American history documentary series from 1980s??

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American history documentary series from 1980s??

18 posts & 8 voices | Started 4 months ago by Turnoisier | Latest reply from FuzzyWuzzy

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Turnoisier - Member

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!

Posted 4 months ago #
woody2000 - Member

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

Bit early mind

Posted 4 months ago #
Turnoisier - Member

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.

Posted 4 months ago #
IHN - Member

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

Posted 4 months ago #
Turnoisier - Member

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?

Posted 4 months ago #
Jamie - Member

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

Posted 4 months ago #
Turnoisier - Member

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

Posted 4 months ago #
Turnoisier - Member

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.

Posted 4 months ago #
Jamie - Member

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

Posted 4 months ago #
Turnoisier - Member

Thanks, Jamie, I will check that out.

Posted 4 months ago #
IHN - Member

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

Posted 4 months ago #
weare138 - Member

Was it the Civil War documentary?

Posted 4 months ago #
Turnoisier - Member

'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.

Posted 4 months ago #
JoB - Member

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

Posted 4 months ago #
Turnoisier - Member

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.

Posted 4 months ago #
hels - Member

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

Posted 4 months ago #
IHN - Member

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!

Posted 4 months ago #
FuzzyWuzzy - Member

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#

Posted 4 months ago #

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