Product Details

• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 8
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: PBS
• DVD Release Date: September 28, 2004
• Run Time: 1050 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000BITUF2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,313 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The fascinating story of New York City from its civilized beginnings as an essential trading outpost to a global center of commerce! Ric Burns grabs hold of this intriguing municipal icon and reveals the compelling tale of New York's greatness using reflections offered by a host of distinguished New Yorkers. From the Dutch settlers through the reign of the British Empire and on to the pinnacle of liberty, New York City remains the nucleus of American life. Narrated by David Ogden Stiers. 8 DVDs. 1999/color/17 hrs., 30 min/NR.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 116 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars NYC History in A Brilliant DVD October 29, 2005

By Dave From Ohio

Format:DVD

If you are interested in a thorough but entertaining history of New York City this is as good as it gets. Ric Burns provides plenty of details but doesn't forget that part of the reason viewers are watching is to have some fun too. Eight DVDS may seem like too much but with a city like New York it is surprising how quickly the show passes by, this collection is large enough to give you a serious history of the topic without getting too complicated. If you are looking for a travel guide to NYC this isn't for you, if you are a sports fan look elsewhere, don't expect a guide to theatre or restaurants either. This DVD set is meant as a visual history course of America's, if not the world's, most fascinating city.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Town! May 23, 2008

By D. Scott

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the definitive gift for anyone who loves New York City. The series is presented in easily digestible pieces and all the episodes draw you into a period in NYC's history and give you a good understanding of what makes the City so unique. The final episode, about the building and the destruction of the World Trade Center, will touch your heart as well as your mind.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rich Tapestry of History November 4, 2008

By C. Weston

Format:DVD

Perhaps the very best documentary on any subject ever produced...a gargantuan, incomprehensible effort, amassing a haunting and romantic archive of original film footage, photographs, print, vintage cartography, and priceless commentary by various cultural luminaries and historians. Spellbinding from first episode to the last...I found myself not wanting it to end. The series presents a broad tapestry of New York's history with an emphasis on the indomitable and resilient human spirit above all else. Ric Burns succeeds with a definitive masterpiece and tribute to New York in a unique style that captures one's imagination while tugging at the heart. If history had been taught with this medium when I was in school, it would have made the difference between passing marginally or with excellence. This DVD set is a treasure and one which I will revisit again and again. I highly recommend the amended version with 8 DVD discs, including the final post-9/11 disc.