Product Details

• Studio: WNET Thirteen
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B000SO4946
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,704 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Moyers uses video to draw clear contrasts between Franklin Roosevelt and Adolph Hitler, February 16, 2009

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Walk Through The 20th Century With Bill Moyers: The Democrat and the Dictator (VHS Tape)

There is no one better than Bill Moyers at using narrated video to make an historical point and he demonstrates that once again in this video. Using tape of Franklin Roosevelt and Adolph Hitler, he contrasts their styles and message to explain how different their approaches to power were. From the perspective of the twenty-first century, it is hard to watch the video of Hitler and understand his appeal. Hitler was a physically unattractive man, and that is never more obvious than when he has a helmet on. His wild gestures when speaking emphasize his irrationality and his message was one of danger to all non-Germans.
The contrast to Roosevelt could not be more dramatic, Roosevelt's tone of voice is well controlled and modulated, he laughs with the crowd and there are no dramatic hand gestures. Moyers also does an excellent job in explaining the backgrounds of both men. Hitler's rise from poverty to power and using it unwisely to Roosevelt's being born into wealth and power, yet using that power wisely and effectively.
Moyers also asks, but of course never answers the "What if?" question that is most commonly asked. "What if Germany had won the second world war?" It is not an unreasonable question; few people truly realize how close Germany came to winning, if a few strategic decisions had been made differently, Germany would not have been defeated. Fortunately, megalomania has its' weaknesses and one of them is a belief in your own infallibility.