Distributor:
Roadshow Home Entertainment Certificate: PG | 663
minutes | 4 Disc Set
Available to buy Producer: Michael Gill Extras: Yes
ANYONE
IN IT WE KNOW?
Alistair
Cooke
“You
know, when I told an old Southerner, a friend of mine, that I was going
to try to tell my version of American history in 13 hours, he said
‘better talk fast boy.’”
WHAT’S
IT ABOUT THEN?
The
legendary Alistair Cooke (who
from 1946 until his death in
2004 presented a weekly Letter
From America for the BBC’s
Radio 4) presents a highly
personal view ofthe USA,
made in 1972 for the BBC network
America
was a huge hit not just in
it’s home country but also in America
too. Over the course of 13 hour
long episodes Cooke takes us
from Christopher Columbus to
Richard Nixon and along the way
meets a whole raft of
interesting people and draws
some interesting conclusions
about the state of modern day America.
SO
IS IT ANY GOOD?
The word
passion is often used when people talk about Cooke (who is like a
favourite uncle from out of town, white haired, elegant and superbly
cosmopolitan) and his American love affair, it’s a good word, passion
runs through every episode, Cooke was a British correspondent for the
BBC but became a US citizen such was his feel for the country.
America is a fabulous series, the kind of leisurely documentary they
just don’t make anymore, Cooke’s gentle narration and obvious
compassionate nature really draws you into his American history as
episodes cover developments from the first settlers, Thomas
Jefferson’s attempt to protect the liberty of individuals through to
such topics as the The Gold Rush, The Wild West and Roosevelt’s New
Deal and
coming
up to then present day with President Nixon. Cooke reaches some
interesting conclusions at the series end, realising that
America
fell a long way short of the ideals and dreams of its founding fathers.
This
wonderfully packaged digi-pack 4 disc set from Roadshow is an essential
addition to any classic TV’s fan library. Great stuff.
ANY
SPECIAL FEATURES?
Only
extra is a fantastic almost 15 minute long piece from an early 70’s
edition of weekday magazine show Pebble Mill at One in which Bob Langley
travels to the states to chat to the man himself.
TRIVIA
Back
in 1938 Alistair Cooke had his first show about
America
seen on British TV, called Accent in
America
, the 10 minute long programme followed Cooke as he spoke to people from
Maine
to
Texas
!
