Customer Reviews

Telephone, The: The American Experience [VHS]

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"The Telephone" is yet another excellent entry in the landmark PBS documentary series, "The American Experience." More than just a dry summary of how Alexander Graham Bell invented and marketed the telephone, this film puts Bell's invention in its proper context. The documentary also explores the unique working relationship between Bell and his partner Thomas Watson. As the film shows, Bell could formulate an idea, and Watson could make it real. This documentary does not stop with the phone's invention, but illustrates Bell's struggle to prove he was the telephone's actual inventor and details his efforts to turn the telephone from a novelty to a necessity. In just one hour, this film runs the range of the phone's invention to its widespread proliferation.

Archival footage and the personal journal entries of Bell and Watson add to the drama and authenticity of the story. The documentary includes an old interview with Thomas Watson recounting the famous, but widely disputed, story of Bell summoning him over the first working phone after Bell spilled acid on his arm. Although this story probably didn't happen as recounted, it's part of the legend of the telephone, and seeing Watson tell it is fascinating. This is a well-researched, illuminating, and highly entertaining documentary.

This is a fascinating documentary, one that is both entertaining and culturally enlighting at the same time. The tape follows Bells initial introduction of the Telephone in 1876 to the first coast-to-coast phone call. The interviews are engrossing -- including descendants of both Bell and Watson -- and the modern photography quite beautiful. Highly recommended.