Nearly 150 years after its end in 1865, the American Civil War still holds the imagination and fascination of millions not only in our nation, but of many more around the world. Indeed, historians and political scientists point out that in many ways the war is still being fought, from controversies over civil rights to lawsuits in Southern states over the "right" to display the Confederate flag. The continued fascination can be seen in the endless stream of new books, documentaries, CD's, and magazines which are released every year.
Debuting April 1, 2014 on many PBS stations around the country comes "Civil War: The Untold Story," the newest documentary about the great conflict which killed, according to the latest estimates, approximately 750,000 Americans. Written, produced, and directed by Chris Wheeler of Great Divide Pictures (based in Denver), "Civil War: The Untold Story" is a five-part series focusing mainly on the Civil War battles which took place in what is considered the "Western theater" of the war. All too often the great battles of the Eastern theater (Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Bull Run) seem to receive much focus while the ones in what was then the "west" are overlooked. "Civil War: The Untold Story" has the goal of helping us understand the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Corinth, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, and Kennesaw Mountain.
The series features an excellent balance between the military strategies of the battles themselves and how the war affected the soldiers and their families. Instead of being dry or dull, the viewer is treated to re-enactments, animated maps, and detailed explanations of those battles by various historians in a format made so popular by documentarian Ken Burns. While several historians are featured in this series two in particular stood out for this reviewer. Dr. Allen C. Guelzo is the Henry R. Luce III Professor of the Civil War Era at Gettysburg College (PA). He is the author of several outstanding books on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Dr. Amy Murrell Taylor is associate professor of history at the University of Kentucky, with interests in the 19th century U.S., the Civil War, and Gender and Women's studies. Their analysis is engaging, informative, and clear. Especially informative was Dr. Taylor's description of how the war caused suffering among the wives, mothers, and sisters who were left behind when their men went off to fight.
"Civil War: The Untold Story" also presents excellent information about slavery in the U.S; reminding the viewer that the first African slaves were brought to this continent in Jamestown, VA as early as 1607. Although the international slave trade had been banned in the U.S. in 1808, the ban did nothing to halt the exponential growth of the population of enslaved people. By the start of the Civil War in 1861, there were 4 million captive humans in the United States of America. The series rightly explains that slavery was the main cause of the American Civil War, regardless of the claims of certain libertarians, neo-Confederates, and people who honor the "heritage" of treason and ownership of human beings.
The main narrator of "Civil War: The Untold Story" is the famous actress Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey, Ragtime). Her narration is clear, beautifully phrased, precise, and even moving. This reviewer found the selection of a woman to narrate a documentary about the worst conflict in our history to be a welcome change. Her narration brings a certain empathetic tone which is perfect. Bravo, Miss McGovern.
Most of the series was filmed on location at the various battlefields. The viewer is treated to lovely footage of the mighty Mississippi River and other southern locales which belie the horrors which occurred there 150 years ago.
The one nitpick that this reviewer noted was that the documentary felt "rushed" in the final episode titled "With Malice Toward None." General Robert E. Lee's surrender, Lincoln's death, and other momentous events of the closing weeks of the war seemed to be almost an afterthought. But this is only one person's opinion.
"Civil War: The Untold Story" is one of the finest Civil War series or documentaries this reviewer has had the pleasure of viewing in many years. It's informative, entertaining, and fascinating. It does an overall excellent job of describing the battles, the ordeals of the soldiers and their families, and of course the struggles of the humans held in bondage. It deserves a national audience on PBS as part of "American Experience" instead of a smattering of PBS stations across the country which have deemed it worthy of showing. That's a pity. While nothing can quite match the majesty of Ken Burns' "The Civil War," Chris Wheeler's "Civil War: The Untold Story" ranks up near the top of the rest.
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Please check your local PBS station(s) to see if "Civil War: The Untold Story" will be broadcast in your area. The following is a list of the PBS stations which have scheduled the series. All times are local. (Special note to the PBS stations in my home area of NE Ohio: WVIZ (Channel 25) and Western Reserve Media (Channels 45 and 49), you should be ashamed of yourselves for not scheduling this wonderful series)
Civil War: the Untold Story
April 2014
Oregon Public Television – Tuesdays at 1pm beginning April 1 on OPB-Plus
KPBS – San Diego – Tuesdays at 11p beginning April 1
KHUT – Houston – Wednesdays at 10p beginning April 2
Louisiana Public Broadcasting – Wednesdays at 10p beginning 4/02
WNIN – Evansville, IN – Thursday, April 3, 8-10p; April 10, 8-10p; April 17, 7p
Nashville Public Television…Thursdays at 8p beginning April 3
KERA – Dallas…Thursdays at 10 beginning April 3rd
WMVS – Milwaukee, WI – Saturdays starting April 5
WNET/New York City – Saturday 4/05 at 1p, 2p, 3p; Saturday 4/12 at 1p, 2p
Arkansas Public Television - Sundays beginning April 6 at 1:30p
KLVX – Las Vegas…Airs Sun 4/6 & Mon 4/7 repeats Sun 4/13 & Mon 4/14 on Vegas PBS Jackpot COX Cable 111
Alabama Public Television – Sunday, April 6, 2-6p, April 13, 5p
Iowa Public Television…Iowa PTV World, April 6, 6p -11p
Kentucky Educational Television (KET) – Sundays at 3p beginning April 6; 10p on KET2 beginning April 6
WETP – Knoxville – Sundays beginning 4/6 at 7p
WHRO - Hampton Roads/Norfolk, Virginia…Sundays at 6p beginning April 6
WTCI – Chattanooga – Sundays at 7p beginning 4/6
KETC – St. Louis – Sunday thru Thursday, April 6 -10 at 10p
South Dakota Public Television – Sundays at 10p beginning April 6
KNCT – Kileen, TX…Thursdays at 8p beginning April 10
Rocky Mountain PBS…Thursdays at 9 beginning April 10
South Carolina Public Television…Thursdays at 10p beginning April 10
KLVX – Las Vegas…Airs on Jackpot! Sun 4/6 at 9p, 10p, 11p & Mon 4/7 10p and 11p; repeats Sun 4/13 & Mon 4/14 on Vegas PBS Jackpot COX Cable 111
WHUT – Howard University, Washington DC…Mondays at 10p beginning 4/14
WCVE – Richmond, VA - Mondays at 10p beginning 4/14
WVIR – Charlottesville, VA – Mondays at 10p beginning 4/14
KOCE, Los Angeles…Tuesdays at 11p beginning April 15
WILL – Springfield, IL – Sunday April 20, 1- 4p; Sunday April 27, 1-3p
Mississippi Public Broadcasting …Sundays at 5p beginning 4/20
KNME – Albuquerque – Mondays at 9p beginning April 21
WTVS – Detroit…Tuesdays at 11p beginning April 22
WCET – Cincinnati, Ohio – Sundays 4/27 at 4p
WPTO – Dayton/Oxford, Ohio – Sundays beginning 4/27 at 10p
WKNO – Memphis, TN – Tuesdays at 8p beginning April 29
KBDI – Colorado Public Television…Wednesday April 30 at 8p, 9p, 10p; Thursday May 1at 8p, 9p
