Cynical Cinema

I have always wanted to get onto Jeopardy, but the biggest problem I have is that I just don’t know enough about American politics and history. At least twice a week, there is a category on American Presidents where I am unable to answer any questions at all. But now my problems have been solved. Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing The Presidents on Tuesday August 26th. This is a massive PBS box set from their series The American Experience that features 10 20th century presidents, from Teddy Roosevelt to George H.W. Bush. Massive doesn’t begin to describe this box. Ten presidents on fifteen discs, each one exhaustively researched and incredibly complete. Their early lives and their post-presidential lives are shown in great detail, but the most information, appropriately, is reserved for their presidencies themselves. Each disc features in-depth interviews with the people closest to that president, and each is an in-depth examination worthy of Ken Burns (who, incidentally, does most of his work with PBS as well).

Some of the presidents get two discs, others just one. Some get just three hours worth of film, others get four and a half. (FDR and Truman each get 4 ½ hours, I suppose because more happened during their presidencies than during others.) If, after 35 hours of learning about presidents, and a further ten plus hours of special features, you are not ready to take on Jeopardy, then you never will be. And even if you don’t care at all about Jeopardy, pick this box set up anyway if you have even a passing interest in American history. It could give you something to watch for a whole year.