Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• DVD Release Date: August 10, 2004
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002V7NT8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,284 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Descend into the dark world and tragic life of the melancholy author who is the uncontested master of the macabre and hear excerpts from his famous works.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Overview of an American Writer, May 20, 2006

By 

A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com "What should ... (Glen Ellyn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Biography - Edgar Allan Poe: The Mystery of Edgar Allen Poe (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

The legend of Edgar Allan Poe is far from the reality, as we learn in A & E's Biography series documentary of his life. The much misunderstood author is given a fair look in this 50 minute overview. They bring us the sad, broken Poe, stumbling through lectures and readings, but they also show us a good man who loved literature and wanted to succeed as a writer.

Any student of Poe has been inundated with macabre, morbid tales of involving dead women, drug abuse and affairs. What is disregarded by early biographers are the facts between the tales. He crafted stories with careful excellence, depending on technique, and not the lack of sobriety. He drew from his personal life, but also fabricated complex fantasies that became the model for Stephen King, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and others. His poetry caught the attention of European greats like Charles Baudelaire and Mihaly Babits, who, in turn, translated Poe's works for the world.

We see where Poe lived an, and hear not only from his literary works, but his letters and the writings of those who knew him. We are able to attain a sense that Poe was not a monster only brooding in his woes, but a family man who longed to remain with Virginia, who lived with, as he wrote in "Annabel Lee," "no other thought than to love and be loved by me."

The affect of the tragedies which surrounded him are explored, from his poor relationship with his adoptive father to the many deaths of loved ones, lost to tuberculosis. Many men would have been enfeebled to write, but Poe took his sadness and expressed it as literary art.

I fully recommend "Biography - Edgar Allan Poe: The Mystery of Edgar Allen Poe (A&E DVD Archives)." His life has the legendary elements of scandal and addiction, but to know Poe better, it is important to learn beyond the cliches like "master of the macabre." This DVD does that.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Po' Edgar, or: An American Tragedy, January 16, 2010

By 

Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biography - Edgar Allan Poe: The Mystery of Edgar Allen Poe (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

Hosted by Peter Graves, the 47 minute A&E BIOGRAPHY episode entitled "The Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe" first aired in 1994. In its few re-enactments, Edgar is portrayed by lookalike Norman George.

This fast-moving bio partly depicts Poe's life through antique illustrations, etchings, daguerrotypes and book pages, also from modern drawings. His is an unrelentingly sad story.

Abandoned along with two siblings by his actor father (David), Poe's mother, Elizabeth ("Eliza") supported her family by appearing in stage productions until she contracted tuberculosis and died at age 24. The three orphans were adopted by John and Rosalie Allen. Mr. Allan was a successful merchant, yet he was stingy and cold toward Edgar.

Young Poe was sent by Allan to the University of Virginia, then a new roughhouse school. He was given only enough money for tuition and travel, which meant a life of great privation. With little food and no cash for clothing or heat, 17-year-old Poe began what would be a lifelong drinking habit. He ran up an immense gambling debt and joined the Army to escape it.

While he was away, Poe's adoptive mother also died from consumption. John Allen enrolled Edgar at West Point but then refused to pay expenses, so Poe got himself expelled. Rallying from this low point, he travelled to NYC and published some poetry. Prior to Edgar becoming a newspaper editor at age 26, John Allan died. He left Poe out of his will.

Our story continues with marriage to a 13-year-old cousin, Virginia and creation of the short stories and poetry that Edgar Poe is still remembered for. Tragically, Virginia would also succumb after a lengthy battle with TB. This was the final straw that pushed Edgar over the edge. He binged on alcohol, bounced from city to city, staying with tolerant friends and may have near the end lost his grip on reality. Poe died in a Baltimore hospital ward after a lingering coma. He was a few months short of his 41st birthday.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Biography video - Edgar Allan Poe, December 16, 2008

By 

Amy E. Sommers "asommers" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Biography - Edgar Allan Poe: The Mystery of Edgar Allen Poe (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

Well done video that details the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe. My students enjoyed the video and it enhanced our discussion times about Poe and his poetry. I would recommend this video.