Ken Burns: America Collection
December 2004 Reviewed by: Marc Mickelson Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

Ken Burns is the Babe Ruth, the Louis Armstrong of contemporary documentary filmmakers. His body of work is large and distinguished, and he has created a storytelling style that has influenced many of his peers. Burns tells stories of America -- of its politicians, its artists, its icons, and especially its extraordinary people -- in a thoroughly authentic way. He stitches interviews, dramatic voice-overs and music together with significant period artifacts, such as letters, photographs and illustrations, to create historically accurate depictions of his subjects. Watch just about any show on A&E or The History Channel and you will see Ken Burns' influence at work. His approach brings long-ago-deceased or inanimate subjects to life.

Burns' work has found a home on PBS, and that is where the seven separate films that make up the Ken Burns: America Collection originally appeared. Burns' earliest film, Brooklyn Bridge, is here, as are the five films that followed it. Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio, which follows Burns' first epic The Civil War, is also included. These films show the maturation of a gifted artist, and each is a distinct work unto itself. Statue of Liberty is more impressionistic than the others, attempting to capture the essence of an American icon, while Thomas Hart Benton is more personal, conveying the motivation behind and meaning of Benton's often colossal paintings. The Shakers is calmly paced, while Huey Long is more brash and boisterous -- no doubt due to their very different subjects.

It is easy to admire Burns' skill as a moviemaker and be amazed by the research he and his staff undertake to create such rich views of American history. But Burns never loses sight of the idea that documentaries should entertain as well as educate, and that these are not mutually exclusive. Everyone likes to learn, and Burns makes doing so very easy -- as though it is not even happening. I am sure his movies are favorites in classrooms all over America.

Burns is listed as the producer, director and cinematographer of most of these films, which underscores the fact that he does much more than decide on camera angles and determine how narration should be delivered. Each DVD includes an interview with Burns and a behind-the-scenes feature, both of which are repeated on each DVD. Obviously, this collection is an attempt at repackaging DVDs that have been sold separately, but the extras do accomplish what they set out to, even if they do recur. The video image and sound are good, but they are not of demonstration quality. Even so, I would love to see one of these films shown as demo material at a trade show.

I have enjoyed all 11 hours of The Civil War as well Burns' shorter films on Frank Lloyd Wright and Lewis and Clark, each four hours long. These are the work of a filmmaker at the top of his craft. The films that make up the Ken Burns: America Collection show how Burns got there, and each is a noteworthy accomplishment. I know of no artist in any medium who has told America's story with more insight and sensitivity than Ken Burns.

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