Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided [3 Discs] DVD

American Experience: Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided, Vol. 1
This is the first part of a three-video, six-hour program that originally aired February 19-21, 2001, as part of the acclaimed PBS series The American Experience. The program focuses on the marriage of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, and is one of the first documentaries to do so. This documentary postulates that Mary was indeed a key to Lincoln's success. The first part deals with Abraham's and Mary's early years and with their vastly different backgrounds. Lincoln was born to poverty and had less than a year of formal schooling, while Mary Todd grew up in luxury and got more schooling than most girls in that time. Narrated by David McCullough, the program also features interviews with scholars and readings by actors David Morse and Holly Hunter. Highlights include period photographs. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide

American Experience: Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided, Vol. 2
This is the second part of a three-video, six-hour program that originally aired February 19-21, 2001, as part of the acclaimed PBS series The American Experience. The program focuses on the marriage of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, and is one of the first documentaries to do so. This documentary postulates that Mary was indeed a key to Lincoln's success. The second part covers the early years in the White House, as the nation was fragmenting and war was breaking out. Featured are recreated battle scenes, White House dinners, cabinet meetings, and shopping sprees Mary went on to upgrade the shabby presidential mansion. Narrated by David McCullough, the program also features interviews with scholars and readings by actors David Morse and Holly Hunter. Highlights include period photographs. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide

American Experience: Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided, Vol. 3
This is the final part of a three-video, six-hour program that originally aired February 19-21, 2001, as a presentation of the acclaimed PBS series The American Experience. The program focuses on the marriage of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, and is one of the first documentaries to do so. In the third part, a series of tragedies overwhelms Mary. Lincoln's urgent need to manage the war hurts the marriage, leaving Mary feeling isolated, especially in light of the death of their son Willie. Often accused of being a Confederate sympathizer, Mary ultimately loses three brothers in battle against the Union. After the president is assassinated, she's devastated. Six years later, after her son Tad dies young of tuberculosis, she loses her sanity and spends the last 17 years of her life institutionalized. Narrated by David McCullough, the program also features interviews with scholars and readings by actors David Morse and Holly Hunter. Highlights include period photographs. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide

Cast David Morse as Abraham Lincoln Holly Hunter as Mary Lincoln David Morse as Abraham Lincoln Holly Hunter as Mary Lincoln David Morse as Abraham Lincoln Holly Hunter as Mary Lincoln

Crew David Grubin - Director Seth Bomse - Editor Deborah Peretz - Editor Tom Haneke - Editor Margaret Drain - Executive Producer Michael Bacon - Composer (Music Score) James Callanan - Cinematographer David Grubin - Producer David Grubin - Screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward - Screenwriter David Grubin - Director Seth Bomse - Editor Deborah Peretz - Editor Tom Haneke - Editor Margaret Drain - Executive Producer Michael Bacon - Composer (Music Score) James Callanan - Cinematographer David Grubin - Producer David Grubin - Screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward - Screenwriter David Grubin - Director Seth Bomse - Editor Deborah Peretz - Editor Tom Haneke - Editor Margaret Drain - Executive Producer Michael Bacon - Composer (Music Score) James Callanan - Cinematographer David Grubin - Producer David Grubin - Screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward - Screenwriter

American Experience: Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided, Vol. 1
(not reviewed)
 

American Experience: Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided, Vol. 2
(not reviewed)
 

American Experience: Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided, Vol. 3
(not reviewed)
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: cc The Time of the Lincolns: the era of Abraham and Mary Lincoln explored through first-person narratives and period photos of everyday history Interviews with producer David Grubin and cinematographer James Callanan Full accessibility through captioning and audio descriptions DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1: Alternate Wide Screen MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 3 DVD Sides: 3 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 360 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- Episode One: Ambition/Episode Two: We Are Elected 1. Introduction [4:03] 2. A Kentucky Childhood [5:47] 3. The Indiana Frontier [3:35] 4. The Todds of Lexington [5:01] 5. Abraham's Second Mother [5:19] 6. Mary Todd Grows Up [3:05] 7. Starting in Politics [5:34] 8. Mary Leaves Home [1:36] 9. Young Ambition, First Love [6:13] 10. Abraham and Mary [8:32] 1. Introduction: Life in Springfield [8:03] 2. Indiana Journey [2:19] 3. Congressman Lincoln [1:46] 4. Washington, D.C. [7:51] 5. Sad Times [6:46] 6. A Stand Against Slavery [5:03] 7. Lincoln Debates Douglas [8:21] 8. Elected [2:31] Side #2 -- Episode Three: Shattered/Episode Four: The Dearest of All Things 1. Introduction: Leaving Illinois [3:24] 2. Seven States Secede [5:34] 3. Inauguration [6:11] 4. The First "First Lady" [4:02] 5. Crisis at Fort Sumter [10:32] 6. Shopping for the White House [2:14] 7. Bull Run [5:38] 8. A Strained Partnership [5:08] 9. The Lincoln Children [3:35] 10. Reluctant General McClellan [2:28] 11. Celebration and Sorrow [8:21] 1. Introduction: Richmond [3:08] 2. A Mother Grieves, a Nation Grieves [1:56] 3. Lee Attacks, McClellan Retreats [4:09] 4. Can Life Be Endured? [2:54] 5. Preserving Slavery to Preserve the Union [4:42] 6. Mary's New Confidence [5:09] 7. Fighting Slavery to Fight the South [2:50] 8. Spiritual Consolation [4:54] 9. Antietam [1:53] 10. Helping Former Slaves [5:01] 11. The Emancipation Proclamation [4:31] Side #3 -- Episode Five: This Frightful War/Episode Six: Blind With Weeping 1. Introduction: Separate Burdens [3:26] 2. "Fighting Joe" Hooker [3:01] 3. Vicksburg and Gettysburg [6:54] 4. Race Riots [7:03] 5. Summer Interlude [1:12] 6. The Gettysburg Address [7:55] 7. Mary's Confederate Sister [6:54] 8. Ulysses S. Grant [2:10] 9. Paying in Blood [9:30] 10. Mary's Secret [2:12] 11. The Nation's Future at Stake [3:33] 1. Introduction: Constant Dread [2:00] 2. Sherman Takes Atlanta [3:34] 3. The 13th Amendment [3:11] 4. Total War [2:43] 5. A Sacred Effort [7:44] 6. Mary's Crisis [4:23] 7. Confederate Surrender [3:35] 8. The Art of the Possible [5:40] 9. A Carriage Ride [1:14] 10. Ford's Theater [1:07] 11. Funeral Train [:17] 12. Blind With Weeping [5:40] 13. Insanity [4:17]