Product Details

• Actors: Jason Robards, James Earl Jones, Glenn Close, Richard Widmark, Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Directors: Peter W. Kunhardt
• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 2
• Studio: Pbs Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 5, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004R8UR
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,532 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This four-hour biography of Abraham Lincoln, which aired originally on PBS, is a masterful presentation featuring hundreds of authentic photographs and a thoughtful narration delivered by actor James Earl Jones. Prominent actors, including Jason Robards as the voice of Lincoln, deliver excerpts from letters, speeches, and diaries, and if that format seems familiar, the selection of material is innovative and often fascinating. The documentary begins by describing Lincoln humbly packing his own bags in Springfield, Illinois, affixing labels reading "A. Lincoln, White House, Washington," and setting off to assume the presidency at a deeply troubled time in the nation's history. The entire story of Lincoln's life is eventually told, though the Civil War and the monumental toll it took on Lincoln is, appropriately, the focus of the story.

The copious material on the war and its principal personalities, especially General Ulysses S. Grant, will be a delight to Civil War buffs, and material about how Lincoln conducted the war (enraging his many enemies in the process) may surprise some viewers. Indeed, in his own time, Lincoln was hardly the icon he later became, and this documentary presents him flaws and all. This is a magnificent historical documentary that, despite its length, is never less than thoroughly absorbing. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful documentary series about the 16th President, June 8, 2000

By	Scott E. Rosenau (Hanover, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lincoln (4pc) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This series which originally aired on ABC in 1992 is an excellent documentary about Abraham Lincoln. Using period pictures and the words of Lincoln and his contemporaries, this series produced by the Kunhardt family covers the full span of Lincoln's life, focusing primarily on his Presidency.

The only difficulty one might have is that the video often jumps around through Lincoln's life. One moment they are talking about the Emancipation Proclamation and slavery issues and then the video jumps back 5 years to the Lincoln-Douglas Debates.

Overall, though, the series is well-produced and has wonderful narration, photography, and includes discussion by Lincoln historian David Herbert Donald.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and Well-done documentary, October 18, 2001

By	J. J. Carew (Green Bay, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was lucky enough to have bought the companion book before I saw this documentary. Once I saw it, I had to have it. This is THE definitive Abraham Lincoln biography. Not only does it show us the Abe we all remember from grade school, but the videos do a great job of showing us the many levels of Lincoln: the man, the husband, the father, the President, the lawyer. Can't say enough good things about this.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story of a man being great when greatness was needed, August 25, 2002

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Lincoln (4pc) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

There is no doubt that the two greatest presidents of the United States were George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Differentiating between them is reduced to a matter of personal taste rather than historical significance. One was present at the birth of the nation and the other was president at the time of greatest internal trial. Despite the vast differences in their origin and societies, both men shared one powerful characteristic, that of humility. Even though he was urged to march at the head of his army and seize power, Washington did something that few in history have ever done. He resigned his commission and gained power via the ballot box. Lincoln clearly exercised more executive power than any other person who has ever held the office, and yet he risked being turned out of office by carrying out the presidential election of 1864. His plans for the gentle reconstruction and reintegration of the Confederate states also demonstrate his firm grasp of reality. It is a rare thing when conquered peoples are to be treated so generously.
This combination of Lincoln's personality traits are the main theme of the tape. His persona shows through and you cannot help but like him, even after the passage of so many years. You also learn that he was a relatively untested national politician when he took the oath of office, yet he proved more than worthy to the challenge. In this respect, he has much in common with Harry Truman, who also was untested when he became president.
While the issues of the war must be dealt with, as they were so much a part of Lincoln's presidency, they are relegated to a necessary backdrop to the explanation of how Lincoln performed as president. His handling of an occasionally disloyal cabinet was a masterful stroke of how you put ambitious men in their place. It also shows how talented a politician he was.
Lincoln's relationship with his wife Mary Todd Lincoln is also explored in great detail and she is portrayed in an honest, yet unflattering light. At a time when the nation was in great crisis, she often appears as a petty, insecure woman who does not realize the true nature of the events as they unfold. One point well made that I was unaware of was Lincoln's relationship with his children. He generally allowed them free reign around the White House. Put bluntly, they behaved as undisciplined brats.
In a tie for the position of greatest president ever, Lincoln was that rare combination of traits: humble, gentle, yet powerful and ruthless when necessary. It is one of the great tragedies of this country that he was killed just when he was needed most. Many of the politicians that we are saddled with today could learn some, serious, significant lessons by studying the life of Lincoln. I recommend this tape to everyone.