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Ken Burns: The West DVD 5PK

$99.99 $89.99
Item #: WC5752
In this panoramic documentary, Stephen Ives reveals the American West stripped of its Hollywood mythology, yet with intense drama and larger-than-life heroes and villains. The series portrays the impact the onrushing white settlers, adventurers, and exploiters had on Native Americans and the land. Packed with vivid imagery and personalities, The West reveals the triumph and tragedy of America's drive to ... More
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In this panoramic documentary, Stephen Ives reveals the American West stripped of its Hollywood mythology, yet with intense drama and larger-than-life heroes and villains. The series portrays the impact the onrushing white settlers, adventurers, and exploiters had on Native Americans and the land. Packed with vivid imagery and personalities, The West reveals the triumph and tragedy of America's drive to become a continental nation.

Producer: Stephen Ives, Jody Abramson, Michael Kantor
Executive Producer: Ken Burns
Production Company: WETA; Florentine Films; Insignia Films
Production Year: 1996
Copyright Year: 1996
Narrator: Peter Coyote
Talent: Ken Burns
Writers: Geoffrey C. Ward, Dayton Duncan
Number of Discs: 5
Length: 707 minutes









27 Reviews
W
William
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
01/31/23
The West
Review by William on 01/31/23 review stating The West
A wonderful summary visually and a superb narrative of Americas movement to the West. Burns documentary gives true meaning to Horace Greeleys Go West, young man.
K
Kathleen
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
01/19/23
Havent seen it yet but
Review by Kathleen on 01/19/23 review stating Havent seen it yet but
Havent seen it yet but I love ken burns work so Im sure it will be great
J
Jean
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
12/06/22
A Great Gift to Give a Friend!
Review by Jean on 12/06/22 review stating A Great Gift to Give a Friend!
Great entertainment planning for the coming cold evenings--binge watching Ken Burns The West. Can be enjoyed multiple times.
B
Barbara
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
07/11/22
The West
Review by Barbara on 07/11/22 review stating The West
Wanted this for some time. It went on a good sale an I got it. Love every minute of it.
K
Ken
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
06/16/22
Great.
Review by Ken on 06/16/22 review stating Great.
Great.
M
M N.
Anonymous User
3.0 star rating
06/12/22
Interesting but...
Review by M N. on 06/12/22 review stating Interesting but...
Interesting documentary but someone want to call Ken Burns and let him know that sunsets/sunrises comprise only a fraction of daylight hours. If some interplanetary visitors were to see this series theyd have to come to the conclusion that the planet existed in some strange half-light. A dramatic device only remains dramatic if used occasionally. Mad dogs and Englishmen may venture out in the mid-day sun but never Ken Burns.
N
None
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
06/12/22
How Can Something So Great Be So Sad
Review by None on 06/12/22 review stating How Can Something So Great Be So Sad
A different look at the west, sad to see how a great culture was ended. Guilt to last, no honor. It is hard to be a Proud American, knowing this country was founded on dishonesty and theft.
D
Dave
Anonymous User
4.0 star rating
06/12/22
An excellent source for students.
Review by Dave on 06/12/22 review stating An excellent source for students.
This contains excellent short segments for use in a classroom. There is only one issue--some of the segments (like We Go to Conquer and Trail of Tears,) which appear as titles in the published list of segments are not listed in the segments within the DVD. For instance, Trail of Tears is the first part of The Barren Rock, which is supposed to be about the Mormon migration. We Go to Conquer is part of In the Midst of Savage Darkness, which focuses on the Whitman mission in Oregon. Its odd that these errors in catalog creation exist on an otherwise stellar production.
L
Lorilei
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
05/27/22
Should be school required
Review by Lorilei on 05/27/22 review stating Should be school required
This is an amazing piece of journalism, as all of Mr. Burns are. This should be required in all middle/high school curriculum!
W
Wild B.
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
03/27/22
Very interresting @ informative
Review by Wild B. on 03/27/22 review stating Very interresting @ informative
The plite of the native peoples, by the imigrants. Also how the whites reacted toward other races who helped to move the east towards the west. I regret to say that this was the beging and weve notreached the end.
W
WILLIAM
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
03/27/22
The West: Land and People
Review by WILLIAM on 03/27/22 review stating The West: Land and People
The Indians tried to remove the Spanish and the Whites from their land. European diseases decimated the populations of all regions, even without Europeans in the area. White rulers were remote. The introduction of horses was good - the genocide of bison was bad. The Mormons tried to isolate their territory and were the center of several controversies. Chinese railroad construction crews lost over a thousand dead building the western half of the trans-continental railroad, and soon the Chinese were persona non grata in the U. S.. Prairie life and one-room country schools contrast with copper/silver/gold mining towns and beef market activities where eventually refrigeration would change the system. The West tells of human decisions among people who were driven or attracted from the settled East.
S
Sheila
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
03/26/22
Excellent
Review by Sheila on 03/26/22 review stating Excellent
Excellent
A
Al
Anonymous User
2.0 star rating
02/14/21
Interesting topic; boring presentation
Review by Al on 02/14/21 review stating Interesting topic; boring presentation
A nice account of the development of the old west, but it needs more of a focus on human stories in order to make it more interesting. Its like reading a high school textbook.
H
History B.
Anonymous User
4.0 star rating
02/14/21
Clash of Cultures
Review by History B. on 02/14/21 review stating Clash of Cultures
When the Europeans landed and turned their backs to the Atlantic, the conflict began. Native Americans could not understand the idea of owning land. Did native Americans think they were getting the best of the deal when they brought the pelt of a dead animal and received valuable European trade goods in return. What might have happened if native Americans had fought to stop the white man instead of constantly battling each other. Eventually, the massive influx of whites coupled with native Americans low birth rates and high death rates became the native Americans downfall and defeat.
Y
Y N.
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
02/14/21
good
Review by Y N. on 02/14/21 review stating good
show is very good and ive learned alot
S
Sunshine
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
02/14/21
Unique look at the West
Review by Sunshine on 02/14/21 review stating Unique look at the West
Purchased for Christmas gift after seeing most of the documentary on PBS.
D
Dj
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
02/14/21
Outstanding
Review by Dj on 02/14/21 review stating Outstanding
This program was both entertaining and educational.
C
Caprock
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
02/14/21
Best since his Civil War
Review by Caprock on 02/14/21 review stating Best since his Civil War
No one can tell a story like Ken Burns. Television at its finest.
M
Mellie
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
02/14/21
Incrediable account
Review by Mellie on 02/14/21 review stating Incrediable account
I loved this documentary. I am a BIG Fan of the work Ken Burns does and have enormous respect for him and his team. This series is truly their best work. Their research is impeccable and the old photos, captivating. Its hard to best the wonderful docs Civil War and Lewis and Clark, but this series was spectacular.
V
Vinny
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
02/14/21
Ken Burns The West
Review by Vinny on 02/14/21 review stating Ken Burns The West
I wanted to send a DVD set to friends in England. It appears that in its wisdom PBS only sells the The West in Format 1 for the United States. Apparently, the series is not available in Format 2 for the the British Isles. Is this closed minded Americanism or what?

Highlighted Customer Reviews


H
History L. reviewed Ken Burns: The West DVD 5PK
5 star rating
Another Great Ken Burns Program
Review by History L. review stating Another Great Ken Burns Program
Another typical fantastic overview by Ken Burns
A
Avhollie reviewed Ken Burns: The West DVD 5PK
5 star rating
beautiful
Review by Avhollie review stating beautiful
nobody does it like ken burns
D
Dvd G. reviewed Ken Burns: The West DVD 5PK
5 star rating
Ken Burns Wins with The West
Review by Dvd G. review stating Ken Burns Wins with The West
Of all the works of Ken Burns that I have in my library, The West in my opinion is his masterpiece to america. Gripping and heartbreaking all in one, Burns is a masterful film-maker with excellent use of still photos and interviews to weave a compelling story.

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