The Story Of a Marriage.......2004-04-15

This is a very interesting and thoughtful production about the 16th President of the United States, and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln.
Not only is it very informative and educational. But I hope that even if you have been reading and learning about Lincoln for a very long time. That you will learn something new and truthful from this DVD documentary set.
The only thing I found disappointing what that they didn't share any information. On Lincoln's influences with his other relationships ( ie: Joshua Speed, William H. Herndon, John Nicolay * and etc...) however I guess that is another story.
I also found it interesting how some of the scholars and such. Were almost trying to revive Mary Todd's legacy. That was almost really shattered by Herndon because Mary and William hated each other so much.
This however is really a wonderful addition to any one's DVD library. The set even talks after of Lincoln's death and what became of Mary through out the years.
Really a wonderful set for any one who really wants to learn more about the Lincoln's.

Highly educational.......2004-01-14

If you're looking for a theatrical viewpoint or version to the story of Abraham & Mary Lincoln's life, do not look here. I enjoyed this series because it goes very well into depth about Abraham and Mary's life as well as the Civil War and what part they played during it all. It may not cover all things about Abe or Mary but it reveals many facts, letters and feelings that the general public does not know about the Lincolns and I believe the purpose of this video is to reveal the information for the purpose to educate and this DVD succeeds in doing that. The images may be comprised of mainly period photos, letters and reinactments but the information given on the Lincoln's personal thoughts, decisions and circumstances is so interesting that it definitely makes up for any lack of visual stimulation.

The American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided

Average customer rating:

Very well done!! Excellent!
Fine treatment of a somewhat neglected aspect of Lincoln
Outstanding Documentary on the Lincolns
The Story Of a Marriage
Highly educational

The American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided
Starring: David Morse , Holly Hunter , David McCullough (II) , Mary Genevieve Murphy , and David Herbert Donald
Director: David Grubin
Manufacturer: Pbs (Direct)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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