Ken Burns' WW2 Documentary starts Sept. 23rd

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm looking forward to this... It will be available on DVD, October 2nd.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7467

The War will be a seven - episode series, produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, that will examine the myriad ways in which the Second World War touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America. By telling the stories of ordinary people in four quintessentially American towns – Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and the tiny farming town of Luverne, Minnesota – the series will portray this enormous worldwide catastrophe on an intimate, human scale. The War will intertwine vivid eyewitness accounts of the harrowing realities of life on the front lines with reminiscences of Americans who never left their home towns, and who tried their best to carry on with the business of daily life while their fathers and brothers and sons were overseas. The film will honor and celebrate the bravery, endurance, and sacrifice, of the generation of Americans who lived through what will always be known simply as The War.

[almaty 19]

i like his work and will be watching

[Lansbury 19]

Did you notice they have the dates wrong on the art work for the box. I always thought WW2 started in 1939 when Poland was invaded or you could argue even earlier when Czeslovakia was invaded.

(yes I do realise this is a series about US involvement)

[Nagishkaw 510]

Since I do not watch television anymore, I will have to dust the cob webs off my set and have a peek since I am a World War twice buff. Thanks for this tip, Steven !

[Scott & Lai 12]

I always thought WW2 started in 1939 when Poland was invaded or you could argue even earlier when Czeslovakia was invaded.

Or still earlier if you count the Rape of Nanking...

[Dan J 277]

Did you notice they have the dates wrong on the art work for the box. I always thought WW2 started in 1939 when Poland was invaded or you could argue even earlier when Czeslovakia was invaded.

(yes I do realise this is a series about US involvement)

Yeah, the US didn't get involved until 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor. But it definetly did start much sooner.

[Lansbury 19]

Did you notice they have the dates wrong on the art work for the box. I always thought WW2 started in 1939 when Poland was invaded or you could argue even earlier when Czeslovakia was invaded.

(yes I do realise this is a series about US involvement)

Yeah, the US didn't get involved until 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor. But it definetly did start much sooner.

The US officially didn't, but US war ships protected the Atlantic convoys long before then and I read somewhere that a US war ship attacked a U boat sometime during 1940. Likewise US merchant seaman sailed in the convoys and quite a few died.

The first American killed, I believe that is correct, in WW2 was flying in the RAF during the Battle of Britain. American pilots also flew in RAF Bomber Command long before December 1941

I hope there is mention of this in the program as those guys and their families were effected just as much as when the US officially became part of it all. They normally do not get the credit and kudos they deserve.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Did you notice they have the dates wrong on the art work for the box. I always thought WW2 started in 1939 when Poland was invaded or you could argue even earlier when Czeslovakia was invaded.

(yes I do realise this is a series about US involvement)

Yeah, the US didn't get involved until 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor. But it definetly did start much sooner.

The US officially didn't, but US war ships protected the Atlantic convoys long before then and I read somewhere that a US war ship attacked a U boat sometime during 1940. Likewise US merchant seaman sailed in the convoys and quite a few died.

The first American killed, I believe that is correct, in WW2 was flying in the RAF during the Battle of Britain. American pilots also flew in RAF Bomber Command long before December 1941

I hope there is mention of this in the program as those guys and their families were effected just as much as when the US officially became part of it all. They normally do not get the credit and kudos they deserve.

I think Ken Burn's wanted to focus on American families and how the war affected them.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Sounds like an interesting perspective.

[Lansbury 19]

I think Ken Burn's wanted to focus on American families and how the war affected them.

Indeed and very interesting I expect the program to be. I was just making the point American families were affected long before Pearl Harbor, if only a small number.

But I guess I should watch it and see just what his perspective is before I open my big mouth and criticize it.

Edited September 8, 2007 by Lansbury

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think Ken Burn's wanted to focus on American families and how the war affected them.

Indeed and very interesting I expect the program to be. I was just making the point American families were affected long before Pearl Harbor, if only a small number.

But I guess I should watch it and see just what his perspective is before I open my big mouth and criticize it.

Burns, a resident of New Hampshire, has said of The War, "By focusing on the personal stories of ordinary Americans who had extraordinary experiences, the film tries to bring one of the biggest events in the history of the world down to a very intimate scale. And in the end, we all begin to see, I think, that there are no 'ordinary' lives."

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~vox/0607/1204/kenburns.html

...

I would add that all of it is from the words of the GI's who fought in it, and the words from the family members - that's the only audio narrative.

Edited September 8, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[natty bumppo 297]

I'm looking forward to this... It will be available on DVD, October 2nd.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7467

The War will be a seven - episode series, produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, that will examine the myriad ways in which the Second World War touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America. By telling the stories of ordinary people in four quintessentially American towns – Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and the tiny farming town of Luverne, Minnesota – the series will portray this enormous worldwide catastrophe on an intimate, human scale. The War will intertwine vivid eyewitness accounts of the harrowing realities of life on the front lines with reminiscences of Americans who never left their home towns, and who tried their best to carry on with the business of daily life while their fathers and brothers and sons were overseas. The film will honor and celebrate the bravery, endurance, and sacrifice, of the generation of Americans who lived through what will always be known simply as The War.

No comments from Bedford Virginia ? Unionville Connecticut ? he's missing something. here are two small towns that received a huge impact from WWII. one town felt the ETO ... the other the PTO.

[Lansbury 19]

I guess at the end of the day he can only show a small number of people affected and hope it is a fair representation of all. Certainly as someone who was raised on the history of WW2 I shall watch it with great interest.