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The Congress
Front Cover Actor
Movie Details
Director Ken Burns
Language English
Audience Rating NR (Not Rated)
Running Time 90 mins
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
Ken Burns's film on "the closest thing to a National Temple" is a brief and vital history of the United States Congress--the building and the institution. While the executive wing receives most of history's ink, the legislative branch has a more varied and colorful story. Starting with golden-tongued orators Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, the representatives were an eccentric lot, often pushing the limits of democracy with the power they wielded. Burns's formula of interviews, actors' readings, and wonderful photographs continue in this production although it's more streamlined. Covering 200 years in 90 minutes (the video version is slightly longer than the TV airing) is a tough job and we only stay a minute or two with key characters, many of whom you've never heard of. Burns may have bitten off more then he could chew with the vast history--much of it dealing with the slavery issue--but that was solved with his next project: his 11-hour masterpiece, The Civil War. --Doug Thomas
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 418
Collection Status In Collection
Links Amazon US
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
794054876826
Release Date 11/12/2002
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1