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Product Description
As seen on BBC. Produced by Ken Burns, The West tells the full and fascinating story of the American Frontier from 1500 to 1914, intricately weaving together evocative and never before seen photographs and newsreels from seventy-four different archives with journals, American and Native American music, diaries and artefacts. Leading actors from Matthew Broderick to Gary Sinise lend their voices to authentic letters and journals from the era.
Special Features
English
Region 2
Region 2
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
98 of 100 people found the following review helpful
If you have seen and enjoyed Ken Burns' legendary documentary mini-series, The American Civil War, then you will not be disappointed by The West.
Burns employs the same techniques (letters, photos, old maps, drawings with Hollywood actors providing the voices and historians occasionally fleshing out the tones) to tell the story of the American West. It is a wonderful story told from every angle. If you enjoy American history and value good film-making, then do not miss this wonderful documentary series.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Ken Burns has captured the drama, the triumph, the tragedy and more importantly - The truth of the opening and colonization of the American West in this masterpiece of film work. I ordered "The West" as a follow up to watching Ken Burns' "The Civil War" (also an excellent production) to fill in some of the "gaps" and I was not disappointed, "The West" provides a massive amount of historical information in a well-planned, easy to follow and concise manner. The rich panoramic camera-work coupled with original photos, quotes, commentaries and period music delivers a sense of reality, one can almost imagine standing on the plains with the pioneers or cringing from a cavalry charge. The film is not patriotic, there is no attempt to conceal or sugarcoat unpleasant events perpetrated in the course of "manifest destiny", the film is raw and unapologetic, Ken Burns merely delivers the truth of what happened, he doesn't take sides. I highly recommend this series for anyone wishing to know about "The West" or how the United States came to be what it is today. Again, kudos to Mr. Burns, keep up the good work.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a breathtakingly epic history documentary on a much misunderstood and mythologised subject: The American Wild West.
The documentary starts back in prehistoric times with the Native Americans, The Spanish conquests of the New World, Lewis and Clark's search for the North West passage, The Civil War and Cowboys & Gold Rush.
Ken Burns is epic in this production: 8 Episodes Over 12 Hours. The program includes talking heads such as the historians Stephen Ambrose, J. S. Holliday, and Richard White; the novelists Maxine Hong Kingston and N. Scott Momaday; and the politicians Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Ann Richards, Stewart Udall, and Ralph Yarborough.
Another Ken Burns method used in 'The West' is the voices of the characters in the various episodes who are voiced by actors and actresses such as Adam Arkin, Matthew Broderick, Keith Carradine, John Lithgow, Gary Sinise, and Jimmy Smits.
I would suggest this to anyone who loves History. It teaches you so much about American History for better or worse (Usually the latter) but it also focuses on the ordinary peoples lives and their struggles which is always refreshing when dealing with History.
Despite the prices it is an investment and you will want to watch it again and is quality American film making at its Very Best!
The documentary starts back in prehistoric times with the Native Americans, The Spanish conquests of the New World, Lewis and Clark's search for the North West passage, The Civil War and Cowboys & Gold Rush.
Ken Burns is epic in this production: 8 Episodes Over 12 Hours. The program includes talking heads such as the historians Stephen Ambrose, J. S. Holliday, and Richard White; the novelists Maxine Hong Kingston and N. Scott Momaday; and the politicians Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Ann Richards, Stewart Udall, and Ralph Yarborough.
Another Ken Burns method used in 'The West' is the voices of the characters in the various episodes who are voiced by actors and actresses such as Adam Arkin, Matthew Broderick, Keith Carradine, John Lithgow, Gary Sinise, and Jimmy Smits.
I would suggest this to anyone who loves History. It teaches you so much about American History for better or worse (Usually the latter) but it also focuses on the ordinary peoples lives and their struggles which is always refreshing when dealing with History.
Despite the prices it is an investment and you will want to watch it again and is quality American film making at its Very Best!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant
Anything I've seen by Ken Burns has been fantastic. You get the good, the band and the ugly but it makes you realise what life is all about. Read more
Published 2 months ago by KatKin
The west
Those of you who have watched and admired Ken Burns' magnificent "The American Civil War" will certainly enjoy the equally impressive "The West", the story of the American West, an... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. D. Rowland
the west
i have been hunting for this dvd for a long time and now i have found it i am so please it is one of the best series the bbc have made thank you for having it in stock
Published 11 months ago by mickey t
Brilliant.
The music is haunting, and this is a really informative DVD set. A must have for all history fans.
Published 12 months ago by Debbie
The West - the best
This is the best US non-fiction TV ever. Every US citizen should see it (and the rest of us too). Tragic and heroic simultaneously. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2010 by Stefan43
Ken Burns' "The West" DVD set
Excellent DVD set giving 11 hours 43 minutes' viewing, from the series shown on BBC TV in late 1990s. Beautifully filmed and sensitively narrated. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2009 by Ian Lawrence
If 'accurate' , comprehensive history interests u buy this.
I had already watched Ken Burns' 'The Civil War' and thus knew what to expect. In general it did not reveal anything at the macro level that I did not know, however, it is his... Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2009 by Graeme Newton
Definitive documentary but at a pedestrian pace
This landmark series will probably always be the definitive series on how the West was "won". These vast roaming plains were initially the home to the various Indian tribes &... Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2007 by DF McCleland
Compulsive viewing
If anybody needs to try and fathom out the American psyche of today then they could do not better than to watch this series, as everything America has become is rooted in their... Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2007 by C. Copp
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