Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided
(American Experience)
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.
Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the Union
(A&E DVD Archives)
The story of Lincoln, from the rustic childhood that forged his beliefs, to his famous debates with Stephen Douglas and the difficult campaign that made him President.
Assassinations That Changed The World
(History Channel)
They are the tragic stories at the heart of some of history's defining moments. They are tales of hatred and obsession, fanaticism and a burning desire to achieve fame at the cost of another's life. Take a fascinating journey through history to examine the famous assassinations and attempts that have left their mark on the world. Trace the incredible events following the murder of Archduke Ferdinand, which led to the outbreak of World War I. See how India has lost three leaders in a century including Mohandas Gandhi to religious fanatics who disagreed with the political policies of the nation. Explore the tragic story of Abraham Lincoln, killed by a desperate adherent to a lost cause. And consider how history might have been different had some of these incidents ended differently where would the Civil Rights movement be today if Martin Luther King were still alive? With extensive interviews, archival footage and expert commentary, the absorbing stories of the ASSASSINATIONS THAT HAVE CHANGED THE WORLD come to life.
Lincoln Box Set
(Pbs Home Video)
This four-hour biography of Abraham Lincoln, which aired originally on PBS, is a masterful presentation featuring hundreds of authentic photographs and a thoughtful narration delivered by actor James Earl Jones. Prominent actors, including Jason Robards as the voice of Lincoln, deliver excerpts from letters, speeches, and diaries, and if that format seems familiar, the selection of material is innovative and often fascinating. The documentary begins by describing Lincoln humbly packing his own bags in Springfield, Illinois, affixing labels reading "A. Lincoln, White House, Washington," and setting off to assume the presidency at a deeply troubled time in the nation's history. The entire story of Lincoln's life is eventually told, though the Civil War and the monumental toll it took on Lincoln is, appropriately, the focus of the story.
The copious material on the war and its principal personalities, especially General Ulysses S. Grant, will be a delight to Civil War buffs, and material about how Lincoln conducted the war (enraging his many enemies in the process) may surprise some viewers. Indeed, in his own time, Lincoln was hardly the icon he later became, and this documentary presents him flaws and all. This is a magnificent historical documentary that, despite its length, is never less than thoroughly absorbing.
The Speeches of Abraham Lincoln
(Mpi Home Video)
From his humble log-cabin origins through his years in the White House, Abraham Lincoln's unpretentious speaking style won over the masses with its common-sense philosophy and moral character. Lincoln mastered the oratory craft as a frontier stump speaker, sharpened his skills as a lawyer in the midwestern courts, and rose to the challenge of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the rocky 1858 Presidential campaign. In this historic program, Lincoln's own words are authentically illustrated with the visual records of America's past, including rare still photographs of Lincoln and his times, original newspaper clippings, archival letters, documents, and texts of the original speeches. Includes the following materials from Abraham Lincoln's political career: The "house divided" speech; highlights from the Lincoln-Douglas Debates' complete readings of The Emancipation Proclamation, The Gettysburg Address, The Second Inaugural Address, and more.
