Posted on 10/02/2007 4:55:18 PM PDT by VOA
This is just a television heads-up for the last episode of the first
airing of PBS/Ken Burns production "The War".
(VOA's boilerplate from prior threads)
All commentary regarding personal experience, family tales of WWII,
and critique of how Burns (and PBS) handles topics are welcome.
Hopefully the threads on the seven episodes will serve as
guides when this large documentary becomes required viewing in
high schools.
Comments on how Burns handled the documenatry (positive,
negative, or neutral) will come in handy when "the younger
generation" sees the series. Especially if Burns takes a
"Smithsonian" tact to some topics...leaving people to wonder
"who the good guys were" during the epic struggle.
Links to discussion threads on Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 as well as other useful links.
URL for thread on Part 1
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1901006/posts?page=1
URL for thread on Part 2 (Monday 9-24-07)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1901629/posts
URL for thread on Part 3 (Tuesday 9-25-07)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1902083/posts?page=1
URL for thread on Part 4 of 7; Airing on PBS @ 7PM Central 9-26-07
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1902654/posts
URL for thread on Part 5 of 7: (Sunday 9-31-07)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1904611/posts
URL for thread on Part 6 of 7: (Monday 10-1-07)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1905119/posts
URLs for PBS websites on “The War”:
URL to check listing for local PBS stations:
http://www.pbs.org/thewar/broadcast_schedule.htm
PBS website for Ken Burns’ “The War”
http://www.pbs.org/thewar/?campaign=pbshomefeatures_1_thewarbrakenburnsfilm_2007-09-23
In the interests of fundamental fairness, I’ve compiled
an INexhaustive list of links for those interested in purchasing
“The War” on DVD, the companion book or soundtrack discs.
(”VOA” is NOT affiliated with any of the websites listed below,
unless one of my mutual funds has invested in amazon.com, The History
Channel or some related company. Shame on VOA...VOA should know if
he does have a holding in those media outlets!)
These links are just provided as a convenience to fellow Freepers.
One note: Without getting involved in all sorts of financial analysis...
it looks like Amazon.com has the best price if you simply want the DVD
set.
But in all matters of purchase price, shipping costs/times, backorders,
and all the other joys of mail orders/Internet commerce...
CAVEAT EMPTOR!
And if “VOA” has messed up in any links or representations...
you have my apologies in advance!
PBS website for “The War” DVD/Book set:
The War: A Ken Burns Film DVD & Book - Bonus CD Soundtrack FREE!
DVD Set, Book & Bonus CD
Item No. TWAR653
List Price: $198.97
Our Price: $179.99
http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=2784345
PBS website for “The War” DVD set:
The War: A Ken Burns Film 6PK DVD
Our Price: $129.99
20% off Ken Burns Titles when you buy The War DVD or Combo Details >
http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=2784344&clickid=body_bestsellers_txt
Amazon.com sites for “The War”
The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (2007)
Director: Ken Burns
List Price: $129.99
Price: $78.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save: $51.00 (39%)
http://www.amazon.com/War-Film-Burns-Lynn-Novick/dp/B000R7NBMK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7374567-3737535?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=11913587
78&sr=1-1
The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945 (Hardcover)
by Geoffrey C. Ward (Author), Ken Burns (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307262839/ref=amb_link_5353302_1/104-7374567-3737535?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1
&pf_rd_r=02D8GP08SVYD41MKWC1H&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=304934001&pf_rd_i=1000122611
Find out more about The War: A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick—
including the companion book, soundtracks, DVDs, and a special message
from Ken Burns to Amazon customers— in The War Boutique.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_5374322_1/104-7374567-3737535?ie=UTF8&docId=1000122611&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0D
ER&pf_rd_s=special-offers-2&pf_rd_r=07RTS3BKRGX8JVZE0BJA&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=304962601&pf_rd_i=B000R7NBMK
History.com (History Channel) sites for “The War”
PRODUCT DETAIL:
Ken Burns’ The War DVD & Book Collection
Only available on DVD
Availability: In Stock
Ships to U.S. and Canada
6 DVD(s) / 14 Hrs 0 Min
Closed Captioning: No
More Details
Was: $169.00 Save $24.51 (15%)
On Sale: $144.49
Item Number: AAE-105571
http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=105571
History.com’s shop page for Ken Burns products:
88
Burns did well to include that (last?) speech to Congress in 1945.
FDR;s public mention of the “10 pounds of steel” braces isn’t too far off
from Geo. Washington begging the pardon of the unsettled officer corps
just after the Revolution...to get his “spectacles” in order to read a letter,
as he’d “gone blind” while in service to the country.
I want to thank you for these posts,this is why I donate to FR,it is a vast pool of knowledge,these heads up help us all.
Fabulous program -— The War!
Saw it for sale today in Best Buy, the entire series, for $44.95, or something like that.
“I want to thank you for these posts,this is why I donate to FR...”
All thanks to Jim Robinson.
I’m just here to gather commentary. For future use when I hear friends
and family discuss what will probably be required viewing in all
American high school history classes.
Tonight we get more of E.B. Sledge (on Okinawa), the fall of Japan and
the meting (sp?) out of justice at Nuremburg and tribunals for the
Japanese totalitarians.
And probably a bit about the end-story of the USS Indianapolis.
I feel ashamed to have even a hint of mental exhaustion after
sitting on my derriere watching the show and typing out occassional
posts regarding “The War”.
When I reflect on how the real participants felt about four
(and MORE for many) of total war.
“How will we go on...fighting the war? When our commander-in-chief
is dead?”
Nice opening for the successful...and orderly succession which is a
hallmark of a civilized country.
Even when we “fuss and fight” with words over the new President of
The United States of America.
Thanks Jim Robinson.
So far, I've seen several hours devoted to race relations during the war (almost all portraying America as evil), but I don't remember more than a passing mention of Germany's actions vs. the "Jewish question".
The documentary does make me respect what my fathers generation did. But I would have preferred it be quite a bit less politically correct, portrayed as the WWII generation saw themselves, rather than how the 60's generation sees their flaws in retrospect.
It was Peleliu that he said was unneeded. Iwo Jima they talked about the Japanese planes that would come up to to harass the B-29 formations on their way to and from Japan, and they showed a B-29 using the strip for an emergency landing.
RE: the stumbling courtship and eventual marriage of the fighter pilot
to the gal who waited for him in Louisiana...
along with all the other warriors that struggled “to find their way”
once they got home.
Here’s a movie that should be required viewing for high schoolers
as well:
“The Best Years of Our Lives”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036868/
“He talks about Iwo Jima as if it was an unneeded battle, killing Americans
for no good reason. “
As another poster mentioned, I think it was Peleliu that was the
(or one of the) unneccessary fights (in retrospect). IIRC, it was an
example of why the central command needs to constantly update plans based
on changing circumstances (e.g., other islands taken, reduced ability
of the Japanese to supply the island, etc.)
As for Iwo Jima, IIRC, a hobbled B-29 returning from Japan landed there
(the same day?) just as the airfield area was taken/cleaned up.
Having a useable airstrip much closer than Saipan (can’t remember the
other island) saved more than a few crews.
“So far, I’ve seen several hours devoted to race relations during the
war (almost all portraying America as evil)”
That’s my main complaint.
The concept of “America The Bigoted” surely could have been covered
in a much more concentrated AND pointed manner...in about half the
time Burns kept harping on it.
IMHO, Burns was just about as “ham-handed” in delivering that message
as Spielberg can be.
But, as a historical document, I do give Burns credit for getting in
clips of “soldiers of color” doing off-loading on the beaches on D-Day,
and driving a Sherman in during the breaking of “The Bulge” (probably
the “Black Panthers” unit, I would guess).
That wasn’t something I’ve seen...and I’ve seen TOO MUCH WWII footage!
..I think this one was great too--same theme and time period...
Thanks for the tip; I’ll have to check that out.
OK, a tip of the hat to Burns for his to-the-point work on the liberation
of “the camps”.
AND, MY HEAVENS...two ghastly photos I haven’t seen before.
One looks like the photographer got some height (up in a guard tower?)
and shot down.
All you really see is an alley of bodies neatly placed on the ground,
maybe 4 or 5 from left to right.
But then the eye follows the alley of bodies as it stretches...off...
to the horizon.
Probably “only” a half-mile or so.
But still simply stunning.
The second photo: stacks of skulls, with a huge mound of longer
bones just behind them.
Just like in the memorial of Pol Pot’s atrocities, or like the stacked
bones of buffaloe in our Old West (to be used to make fertilizer).
Thousands of airmen's lives were saved because we had Iwo as a safe haven to land. The runways were shorter than they would have liked, but between short runways and the ocean, I reckon the choice was obvious.
Cheers!~
Victor Davis Hanson’s introduction to a new edition of E.B. Sledge’s
“With The Old Breed” is linked below:
http://www.victorhanson.com/articles/hanson072507.html
Victor Davis Hanson’s uncle died during the campaign on Okinawa.
My wife just said she had never heard such a strong argument for dropping the bomb.
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