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Roots: The Original Series 1 - 25th Anniversary Edition (3 Disc Box Set) [1977] [DVD]
 
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Roots: The Original Series 1 - 25th Anniversary Edition (3 Disc Box Set) [1977] [DVD]

DVD ~ LeVar Burton
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
RRP: £20.99
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Frequently Bought Together

Roots: The Original Series 1 - 25th Anniversary Edition (3 Disc Box Set) [1977] [DVD] + Roots - Series 2 : The Next Generation [DVD] + Roots
Price For All Three: £23.24

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Roots: The Original Series 1 - 25th Anniversary Edition (3 Disc Box Set) [1977] [DVD]
57% buy the item featured on this page:
Roots: The Original Series 1 - 25th Anniversary Edition (3 Disc Box Set) [1977] [DVD] 4.8 out of 5 stars (27)
£6.97
Roots : The Original Series 1 - 30th Anniversary 4-Disc Box Set [DVD]
23% buy
Roots : The Original Series 1 - 30th Anniversary 4-Disc Box Set [DVD] 4.7 out of 5 stars (13)
£9.98
The Complete Roots Collection: Original Series 30th Anniversary Edition / Roots The Gift TV Special / The Next Generation (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) [DVD]
12% buy
The Complete Roots Collection: Original Series 30th Anniversary Edition / Roots The Gift TV Special / The Next Generation (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) [DVD] 4.0 out of 5 stars (11)
£33.87
Roots - Series 2 : The Next Generation [DVD]
6% buy
Roots - Series 2 : The Next Generation [DVD] 4.8 out of 5 stars (9)
£9.28
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Product details

Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on Alex Haley's bestseller, the 1977 TV mini-series Roots told the harrowing story of one man's ancestors, commencing with African warrior Kunta Kinte, captured, transported to America, stripped of his dignity, his rights, and even his name. He tries but fails to escape before accepting he can never return to Africa. He marries and bears a daughter, Kizzy, who is callously sold, then raped by her new "master". However, her son, Chicken George, a resourceful dab hand with gamecocks, lives long enough to see his own children attain a liberty of sorts following the Civil War.

Roots is told in the same, accessible televisual language as The Waltons or Bonanza, yet it is never bland or evasive. It leaves no doubt as to the torment and abuse suffered by blacks, and although the series' conclusion is fictionally satisfying, for many of the black characters their only hope lies in generations yet unborn.

It is sturdy enough drama but its greatest, most revolutionary effects were social. It persuaded American audiences to regard their history from a black perspective, and to see how--against odds far more desperate than those the pilgrims faced--Africans laid claim to their status as free African-Americans. Roots was massively popular, triggering a craze for genealogy and paving the way for series like 1979's Holocaust, which similarly raised the public's awareness of the slaughter of the Jews under Hitler. Most importantly, Roots changed forever the way black people were depicted on American TV.

On the DVD: Roots is presented in 1:33:1 format and is visually extremely well-preserved. Extra features include a "Roots Family Tree", a copious, informative audio commentary featuring members of cast and crew, and a documentary, "Remembering Roots". Although this consists only of interviews, these convey the extraordinary emotional grip this project had on those who took part in it.--David Stubbs

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

Three separate feature-length Audio Commentaries with video inserts (Producer, cast and crew)
Remembering Roots Documentary (20 Minutes)
Roots Family Tree
Web enabled
Aspect Ratio: Full screen 4.3
Audio: Mono English
Subtitles: English and English for the hearing impaired.

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Customer Reviews

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (24)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Educational and brings alive an incredible story, 7 Oct 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Roots - Original Series - Volume 1 - Episodes 1-4 [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Although some parts of this quasi-factual story have been questioned subsequently, this story remains a powerful indictment of Slavery. The initial four episodes follows a young boy from his life in Africa through his capture and enslavement, details the horrendous Middle passage, including a rebellion on the Slave ship, onto the Americas, where, after an auction, he is thrust into the Plantation system. The description of the Plantation system portrayed in the series is adequately accurate, if rather clichéd. It becomes obvious that the main character will suffer all the injustices available and react to these injustices. The story as a whole tends to dip in pace at times but some extremely powerful scenes more than make up for this, the faults enable the series to be used educationally, especially if used selectively. The initial four episodes are used extensively in Secondary schools for the History "Black peoples of the Americas" topic, the powerful scenes, and articulate characters enable students to address key parts of this History topic, and with the introduction of Citizenship into the Curriculum, it is possible that this topic will see more interest. Dated as it is, the Roots series still remains a landmark educational tool. This video can be viewed by all with an interest in the topic, as well as those attracted by a good drama.
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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing story of hope and courage, 31 Aug 2003
Roots tells the tale of slavery, the development of the New World and changes in mankinds attitudes to each other. The story was powerful enough to be one of the reasons that I studied History at University.(I watched it as a seven year old,and some of the scenes have never quite left me)When I teach my pupils about slavery and its consequences it is a way in which they can become emotionally entangled in the subject. It has its weaknesses, it can be too simplistic, but not all of the white characters are evil and it does tell the truth about how people traded (and treated) each other just because of the colour of a persons skin.I would recommend this Dvd to anyone. The story is powerful,heartfelt and emotionally challenging.There is also joy in the story as you watch the plight and development of a family generation after generation.They remain strong and proud even when their lives are difficult and cruel. An epic...
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Just as I remembered it but where is the rest of the story?, 12 April 2005
By storedia (London) - See all my reviews
I, like previous reviewers, watched this with much anticipation with my boyfriend who had not seen it before. I remember watching it when I was very young but still remember it vividly and was very disappointed when it ended (abruptly in my opinion) as that is not how I had remembered it. It appears the next generations is only available on VHS video but if anyone has found out if or when the next generations will be available I would really like to know. I was also pleased that despite being nearly 30 years old it is still as effective now as it was then.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars roots the original series 1,25th anniversary edition.
This version of roots is complete, because i recently bought the 40th anniversary edition and it had 45 minute session missing out of the box set. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. T. B. Elford

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series
This film is even been used in school history lessons now.
After viewing again after 1977 it still has not aged. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Eye Can

5.0 out of 5 stars Alex Haley's epic novel turns into a great mini series
I just had seen Roots saga on DVD. For me it's the first time I've seen it since 1977. I watched it within a day and came away from it moved and intrigued. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2007 by Jenny J.J.I.

5.0 out of 5 stars Still very powerful
If you leave aside the very cheap and tacky trailer used to introduce the episodes there is very little to criticise here. Read more
Published on 7 April 2007 by Sam Hispam

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant And Exciting
brilliant dvd set very good i would watch every minute of it over and over again its very good and touching if you want some exciting muinutes watch this very very good
Published on 3 Nov 2006 by D. nuttall

5.0 out of 5 stars Africa to slavery to freedom!
This DVD set is based on a book called Roots that was written by Alex Haley. He remembered his grandma telling him stories about the line of his family right back in time to Kunta... Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2006 by Tim Roast

5.0 out of 5 stars An epic series and an epic treat...
I can remember this series when it originally aired amid much publicity for both the Book that inspired it and the production itself. Read more
Published on 6 Jul 2006 by Rod H

5.0 out of 5 stars Roots re-lived
I was 11 years old when this was screened on British TV. It was a very influential series for both young and old alike. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2006 by Mrs. A. Fadel

5.0 out of 5 stars ROOTS! REVIEW
Brilliant - though it was extremely long, well worth every minute. At least you can pause it and make a cuppa tea!. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the series.
Published on 24 Jul 2005 by sandy1958

5.0 out of 5 stars The Original Series Volume 2
Have seen the first volume, got hooked and now want to see the conclusion.
Published on 16 Jul 2005 by Susan Hughes

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