1 comments about Biography - Bob Hope: America's Entertainer.

1. Bob Hope is probably the best actor/comedian ever and a person of impeccable character!!This year he will be 100 years old.This A&E Biography is an excellent video.So Mr. Bob Hope may you live forever in our hearts,we all love you!!

No comments about Biography - Kellogg Brothers.

2 comments about Biography: Charles Darwin - Evolution.

1. I watched this program on A&E several years ago and found it quite good. I wouldn't mind owning the video, better a DVD. However, I don't think A&E is any hurry to put DVDs together for their Bio series. One would hope the price of some of their VHS format would come down.



2. The debate between evolution and creationism still rages today, and Darwin is either hailed for his work or dismissed (and sometimes demonized) out of hand - indeed, I have myself heard preachers equate the theory of evolution with the idea that man descended from the apes, which is not what Darwin argued at all. While I have no problem incorporating the scientific fact of evolution into my own Christian beliefs, I am an exception; in Darwin's time, I would have been all alone in such thinking. Those who dismiss Darwin's theory and all of the evidence for it would be very well served by watching this fascinating look at his life - he struggled with the ideas of his theory more than any of us can hardly imagine.

   Darwin's intimidating father raised his children to be proper gentlemen and ladies, individuals who would fit in with the rather aristocratic circles of the Darwin family, and young Charles desperately wanted to please his father. As a child, he was fascinated by nature, and formal study never really engaged his mind - his lack of interest in Greek and Latin led to poor grades in school; his horror at the sight of an actual, pre-anesthesia surgery led to an early exit from medical school, but he did eventually attain a degree in theology thanks to his father's pushing. At the same time, he met an amateur botanist who re-inspired his love for nature, and just after graduation Darwin was lucky enough to claim the spot of naturalist on the HMS Beagle. It was not an easy task, as the relatively small ship embarked on a five-year round-the-world mission, the seas held much danger (the ship almost capsized going around Cape Horn), and Darwin was predisposed to terrible seasickness. And then, a year after setting sail, his girlfriend broke her promise to him and married another man. Darwin found wonder and joy on the lands he explored, however, and his germinating ideas about species change clicked into place once he arrived to study the flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands.

   He returned to England to great fanfare and respectability, and for the next twenty years he lived with the terrible secret of his theory of transmutation. To announce his theories would be to brand himself an outcast, pariah, and heretic; even his marriage to a deeply Christian woman would forever be impacted by his radical new ideas. An exceedingly sensitive soul, the secret double life Darwin would lead for the next twenty years did terrible damage to his health, making him a semi-invalid. The death of his oldest daughter Anne had a huge effect on him, and he then began working on a book about evolution and natural selection. Alfred Wallace expressed views similar to his at the time, so Darwin put all of his effort into publishing The Origin of Species and getting the credit rightfully due him for the controversial theory. There was a furor, and Darwin was much-maligned, caricatured, and rebuked. Still, he continued his work and continued to plead his case among the scientific elite; when The Descent of Man was published in 1871, the world had undergone a significant shift and his ideas, while certainly not accepted by all, were no longer ridiculed. His health restored and his respectability regained, Darwin had only to worry about the closeness of his marriage; it was his dying wish that he could be with his wife again some day, knowing she believed he would not be in heaven to join her.

   Many of Darwin's critics make it sound like he set out to overturn the very idea of God, but there was no rush to notoriety for this man. The very idea of publicizing his new theory caused him great suffering and pain for literally decades of his life. Even those who disagree with Darwin's theory will certainly learn to respect Charles Darwin once they examine the course of his life. He suffered greatly for many years out of a fear of his own ideas, and the final act of publicizing his controversial arguments in a world far from ready to accept them betrays an amazing degree of courage on his part. Creationists and Darwinists alike would benefit from watching this video.

3 comments about Biography - King Arthur: His Life and Legends.

1. Biography tells the origin of the variations of the story of King Arthur and the knights of the round table. Good for those who know little about him but, as a fan of the legends, i learned nothing new from the video. But it was only 50 minutes of my life and it was worth being told again.



2. We all know the story of King Arthur and the round table through movies books and plays.
   
   Once again biography is excellent at showing what circumstances and people are responsible for the Arthurian legend(s). You realize that not only is there different versions but that versions grew through time as the need arose for a Camelot and different views of the King.
   
   Maybe to keep continuity to the history line, the program is resented more in a series of sound bites, from different authorities as opposed to only one authority at a time telling about the life and legends. Also true to "Biography" there is a spin to the story which glaringly leaves out T. H. White (The Once and Future King) and Marion Zimmer Bradley (The Mists of Avalon).



3. Overall, this is a great DVD. It gets a little "documentary-esque" at times, but it's full of fascinating archaeological information and research. Some of the archaeologists' accents might be a little difficult for students to understand, assuming it's used in a classroom setting like I chose to do. My students seem to really enjoy it, especially when we compare King Arthur to modern-day "superheroes" so they can see how there are certain literary and historical consistencies that we share with a foreign people who existed over a thousand years ago.

No comments about Biography - Huey Long.

2 comments about Biography - George Washington: Founding Father.

1. Towering over his compatriots and fellow founders of the American republic in image as much as in physical stature, George Washington was *the* father of all Founding Fathers: primus inter pares, the closest thing the United States ever had to a king. Yet, relinquishing power both as commander in chief of the revolutionary army and as president, he, like nobody else, not only set the parameters but also the boundaries of the office of President of the newly founded democratic union. ("If this is true, he is indeed the greatest of men," none other than British King George commented when he heard that Washington had voluntarily resigned from his position as commander in chief at the end of what we now know as the War of Independence.)

   This 1994 video, part of A&E's "Biography" series, reintroduces viewers to the man whom Henry Lee once described as "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." It traces Washington's life from his birth and all too brief childhood in Virginia through his first experiences as a surveyor, an officer in the British army's Virginia Regiment, a representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses and a farmer, to his role in the American Revolution and the positions that brought him national and international fame. A fifty-minute documentary such as this is, of course, not enough to explore Washington's politics and underlying philosophy in all their depth. But equally drawing on Washington's own written word and on contributions from modern day experts, it touches on many of the major events of his career and portrays the persons and experiences that helped shape the future commander in chief and first American president. On-camera comment is provided by National Review Senior Editor and Washington biographer Richard Brookhiser ("Founding Father") and other scholars (Peter Henriques of George Mason University and Michael Barone of the Almanac of American Politics), by the administrators of Washington's Mount Vernon estate (Executive Director James Rees and Linda Ayres of the Mount Vernon Collections), by General David Palmer (former Superintendent of West Point), by Howard Fast, author of the book "The Crossing" (on which the 2000 A&E movie of the same name is based, and which dramatizes the crucial battle of Trenton and stars Jeff Daniels as Washington), and last but not least by John A. Washington, a descendant of the first president's family (George Washington himself had no children of his own). Visuals include live camera shots of Washington's Mount Vernon estate, excerpts of his manuscripts, as well as historical portrayals of the major events of Washington's life, and his close family, friends, and contemporaries.

   The publication of biographies such as David MacCullough's much-acclaimed work on John Adams, and Joseph Ellis's Pulitzer Prize winning "Founding Brothers," seems to have generated a new interest in the events that led to the birth of the United States, and the men who shaped the new nation's constitution, politics, and destiny. This video is an excellent starting point for such a trip down history lane. Equally recommended, though: the A&E "Biography" series's other installments on the Founding Fathers ("Thomas Jefferson" and "Benjamin Franklin"), the History Channel"s "Founding Fathers" documentary series, and the mini-series based on Joseph Ellis's "Founding Brothers." And then, of course, there are written biographies like the ones mentioned above or Edmund S. Morgan's new work on Benjamin Franklin ... and for a first-hand impression, nothing beats the Library of America's collections of the Founding Fathers' writings themselves.




2. I give this Biography four of four stars, although
   the narrator made a stupid remark about 'slaves'
   that was a total non-sequitor! Washington's life
   was that of a fine Christian gentleman, scholar
   and soldier who truely was 'THE Founding Father'.
   People who don't like him because he INHERITED
   blacks from his marriage to Marta Custis, who's
   came with her plantation, need to grow and except
   the reality of that time period. Washington and
   Jefferson were against slavery for ALL people of
   all races until they died and indeed released into
   freedom all the indentured servants in their wills
   upon their deaths. Get over it (slavery)!

4 comments about Biography - Abraham Lincoln.

1. This video documentary shows unusual depth in it's study of Abe Lincoln. Shows his dark side as well as his terrific sense of humor.

   I've watched this twice and will probably watch it a third time. There is so much information there, that you can't get it all in a single viewing.

   Some documentaries can be awfully dry, but this one is quite captivating and filled with quick bits of information that flesh out Abe's life history.

   The details about the sorrows and sadness in his life brought tears to my eyes. It says that Lincoln took two weeks off from his duties in the White House to sit by the bedside of his critically ill son. One afternoon, Lincoln walked into a room in the White House and stood by the window and told an aide, "He is gone. My boy is gone," and after a pause, Lincoln broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.

   Lots of those kind of stories that show what kind of man A. Lincoln truly was.

   Also mentioned that one of the early civil war generals (before Grant) treated Lincoln with disrespect, bordering on contempt. Someone commented to Lincoln that such behavior was intolerable and Lincoln replied, "If he'll win some battles for us, I'd gladly hold his horse."

   Great video. I highly recommend it.




2. I purchased this video at the Lincoln Memorial gift shop in Washington, DC...so, evidently I'm not alone in recommending this fine, compact biography. There are many Brady (or Brady-esque) photographs that I had never seen before, Some splendid drawings and political cartoons of the era, great narrations of Lincoln's writings; and, some uncharacteristically lively interviews with historians representing many different points of view on the great man. Like the previous reviewer, I found this to be an unusually engaging A&E. It made me laugh out loud at times, tear up with sympathy, and catch my breath in astonishment. Very worth anyone's time and a great instruction aid for home school or any teacher.



3. No one makes documentaries in such a superior research manner or beautiful presentation as A&E does. I consider these biographies as my most prescious and invaluable DVD's. Can't wait to see what's next!



4. I had a teacher in college who spent almost a whole semester on the Civil War. We were supposed to come from the Civil War to the present. She taught what she enjoyed. I always felt that if Lincoln were a great president he would have held the country together. He would have found a way to prevent north and south from fighting. Slavery had to go. We know that. I was born in Louisville, Kentucky. My son was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Kentucky remained in the Union while Tennessee was part of the Confederacy. I have driven between Louisville and Nashville over 30 years. It is my "tale of two cities." I am conscious of an invisible line between the two. Louisville looks north to Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Chicago. Nashville looks south to Atlanta and New Orleans. George W. Bush has identified with Lincoln as a fellow president who was tested. Presidents stick together. They rarely criticize one another. It is an exclusive club. I rank Lincoln #42 because even a terrible president might have prevented the Civil War.

No comments about Biography - Boston Strangler.

3 comments about Biography - Sammy Davis Jr.: Mr. Entertainment.

1. Very well documented and informative. A great tribute to a one of a kind entertainer



2. Sammy Davis Jr. opened the door for countless other African-american Entertainers. this video highlights his impact and his will to being one of the greatest entertainers ever.he is a true ground-breaker.



3. An excellent biopic of the greatest entertainer this world has ever seen... or is likely to. It looks not only at his considerable talents but also looks inside the man too and reveals some of his hidden demons. It even suggest what it was that drove him to be the best. If you're a fan, or even if you're not, this is a must see.

2 comments about Biography - Paul Revere: The Midnight Rider.

1. All American children learn about the ýmidnight ride of Paul Revereý in elementary school. However, that event was only one of many things he did in the struggle that separated the American colonies from Great Britain. Furthermore, it did not really occur in the way that it is described in the famous poem, so this tape is a way to learn what really happened. He was originally a silversmith, and he used those skills to construct anti-British propaganda, which is still admired for the artistic expression today. Revere was also one of the Sons of Liberty and helped organize the famous Boston Tea Party.
   He rose to the rank of Colonel in the Continental army, although his military record is dubious, albeit somewhat unclear. It is highly likely that his most important contribution to the new nation was his role in manufacturing after the war was over. Like all colonies that gain independence, the newly freed colonies were lacking many of the economic assets that nations need, for they had previously been supplied by the colonial power. His business activity after the war helped provide some economic stability to the struggling new nation.
   Like so many people who are identified with one event, Revereýs life was far more interesting and historically significant than that event would indicate. I enjoyed this video, the re-creations with actors give it a reality that nothing else can provide. The depth of examination into his life beyond one event makes me hope that all school children view it so that they can see his many contributions to the fight for independence.



2. Paul Revere is one of our most honored heroes of the Revolution, but - as this video makes clear - the famous story of his midnight ride is a little less than accurate. The Paul Revere most of us know is basically a mythological hero, one who was borne from the pages of an 1861 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Just because the traditional story isn't true doesn't mean Paul Revere was not a great patriot, of course - he was, as viewers of this video will learn.

   Economic self-interest seemed to play a role in Revere's Revolutionary ardor, but no one can question his commitment to the cause. As English taxes began to hurt his smithing business, Revere turned to additional means to support his growing family - he learned dentistry (and even made false teeth), and he also practiced the art of engraving. In fact, many of his propagandistic engravings played an important role in the buildup of popular support in Boston for the inevitable Revolutionary War (although he was known to copy the work of others). In the months and years leading up to the outbreak of war, Revere joined a number of secret societies and organized what was essentially a spy network of artisans and men of the working class. He also became an important courier for the Patriot cause. Revere himself, while rather successful in business, was not of the upper class - and this helps explain why history tells us little of him in the years following his famous ride.

   On the night of April 18, 1775, Revere did indeed ride out on horseback to spread the word of British troops on the move, but he was only one of many such "midnight riders." The lights in the church tower were actually meant to inform those in the distance in case Revere was unable to get through and deliver his message. He did alert farmers and villagers along the way, but he would not have said "The British are coming" because, as one historian explains, he and all the Revolutionaries were themselves British. Before reaching Lexington, Revere was actually captured by a couple of redcoats, but he basically bluffed his way to freedom (although he did lose his horse) and was there in Lexington to hear "the shot fired round the world."

   You really never hear of Paul Revere after that momentous April night in 1775; it's a mixed story. His middle class status denied him the privilege of serving as an officer in the war, but he did help lead one significant mission, the largest amphibious assault of the war - it was, to put it lightly a disaster, and Revere ended up being accused of insubordination and cowardice. He fought for the right to a court-martial hearing and was eventually acquitted of all charges. After that, he basically built up his business, expanded into a number of new industries, and died a rather wealthy man at the age of 83.

   We might never have heard of Paul Revere had not Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized him in poetic form, but he was an important Patriot in the fight for American independence. As a man who in many ways represented the artisan and lower classes, his life is a conduit to the thoughts and deeds of many an unsung hero of the Revolution. Personally, I have no problem with perpetuating the myth of the midnight ride, but getting to know the real Paul Revere is also an instructional privilege.