Customer Reviews

The Prize - The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power [4 VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an absolutely wonderful series from PBS. I was amazed at how much I learned about the industry. Or maybe I should be more amazed at how much I was never taught nor tried to learn on my own. It covers how oil started as just an illumination industry and was transformed by chance into the all encompassing giant that now moves nations. Really interesting shows are the ones about WWII and the rise and fall of OPEC. However the final show about the future and the environment is weak.

I saw this series on PBS years ago. Does anyone wonder why it has never been put on DVD? At this point there are 6 VHS copies I can find ranging from $179 -900plus. This is information that should be available. What has happened to it?

Once you start viewing this title, you will not stop till you have finished all the volumes. An excellent depiction of the politics and economics involved with the evolution and growth of the oil industry.

This is an amazing documentary (both the video and the book) about how the oil industry came to be and how it's very existance has influenced, and continues to influence so many areas of our daily lives, some areas not even thought of by most people. It's a facet of history that should be included, but is barely mentined, in every high school and college history class. Well edited, never boring, truly amazing!

I was recently at a friends house where we viewed this video. I was amazed at the attention to detail and the amount of historical film footage included. This documentary puts a very different slant on history. There are points of view brought out here that most people have never heard or thought.

I read this book when it first came out and I was a much younger man. I later viewed the mini-series on PBS. It has to be one of the finest documentaries I've ever seen (and read). This work forever changed my view and dramatically deepened my understanding of the politics, history and the intentional or forced dependence of oil. It really should be shown to students, I believe it would impact them and give them a multifaceted view of the entire subject as it relates to today's world, as it did for me. Every person I've met that has ever seen the documentary or read the book, says similar to what I've said above. Yes, it's THAT good.

Lastly, I concur with many reviewers and am saddened to see that it has not been transferred to DVD. PBS should consider re-airing it and offering it in DVD form as I believe it could also be a good performing product related revenue stream.

Thanks Amazon for providing such a dependable and great place to find such classics!

I too saw this documentary on PBS many years ago. I am a big fan of documentaries and this is one of the best I have ever seen; thoroughly compelling, fascinating, engrossing and entertaining from beginning to end. I am amazed it has never been repeated on PBS and it is a total mystery why it is not available on DVD. This great film has not received the exposure or recognition it deserves

This is 1 of the best documentaries I have ever seen, and is easily the best documentary on the history of the oil industry ever made. I have watched it several times and never cease to be transfixed: the scholarship, the photography, the narration, the music and of course the story are all worthy of a blockbuster work of fiction; but of course it is all true. I am baffled that the producers (or whoever owns the rights) have never seen fit to release this classic documentary on DVD. I don't even own a VCR anymore, so my tapes just sit here collecting dust. Given all that has happened in the oil industry since this series was released (in 1992) you would think they would re-release it on DVD. It is an education in itself, without a trace of "Michael Moore" to taint / warp the facts to fit into his own political agenda. PLEASE BRING THIS OUT ON DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first program on the establishing of Rockerfeller's Standard Oil monopoly and the later program on OPEC bring to life some of the most important aspects of any economics syllabus.

This documentary spans the later part of the 19th century and the entire part of the 20th. It does an impressive job showing how the oil industry developed throughout the world. The 4th volume goes on to discuss the rise of enviornmentalism and how that is affecting the future of the industry. Some very important questions are raised in the end. Overall it is honest journalism showing all sides of the issue. I highly recommend this.