Customer Reviews

History Channel: Hillbilly - The Real Story

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a person from Eastern Kentucky, I found this recent History Channel docummentary quite interesting. First of all, I should point out that much of its material is some of the more sensational aspects of Appalachia. Moonshining (with its connection to NASCAR), marijuna, and feuds get some time. Much of the section on religion is devoted to explaining snake handeling churches, which as the documentary notes are a small minority in the region.

That said, I must say that the documentary is informative and interesting. The reenactments are generally well executed. Scotch Irish settler history, the Battle of King Mountain in the Revolution, the building of the Clinchfield Railroad, and the TVA are all discussed. The time devoted to the coal conflicts in 1920s West Virginia was especially interesting. Even the senstaional material was informative and entertaining. Overall, Billy Ray Cyrus did a decent job as a host as well. Despite a heavy focus on sensationalism, the documentary was surprisingly sympathetic towards Appalachian people. Even the existence of snake churches is viewed more in the light of religious tolerance in West Virginia than how it could have been portrayed.

On the whole, I recommend the documentary for anyone wanting a brief overview of Appalachia. Just be aware that some of the sensational aspects are perhaps overplayed (though moonshining was in fact very common years ago).

I've lived among the mountain folk of East Tennessee for almost ten years, and while here I've read many histories and watched films and documentaries made on the area. The one I recommend most is The History Channel's Hillbilly: The Real Story, produced by Moore Huntley Productions and hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus. It gives a complete picture of mountain people, where they came from, how their culture developed, why they believe and live as they do and who they have become over the centuries.

Billy Ray journeys into the hollers and runs of Appalachia to discover the proud legacy of the region's mountain folk. Watch it and you will learn how hillbillies, long misunderstood as isolated and backward, actually have a 300-year history of achievement that has contributed significantly to our national identity.

This entry from "The History Channel" was an eye opener. It allowed me to view my own background, as well as the other people I grew up with in the South, with newfound admiration.
Yes, this DVD does destroy the misconceptions that so many of us who now live up North, are forced to live with.
You're never too old to discover your own history!

This video relates the history of those living in Appalachia. And explanations are made as to how certain myths came about and were believed. The people telling the stories were likable, smart and hardy. I would recommend this movie to all who wish to know about the mountain people.

I could have missed it, but I believe this documentary skips over the Civil War entirely. Could it be perhaps because the C.S.A. lost? I find it pretty insulting that the secession of the southern states was left out of this otherwise interesting and enlightening documentary.

This is a good video for the whole family to watch together. It is not only informative but also very entertaining.

The description in my onscreen program guide said, "A look at 200 years of mythic hillbillies". That's a pretty bold pronouncement, but this documentary delivers. While I was born in West Virginia (and have a huge section of family that still lives there and always will), I never really lived there. HILLBILLY really makes me wish I'd paid more attention during all of those childhood visits: moonshining folk heroes who survive a dozen gunshot wounds and then get pardoned by the President. The dreadful cost of building real roads and railroads where they didn't exist before. Big corporations hiring a private army complete with airplanes to try and bust budding unions, and more.

Watch this and find a new level of respect for mountaineers.

They didn't do too bad with the stereotyping but it is just that kind of movie so you have to accept it.

This is a great collection of history. I knew most of the information, but it was scattered and i only found it after extensive searching. I read over a dozen books to find out the information, that was given in just 30 inutes of the show. It should be taught in our classrooms instead of the lies about what the Constitution means. Tell the truth in history call. It is presented in a very interesting way.

I was a little lear4y of this DVD since it starred Billy Ray Cyrus, but I have to hand it to him as he did an outstanding job. This is the history of the folks living in the Appalachian area, from the first settlers on forward. It was an entertaining way to pickup on some of the cultural history of this land that retried to. Definitely worth the money.