I’m desperately trying to remember the name of an epic documentary series about American history. It must have been shown on either BBC2 or channel 4 in an early evening slot (probably 5-6pm) at some point in the mid to late 1980s, and seemed to go on forever. As far as I remember, it focused quite heavily, but not exclusively, on the expansion of the west and the ‘Indian wars.’

I realise that this is not a great deal of information, but I would be delighted if anyone is able to help. If you can, you’ll probably be in your late 30s or early 40s, and watched it after school like me. I’ve spent some time looking for it on various websites, but without any luck so far.

It’s starting to drive me slightly crazy. Hence this last-ditch appeal to the collective mind.

Alternatively, if anyone could recommend a similarly epic ‘History of America’ documentary series, that would help to ease the pain.

Cheers!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/features/alistair-cooke.shtml ??

Bit early mind

Nope.

It was narrated by someone with a wonderful deep, flowing, slightly melancholic American accent. The film ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ reminded me of it, partly because of the narrator’s voice.

I remember that too I think. Was it basically a massive montage of black and white images with a voiceover?

Yes! Yes it was! I don’t remember any interviews with knowledgeable historians, politicians or anything like that. It was very much a ‘this is how it was’ sort of documentary.

Any ideas?

The only notable US documentarian I know of, is Ken Burns.

If it were being made today, it would almost certainly be narrated by Morgan Freeman…

It wasn’t by Ken Burns, I don’t think. I’m pretty sure it was shown in the UK in the late-ish 1980s.

Alternatively, if anyone could recommend a similarly epic ‘History of America’ documentary series, that would help to ease the pain.

Audiobook, but it’s weighty:

David Reynolds – America, Empire of Liberty

Amazon Links:

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Thanks, Jamie, I will check that out.

Weren’t there (at least) a couple of series? I seem to remember one on the West (called simply The West, or A History of The West or something?) and one on the Civil War

Was it the Civil War documentary?

‘The civil war’, I think, is a series by Ken Burns, whom Jamie mentioned.

The one I have in mind was broader in focus, and dealt with the Indian wars in great depth.

There are various documentaries with ‘the west’ in the title, but I haven’t been able to find the right one from the 1980s by searching for that phrase.

i think i know what you mean, might have been later than the 80s though, seem to remember it being broadcast over several days over the christmas period in several 2-3hr segments?

it’s bugging _me_ now 🙂

Delighted to have infected someone else with this problem 🙂

It may have been repeated in the 1990s over Christmas, as you say, but I’m certain that I watched it with my brother after school over a period of many weeks. I may be confused, but I don’t think so.

“Eyes on the Prize” was a documentary about the civil rights movement.

i think i know what you mean, might have been later than the 80s though, seem to remember it being broadcast over several days over the christmas period in several 2-3hr segments?

Me too

it’s bugging _me_ now

Me too!

Not sure of the one you’re talking about (the only b&w montage one with the distinctive drawl-ish voice was the Civil War one that I can remember). For a more modern one then “America – The Story of Us” I thought was a good watch

http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us#