American Experience: The Donner Party: A Film by Ric Burns DVD

Comments about PBS American Experience: The Donner Party: A Film by Ric Burns DVD:

We live in the Sierra Nevada Mts near the area the Donner party was trapped in 1846. Every snow I think about what these people went through and can not even imagine thier suffering and thier fortitude to survive that ordeal. Ironicaly, I grew up to marry a decendant of the Graves family. The little boy John Graves is my husbands grgrgrgr grandfather. I bought this DVD for our children to appreciate the history of what it took for generations of pioneers to make thier dreams come true. The personal aspect adds to the life lessons learned from this DVD. Plan ahead and plan well. The shortcuts in life are not always the best route and the most important lesson to us, it's possible to survive great hardships and I tell you after watching this movie, we shouldn't spend our lives sweating the small stuff. Thank you Ric Burns, we had told the kids the story, they were taught it in school, but this movie puts you there to truely understand the tragedy and hardship of so many pioneers who have sacrificed everything for the dream of a better life for themselves and thier children against overwhelming odds.

Comments about PBS American Experience: The Donner Party: A Film by Ric Burns DVD:

this documentary is a classic, still looked to as one of the best -- and studied by film students as an example of how to tell a great story on film with just a few photographs and some gorgeous writing.

Comments about PBS American Experience: The Donner Party: A Film by Ric Burns DVD:

I remember watching this with my family 15 years ago when I was in middle school and it has stayed with me ever since. Oddly enough, we still frequently quote two lines from the narrative: "Never take no cutoffs and hurry right along" and "If I never you again, do the best that you can." Now, I am a high school history teacher and refer my students to this film. I recently re-watched it and it is just as poignant as it was when I saw it as a girl. Check it out. You will never forget this story.

Comments about PBS American Experience: The Donner Party: A Film by Ric Burns DVD:

This was a great show that everyone should see!!
What these people went through was beyond courage and determination to survive!!

Comments about PBS American Experience: The Donner Party: A Film by Ric Burns DVD:

The tale of the Donner Party isn't widely known in the UK. My wife and I found this film fascinating when it was broadcast by the BBC a number of years ago. We've watched it a dozen times since and still find it gripping.
Along with 'The American Civil War' it must be the best film of it's type ever made?