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| The History Channel Presents The Revolution | 
 enlarge | Actors: American Revolution, Revolutionary War, War Of Independence, George Washington
Studio: A&E Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.95
Buy New: $22.94
You Save: $27.01 (54%)
New (36) Used (9) from $22.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 2221
Format: Box Set, Color, Full Screen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 4
Running Time: 600
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.5 x 1.1
MPN: AAE-76230
UPC: 733961762303
EAN: 0733961762303
ASIN: B000IB0DD0
Release Date: December 19, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
They came of age in a new world amid intoxicating and innovative ideas about human and civil rights diverse economic systems and self-government. In a few short years these men and women would transform themselves into architects of the future through the building of a new nation unlike any that had ever come before.From the roots of the rebellion and the signing of the Declaration of Independence to victory on the battlefield at Yorktown and the adoption of The United States Constitution THE REVOLUTION tells the remarkable story of this pivotal era in history. Venturing beyond the conventional list of generals and politicians THE HISTORY CHANNEL introduces the full range of individuals who helped shape this great conflict including some of the war s most influential unsung heroes.Through sweeping cinematic recreations intimate biographical investigations and provocative political military and economic analysis the historic ideas and themes that transformed treasonous acts against the British into noble acts of courage both on and off the battlefield come to life in this dramatic and captivating program.DVD Features: History in the Making: The Revolution Behind-the-Scenes Featurette; Interactive Menus; Scene SelectionSystem Requirements:Run Time: 600 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 733961762303 Manufacturer No: AAE-76230
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Multi-dimensional examination of the war February 4, 2007
45 out of 47 found this review helpful
A great examination of the American Revolutionary War by the History Channel. Includes interviews with historians, battlefield maps and examinations of troop movements, letters from the battlefields, and actor portrayals of battles and historical figures.
The Revolution starts out with the examinations of the cause of the revolution, such as colonial resentment of taxes levied after the Seven Years' War without any representation. It follows this through the forging of the Declaration of Independence and the battles of the Revolutionary War. It finishes up with the problems facing the nation after the war.
I don't think I had a good enough realization in school with how hard times were for these soldiers as they waged war. This video goes into detail with the troubled supply lines that plagued Washington's army, the heavy desertion and mutiny (which Washington clamped down on with some extraordinary tactics), and the many failed battles that occured in the first few years of the Revolutionary War. It covers internal conflicts between such characters as Horatio Gates and George Washington.
Also discussed are Benjamin Franklin's efforts in France to recruit the French navy and John Paul Jone's foray into Britain and Ireland.
The first half of the series covers the battles in the north and the remaining few episodes discuss how the battles move south into Savannah, the back woods of the Carolinas, and finally Yorktown.
One problem with the series is that they tend to recycle the interviews and footage throughout.
US history books tend to lionize the founding fathers, but this series (and books such as the Founding Brothers) show how none of these people was perfect, and shows their faults as well as their strengths. I came away with this series (which I downloaded from iTunes, BTW) with a much better understanding of the Revolutionary War.
 Great Idea, Great Production....Awful DVD Quality January 3, 2007
32 out of 41 found this review helpful
I was excited to order this 13 part series after catching part of it on the History Channel. Upon receiving it however and watching the 1st installment, my personal opinion is that the video quality and DVD production is very poor. I don't understand why they would shoot this is widescreen but show it in a funky letterbox type aspect. There are white dotted lines across the top of the screen that are very distracting. For those of you who understand video, I would rate this about the quality of a VCD. The sound is okay. While I would have given this series 5 stars, the poor quality of the DVD brings the purchase down to a 3 for me. Note to History Channel: Upgrade your technology.
Excellent Series..... except. July 7, 2007
14 out of 20 found this review helpful
Of course it's an overview and some issues are too briefly treated. My only real problem is the standard glossing over of the reason for Paul Revere's ride and the cause for the Battles of Lexington and Concord. You don't send that many elite troops, the Light and Grenadier companies, nearly 20 miles into the countryside on foot in the 18th century to capture a few key rebel leaders: you send your dragoons.
The main goal of the march was the seizure of the miltia's powder stores and one small 3 pounder cannon held in common at Concord. Most of the colonists had some powder in hand but probably only enough for about 20-25 shots. As the colonies lacked any significant domestic gunpowder production, the real prize of the march was that gunpowder in Concord . With it's seizure, the rebels would soon have only clubbed muskets for fighting. A strategy whose wisdom and success could be seen two months later when at Bunker Hill the rebels held against the British but were finally overrun with the bayonet after they ran out of powder. And when Knox arrived with the cannon from Ticonderoga, Washington still did not have enough powder to serve the guns, thus he bluffed the British out of Boston with cannon he could not fire in March of 1776.
More than coincidentally the Colonial Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunsmore, seized Virginia's common powder stores at Williamsburg Magazine on April 21st 1775, exactly two days after the assault on Concord: indicating a probable Crown strategy to execute two nearly simultaneous and identical actions and disarm two of the more problematic colonies.
So the actual final triggering of armed conflict in the Revolution was not the Stamp Act, Tea Act, or the Intolerable Acts but was a British attempt at gun control! But I imagine due to the sensitive nature of that controversial issue it's just too much to expect anyone to actually acknowledge it in even such an excellent documentary as this.
In any event, this set is well worth the money.
 The Best Revolution ?? July 6, 2007
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I've watched countless documentaries about The Revolutionary War and this is one of, if not the best I've seen. It is a comphrehensive look at the war, its causes, battles and political struggles starting with the Stamp Act in 1765 and ending with Washington taking the oath of office in 1789 as the first President. Historian and Author comments provide insight and facts that help put the viewer in the mind set and feel of this conflict. Some history buffs will notice inaccuracies in uniforms and weapons but it does not take away from the overall quality of information presented. I highly recommended this DVD set.
A Brilliant Production of the First Rank! April 8, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
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There is left little for me to add to the Reviews already given here, but such little I gladly offer.
Andrew Violette's Review (see below) is clear, succinct and contains the best part of what I look for in a good review. I will say however, that I would disagree that the very few instances of repeated material throughout is in any sense or manner a detraction from the whole.
After all, inculcation is itself a perfectly legitimate method of `teaching' and imparting important, complex and/or meaningful information, and the visual scenes which may be repeated here and there are in no way detracting, as the whole is done with impeccably good taste, style and an almost epic grandeur.
Indeed, the few instances of repetition are so brief and far between, one hardly notices. If the content itself weren't so forceful in beauty and import the first time, one would probably not notice it at all.
In all events, rather than finding such to be a fault or `problem' in the series taken as a whole, I regard it simply one more aspect which deepens and enriches its instructional value.
On the whole, "The Revolution" is a Masterful documentary production, brilliantly executed, sweeping and breathtaking in scope and in every sense, a First Rate production for a `Principle Events and Characters' overview of the American Revolution (with emphases placed squarely on the Martial aspects - as well it should be: as is rightly said by one historian - "The Army is the Revolution").
I know of no other like Documentary Series which so lavishly and tastefully achieves this rather daunting task.
We all know that in life and `this world' as it were, we rarely if ever encounter anything we deem `perfect' in every sense. So what?
That one might find something to criticize can surprise no-one, yet it is a shame I think to allow such to detract from what is as a whole a genuinely masterful achievement.
My husband and I frankly tire-ourselves at times criticizing the `usual' self-serving, ignorant, poorly directed, mismanaged, bungled & botched documentary on this or that historical subject.
To come across a documentary series such as this is such a refreshing exception, I cannot help but sing its praises.
Without the faintest hint of hesitation, I recommend this Superb series to anyone interested in the American Revolution, be they wholly ignorant of the subject, amateur history buff or professional historian.
Whether one is learning something new from beginning to end, or learns nothing new whatever, it is simply a delight to behold and, I will say - worth every *American* penny spent.
For the Review comments of John Aldrich (see below), all I can think is that he must unfortunately have gotten either defective disks or have some other technical issues.
I have seen no `white dots' or lines and that it is in letterbox format (which I genuinely cannot stand), frankly, I hadn't even noticed until I made conscious effort to look.
Nothing is lacking in the brilliantly clear DVD quality one has every right to expect; nor is there any shortcoming as regards the manner in which it was filmed. It certainly doesn't look like `video.'
I thought it looked brilliant when watching it on cable and recording to DVR - the DVD version only seems yet more clear and glittering, to me.
In short, a positively First Rate production in every respect and highly recommended.
One documentary series I will joyfully watch again & again with repeated, if not ever-increasing pleasure and appreciation.
If only this achievement might become the Standard by which all future documentaries are produced - I would have No complaints ...
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