10 used & new from $25.00

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
 
The American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided
 
See larger image
 

The American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided (2001)

Starring: David Morse, Holly Hunter Director: David Grubin Rating: NR (Not Rated) Format: DVD
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


5 new from $53.00 5 used from $25.00
Amazon Video On Demand
Amazon Video On Demand Special Offer
Purchase any DVD or Blu-ray and receive $5 towards select TV shows at Amazon Video On Demand. Here's how (restrictions apply).

Special Offers and Product Promotions



Product Details

  • Actors: David Morse, Holly Hunter, David McCullough, Jean Harvey Baker, David Herbert Donald
  • Directors: David Grubin
  • Writers: David Grubin, Geoffrey C. Ward
  • Producers: David Grubin, Allyson Luchak, Amanda Pollak, James E. Dunford, Lesley Norman
  • Format: Box set, Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: PBS (Direct)
  • DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001
  • Run Time: 360 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005R1NH
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,497 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
  • For more information about "The American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Documentary film exploring the trials and tribulations of the Lincoln marriage.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

DVD ~ Richard Easton
4.8 out of 5 stars (13)  $17.99
Thomas Jefferson - A Film by Ken Burns

Thomas Jefferson - A Film by Ken Burns

DVD ~ Ken Burns
4.4 out of 5 stars (30)  $19.49
American Experience: FDR

American Experience: FDR

DVD ~ Franklin Roosevelt
4.9 out of 5 stars (17)  $17.99
American Experience: TR: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt

American Experience: TR: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt

4.8 out of 5 stars (6)  $17.99
Gore Vidal's Lincoln

Gore Vidal's Lincoln

DVD ~ Sam Waterston
4.3 out of 5 stars (27)  $6.99
Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

21 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Documentary on the Lincolns, June 5, 2004
By Mskitty (East Coast U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
This documentary on the life of Abraham Lincoln is an excellent exploration of the character and inner life of our 16th president. At the same time it provides the viewer with much valuable information about the character of his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, their marriage, the tragic deaths of two of their children, and how Lincoln continued to love his wife until his death, even though she was in many ways a liability for him. While the Lincolns as individuals are the focus of the series, the viewer is not shortchanged in regard to the presidency or the Civil War. Lincoln's growth during his four years in office is examined critically and fairly by various historians.

The story of the Lincolns was originally shown on PBS's program "American Experience," and follows the format that has made that series so respected by viewers. Photographs, drawings, paintings, maps, and other artifacts contemporary to the times alternate with new film footage that enhances the story line. Well known performers do the voiceovers -- in this case David Morse is Lincoln, and Holly Hunter is the voice of Mary Todd Lincoln. There are no stagey recreations of events with unknown performers taking the parts of historical characters, which one often sees in series made for The History Channel or Arts and Entertainment Network. The three volume set runs about six hours and contains bonus materials that appear on each individual disc. The quality of the picture and sound is outstanding. The music is excellent and of the time period, and is never distacting.

While people of all ages and backgrounds in American history could enjoy this series, I especially recommend it to families with high school or college age students, along with Ken Burns "The Civil War" and the PBS video biography of General Grant. This would also make an excellent gift for Father's Day or for a Civil War buff's birthday.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fine treatment of a somewhat neglected aspect of Lincoln, June 17, 2004
By chefdevergue (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
It has often been observed that Abraham Lincoln has been enshrined to the point of deification. During the recent Ronald Reagan obsequies, rituals laden with religious references, we the television viewers were treated again & again to images of the Lincoln Memorial, as though Lincoln himself were some sort of national demigod to whom proper deference must be rendered from time to time. All this has served to strip away much of Lincoln's humanity, to the point that we find it hard to believe that he was, just as most of us are, an ordinary spouse & parent, trying to balance the demands of home with the demands of work.

This documentary helps to remind us of that side of Lincoln, as we see the young ambitious lawyer/politician & his equally ambitious wife struggle to make a life together. It is a story, above everything else, of great personal loss (for both Abraham & Mary Lincoln), and at times it makes this documentary painful to watch. As one watches Abraham Lincoln cope the overwhelming stress of a wartime presidency, having already lost two children, one yearns for the time when Abraham & Mary Lincoln can finally, even for a little while, relax in retirement and enjoy each other's company once again, without the demands of the office to distract them. Despite knowing it never did happen, I found myself feeling this way. Of course, the story takes the viewer through to a marriage ended by murder & a subsequent emotional collapse. It is exhausting to watch.

The documentary provides a great amount of detail. Some have complained that one sees the same images of the Lincolns over and over again, although I would think that after "The Civil War," people would be used to seeing an unending series of still photos on the television screen. It comes with the territory, and unless you want actors dramatizing the life of the Lincolns, you really have little choice in presentation. My only objection with the documentary is that it is a little too sympathetic at times. For example, the fact that the Lincolns were not particularly good parents is overlooked. Even in the best of times, Robert Lincoln's relationship with his parents was ambivalent, and was sometimes downright chilly. Tad Lincoln, on the other hand, was so spoiled and overindulged that by the time he was around 12, he was a virtual illiterate because his parents didn't have the heart to make him attend to his studies. One gets no sense of this in the documentary.

Everyone loves a happy ending, but unfortunately there really isn't one to be found here. However, the saddest tales generally are the ones that leave the most lasting impact. One cannot watch this story without being deeply moved.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Supplement To "The Civil War", February 17, 2002
By Eric Pregosin (New Carrollton, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Now that Ken Burns' epic "The Civil War" has hit DVD, this 3 disc baby of David Grubin's will keep you entertained just as much. David McCullough's narration in this film is as pleasant as it was in the former, and David Morse reads Lincoln as well as Sam Waterston. Holly Hunter reading Mary also does well. Plus like The Civil War, there is a who's who of interviewees who relate some very good historical facts. This is the first film that I ever watched on American Experience. A welcome edition to my library let alone the collection of PBS documentaries now available on DVD.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Marital Biography
This excellent program is really two biographies in one. We get side by side biographies of both Lincoln and Mary. Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Kara Russell

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Lincoln series still.............
I had seen this on television several years ago. It's still so darn popular that you can't get a great price on it anywhere. The price here was ok, but not great. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Almost 50 Lassie fan

5.0 out of 5 stars A House Divided: Mary Todd and Abraham Lincolm
The 3-part DVD series provides an in-depth overview of the life and times of both Lincolns, problems encountered throughout their lives and crises of the USA during their lives... Read more
Published 12 months ago by J Reeder

1.0 out of 5 stars This is not a good vender
Do not use this seller. I never received the DVD I ordered and received not reply after two attempts to check on the status of my order. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Norris G. Edwards

5.0 out of 5 stars Portrait of Abraham and Mary Lincoln
Having just read a book about Mary Todd Lincoln I was interested to learn more about both Lincolns and their lives together. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Laurie M. Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars American Experience-Abrham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided
This documentry is so wonderfully done that you can't stop watching until it you have watched it all. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Debra Casleton

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Documentary
This is an excellent documentary which studies Lincon's life in depth. I would recommend this DVD set for everyone. Read more
Published 22 months ago by S. Odemis

5.0 out of 5 stars Ties That Bind
I found this to be an excellent documentary. Informative, unsentimental, and moving, the film makes these iconic figures human without losing sight of their historical importance... Read more
Published on August 15, 2007 by K. Kuehl

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well done!! Excellent!
This is an excellent dvd. The depth of the information presented is the best I've seen thus far! I have only one criticism of it -- there was no mention of the conspiracy to... Read more
Published on April 25, 2007 by S. Crampton

3.0 out of 5 stars The Story Of a Marriage
This is a very interesting and thoughtful production about the 16th President of the United States, and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln. Read more
Published on April 14, 2004 by BADASSGIRLHEAD

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 

Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   




Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Movies & TV by subject:





i.e., each DVD must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.



Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.