Product Details

• Actors: Albert Einstein
• Directors: Ken Druckerman
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: American Sign Language (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: February 24, 2009
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001E1822M
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,556 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This is the extraordinary story of Albert Einstein and his decades-long battle to prove his Theory of General Relativity amid the violence of war and his tumultuous personal life.

For centuries, Isaac Newton's Law of Gravity stood untouched. But in 1915, Einstein attacked Newton with a mind-boggling theory: Gravity is not pulling you down ... instead, massive bodies like the Sun and the Earth are bending space and time around you, pushing you down. During a total solar eclipse, he predicted, that warp in space-time should reveal itself. Fiercely competitive astronomers raced each other to exotic locations to see if Einstein was right... or wrong. Hardships, weather, and war foiled their expeditions again and again. When, against all odds, a blazing glimpse was finally captured, the humble Einstein exploded into a global icon.

This rich DVD from HISTORY® moves beyond theories and the cult of personality to breathe new life into the man, not the myth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating theories and personal details - clearly explained, February 19, 2009

By	Roy Massie (Birmingham, AL United States) - See all my reviews

I first saw part of this movie on History channel and now I own it. Before this movie, I had trouble seeing the forest for the trees when it comes to Einstein. But this movie explains the four most prominent theories (from his miracle year in 1905) using stunning graphics and explanations from contemporary physicists. This is my favorite part of the movie.

But, there is a broader story being told about how a great man can almost be overlooked by institutional thinking. And, how relatively mundane things like clouds and international disputes (okay wars) can threaten to extinguish some of the most important scientific advancements ever.

Einstein is not portrayed as a saint here either. His personal details both charming and somewhat crass are all woven into the story of how one of the greatest minds of history unlocked and proved some of the most perplexing problems to date.

I love it. If you care anything about Einstein, get it. It is not overly technical and it is fascinating on all dimensions.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Story, July 27, 2009

By	Sandra (CA) - See all my reviews

I bought this for my husband who is a physicist. I had no intention of watching it myself. However I was making lunch one day when he slipped in the DVD, and I was hooked while listening from the adjoining room. I finished lunch in front of the TV fascinated by the story I had never heard about. Especially the difficulty and the years it took to try to confirm Einstein's theory of relativity - what some scientists went through just to be at the right spot to photograph an eclipse that would help prove the theory - I can't do it justice with my review or explanation. Highly Recommended!!!

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Starts as Biography, Degenerates to Liberal Propaganda, July 9, 2009

By	Cymry (California, USA) - See all my reviews

At first glance, this appears to be a factual biology of Einstein and his quest for a General Theory of Relativity. But about half way through, the narration changes its tone from a presentation of facts to a vehement argument for pacifism at any cost regardless of historical perspective or consequence, casting Einstein as supporting evidence.

In short, this is a propaganda film. It drips with its own point of view, rather than presenting an unbiased historical perspective.

Too bad. It is fairly well produced.