Roots
[DVD 929.2 Hal 2007]
Roots is, arguably, one of the most significant television productions of all time. When it aired in 1977, Roots was a ground-breaking achievement -- a long mini-series, focusing on a long-ignored chapter in United States history -- the long, shameful involvement of multiple generations of Americans engaged in the practice of slavery. The cast was phenomenal, from the young LeVar Burton and James Amos as two different versions of Kunta Kinte, Louis Gossett Jr., Georg Stanford Brown. Cicely Tyson, Leslie Uggams and Ben Vereen. The stellar cast also included dozens of caucasian actors in significant roles, including Ed Asner, Lloyd Bridges, Lorne Greene, George Hamilton, Burl Ives, Sandy Duncan, Brade Davis, Ian McShane, Vic Morrow and Ralph Waite, to name but a few. The production values were tremendous, with incredible set pieces, costumes, emotionally resonant music and tight editing. I clearly remember watching every installment of this with my family when it originally aired. Even 30+ years later, this important television milestone still stands up to the test of time. What's most impressive, when watching and appreciating the work of art that Roots should be considered, is that the entire thing is based on the real-life family history of the author Alex Haley. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and more of his reviews ]
[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Haley's original book, upon which this is based.]
[Also available in traditional print and book-on-cd formats.]
[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]
[DVD 929.2 Hal 2007]
Roots is, arguably, one of the most significant television productions of all time. When it aired in 1977, Roots was a ground-breaking achievement -- a long mini-series, focusing on a long-ignored chapter in United States history -- the long, shameful involvement of multiple generations of Americans engaged in the practice of slavery. The cast was phenomenal, from the young LeVar Burton and James Amos as two different versions of Kunta Kinte, Louis Gossett Jr., Georg Stanford Brown. Cicely Tyson, Leslie Uggams and Ben Vereen. The stellar cast also included dozens of caucasian actors in significant roles, including Ed Asner, Lloyd Bridges, Lorne Greene, George Hamilton, Burl Ives, Sandy Duncan, Brade Davis, Ian McShane, Vic Morrow and Ralph Waite, to name but a few. The production values were tremendous, with incredible set pieces, costumes, emotionally resonant music and tight editing. I clearly remember watching every installment of this with my family when it originally aired. Even 30+ years later, this important television milestone still stands up to the test of time. What's most impressive, when watching and appreciating the work of art that Roots should be considered, is that the entire thing is based on the real-life family history of the author Alex Haley. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and more of his reviews ]
[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Haley's original book, upon which this is based.]
[Also available in traditional print and book-on-cd formats.]
[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]
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