PBS War of 1812

[Trench]

Did anyone see this? I thought it blew the History Channel's documentary away. It was very well done.

 

[CaptainKirk]

I'm not surprised. I expected way too much if THC's rendition of Gettysburg (after watching the movie numerous times) and was heavily disappointed. Too much repetition, disjointed story line, and firearms blunders. I expected much better from THC.

 

[Trench]

I'm deffinitely buying the PBS version. It almost makes me want to chuck THC War of 1812 that I own.

PBS started their documentary with the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. So, they recognized the Indian battles in the Northwest as a component of the war. They covered all five invasion attempt in to Canada as well as all the major Naval engagements. Throw in some original journal entries and you had a great documentary. Not to mention, they told it from four different angels:Northwest Indian Tribe, United States, Canada, and England.

If you watched THC version a few years ago, they don't mention the Northwest. Canada is just mentioned in passing. Sole focus is the US and you'd think all the fighting happend in Maryland. But, it was the only 1812 stuff out there at the time, so I bought it. Can't wait to get my hands on the PBS version now.

 

[Pigman]

Check you local library. Ours has most of the PBS shows available for checking out.

Thanks,
Foster From Flint

 

[gearheart]

I remember grade 7 and the history teacher asking if anyone knew what went down in 1812. I shot up my hand and answered "Napoleon's dream of Empire started to unravel because of his misadventure in Russia" :redface: Wrong answer. We were then indoctorinated about the War of 1812 and how Canada won and all that :bull: Being a skeptic I wondered. What did we win? Nothing changed. Stalemate. Same old same old. Nobody won nothin. The NDNs lost big time. It was a good show I stayed up late to see it. it was well done.

 

[BigDogg]

I hope they re-run it. I caught the first half hour, then had a phone call for the last hour and a half of the show. I was ready to throw my phone out the window!! What I saw looked really really good!

 

[flintlock75]

I watched it and when they showed all the riflemen carrying cva pecussion Hawken rifles i changed the channel. The only accurate guns shown were what the british were carrying. This has become typical of most shows of this kind.

 

[Trench]

I watched it and when they showed all the riflemen carrying cva pecussion Hawken rifles i changed the channel. The only accurate guns shown were what the british were carrying. This has become typical of most shows of this kind.

Now, now. I saw the same thing, but the history was sound. :wink:

 

[fort fireman]

I didn't see that one but I thought the one on the French and Indian war they did a few years back was pretty good. I have it on DVD at the house. i may need to watch it again.

 

[Trench]

I didn't know they did a French and Indian War documentary. I'm going to look in to it.

 

[Nazgul]

Stopped in Erie, PA last summer at the Museum where the Brig Niagara has been rebuilt. Excellent tour, very good short movie on the battles she fought. My wife is a H.S. history teacher and wanted to buy a copy, none were available.

Recommend the museum. They rebuilt a section of the ship, then fired period canons at it to record the damage. The section is on display with very good video of the tests.

The ship sails during the summer months.

Don

 

[shortbow]

I saw it and also was very impressed with how well it gave a historically accurate overview of causes, major battles, contribution of the NDN's and consequences/political results.

As to the CVA guns, I noticed that and other HC anomalies but wasn't too bothered because they were just doing an instructive doc. rather than attempting to make a PC movie. That's what I got from it anyhow.

 

[fort fireman]

I think it is called "The War That Made America". It is I believe a 4 or 5 part series on two DVD's. The narrator was the guy that played the main native in dances with wolves.

As for the Brig Niagra. You should see that thing in the early morning under sail. I am from Erie and went back to visit last summer. My dad and I went fishing on the lake and saw her coming out of the channel from the bay. Unbelievable! I sat and watched it for hours as it got smaller and smaller on the horizon. You could almost see yourself back then watching that thing come at you and imagine being on another ship. Looking at it for that long knowing it was coming to get you.
my dad also has taken a bunch of pics and framed them. He's getting pretty good at the photography thing.

 

[flintlock75]

You are correct, the F&I Show was the War that Made America, the narrator was Graham Greene who played the medicine chief in Dances w/wolves.
The story is on a two dvd set and there is a book that goes with it. I have them and they were very well done and accurate, the only thing i saw that was off is a scene that shows a french marine with a left handed musket. This video also has alot of focus on the native american point of veiw.

 

[fort fireman]

Mine didn't come with a book. is it worth looking into getting or does the video pretty much cover it?

 

[flintlock75]

The book is a much more detailed account of what was done in the video, together they were very good and gave a good overveiw of the events that happened. These items are not a detailed study of the period but are well worth the money.
You can also read "the crucible of war" much more detailed story.

 

[tecum-tha]

I bought the PBS" War of 1812" and I think it is too short. It should have had more detail and about the length of the "War that made America"
Still pretty good though.