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Imserba Webstore - American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided
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List Price: $38.99
Our Price: $38.99
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: PBS Paramount
Starring: David Morse, Holly Hunter, David McCullough, Jean Harvey Baker, David Herbert Donald
Directed By: David Grubin
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Paramount
EAN: 0841887050074
Format: Box set
Label: PBS Paramount
Manufacturer: PBS Paramount
Number Of Items: 3
Publisher: PBS Paramount
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-02-15
Running Time: 360
Studio: PBS Paramount
Theatrical Release Date: 2001-02-19
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Editorial Reviews:
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From award-winning film-maker David Grubin, this miniseries weaves together the troubled lives of a dirt-farmer's son and a wealthy Southern slave-owner's daughter. Together, Abraham and Mary Lincoln ascended to the pinnacle of power at the most difficult time in the nation's history, the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln's legacy as the Great Emancipator reshaped the nation while his tragic death left Mary reclusive and forgotten.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Marital Biography
Comment: This excellent program is really two biographies in one. We get side by side biographies of both Lincoln and Mary. Both of these biographies are then put into context of their socieites and the politics and ultimately the war that had an impact on everyone's life and broken families... Just when things seem to be settling down, there is a visit from Mary's confederate half sister.
The pace is methodical, which some might find slow, but it has a real payoff in the moments when we can really savor the richness of Lincoln's words and the choices he makes in the moment. Holly Hunter was a really poor choice for Mary's voice, her lateral lisp is too distracting for voiceover work, and her choice of breathy delivery was off putting. She's a good actress, just a poor choice for voiceover work, and especially for this role. A "name" is not always a good solution for a difficult voice casting choice. David McCullough's narration is seamless, as usual, Mr. Morse as the voice of Lincoln really fit perfectly - his voice seemed to be Lincoln and it was "unnoticable" and that is great vocal casting.
The variety of historians is a great window - from the Mary Lincoln historian who breathlessly relates Mary's side of things, to the writer who talks about Lincoln's choices as a writer, to the African American historians, one who thinks Lincoln didn't do enough, the other who appreciates that Lincoln evolved and had a good sense of how much and where he could push.
An excellent series, it would make an excellent gift for repeated viewings.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best Lincoln series still.............
Comment: 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. It's expensive anywhere! I love the integration of BOTH Lincoln stories (his and hers) and the chronological integration of family and Civil War. Enjoyable soundtrack. Very fine reading by professional actors. Well-paced.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A House Divided: Mary Todd and Abraham Lincolm
Comment: 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. The many photos and opinions provide food for thought and discussion.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: This is not a good vender
Comment: 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. Neither the vender nor Amazon lived up to their obligations on this order.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Portrait of Abraham and Mary Lincoln
Comment: Having just read a book about Mary Todd Lincoln I was interested to learn more about both Lincolns and their lives together. This video presentation gives wonderful information about their lives before they met and what differing backgrounds they came from, including family history, education, etc. We then learn about their courtship and marriage and family life. Woven into this family story are the political events of the time
covered in interesting detail. All is told using old photographs interspersed with commentary by various historians and experts of the Civil War. The story moves on to Lincoln's political career and his rise to become President. During this time, Mary deals with the loss of one son, to be followed during the White House years with the loss of a second son. The tragedy around this couple, both of a personal nature and of a national nature are devastating. The coverage of the Civil War years are particularly interesting and Lincoln's dealings with the war and it's attendant battles, casualities, changes in military leadership really bring home the devastation of this war on the country. As the war progresses Lincoln's quiet strength, intelligence, and determination resound. Lincoln's assassination is covered in harrowing detail and the subsequent downward slide of Mary into depression, sadness and more tragedy to come. It is refreshing to see a more sympathetic portrait of Mary Lincoln than is usually presented. Knowing what we know today about depression and other mental illnesses makes her behaviors during her life much easier to understand and sympathize with. She ended her life with only one of her four sons still living and she was estranged from him at the time of her death. All in all this is a fascinating portrait of a couple who loved each other very dearly and how that love was tested by events beyond their control.
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