Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Growing up on Long Island, we learned a lot about Teddy Roosevelt, our nation’s 26th President.  My parents took me to visit Sagamore Hill in my youth, and the Roosevelt name was a source of pride.  Something was lost in later years as my own children didn’t really learn all that much about a President who was one of our own and left a legacy that is quite admirable.

This two-disc DVD from the history channel was an excellent way to fill in the gaps.  Although Teddy Roosevelt: An American Lion is not as riveting as an action film to my children, it was interesting enough for them to watch both parts about a week apart.  When they think of society, they think of the likes of Paris Hilton and other train-wrecks the media seems to delight in reporting on.  Here is a portrayal of someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but who was dedicated to public service for reasons other than it seemed like something to do or because he was power-hungry.

Teddy Roosevelt was born in 1858, just two years before the start of the Civil War, to one of New York City's oldest families.  It was a time of change in America as we moved from a rural, farm-based society to an industrial, city-based society.

For as robust an image as Teddy projected in his older years, he was a sickly child who suffered through bouts of asthma.  He was closer to his father who would walk the floors with him during this time.  When Teddy was away attending Harvard, his father died suddenly, leaving the young man devastated but with a new determination to honor the name he bore.

That wasn't the only tragedy in Teddy's life.  The same day his mother died from typhoid, Teddy's young wife, Alice, died of what was later determined to be a mis-diagnosed kidney disease following the birth of their daughter.  It was his reuniting with childhood love, Edith, that really let him take his life in a new direction.  She complimented him and understood him in a way Alice hadn't.

The first disc covers the early years of the man and takes viewers up to his ascent to the Presidency after William McKinley was assassinated.

Once in office, Roosevelt was something of a paradox.  Although his views on race might seem pretty heinous by today's standards, his separate but equal philosophy was fairly progressive for his time.  A dinner at the White House with Booker T. Washington produced widespread cries of outrage.

His next step was to take on the corporations, including people like J.P. Morgan, Rockefeller, and Carnegie.  He initiated a government lawsuit to break up the trusts. much to their chagrin.  And he was a Republican!

A coal strike challenged him as well.  Roosevelt had to temper conditions in the mines versus the societal effect of the coal running out.

The documentary is narrated by Edward Hermann with Richard Dreyfus as Teddy Roosevelt.  Dreyfus does a good job, but I really never forgot it was Dreyfus.  The voice is too distinct.  Hermann’s voice is clear and articulate.  There are descendants of the Roosevelt family who speak of their memories as well as stories that have been passed down, and are also quite well-spoken.

In true Ken Burns style, Teddy Roosevelt: An American Lion uses photographs and early motion pictures to set the scene.  There are plenty of photographs of Teddy and his family.  There are some re-enactments using look-alike actors which actually come off very well to the backdrop of the narration.  Also in the tradition of Ken Burns documentaries, this has a terrific soundtrack that really sets the tone and emotion throughout the documentary.

There’s not that much in the way of special features on the DVD, and what is there is just slideshows and stills.  There are no extra facts, deleted scenes, or commentary by anyone about making this documentary.  However, I can’t hold that against this DVD set as the documentary itself is so wonderful.

At the end of Teddy Roosevelt: An American Lion, I felt like I knew Roosevelt better and my children had a better appreciation of why he was so admired.  It’s a thorough documentary that is as accurate as it is inspiring.



SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Roosevelt Family Tree
• Teddy Roosevelt Background and Interesting Facts
• Richard Dreyfus Biography and Filmography
• DVD Production Credits


Other "political" movie reviews:
 
An Inconvenient Truth ~ The Big One ~ Blue Gold: World Water Wars ~ Born on the Fourth of July ~ Bowling For Columbine ~ Bush Family Fortunes: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy ~ A Crude Awakening ~ Democracy University: Volume One ~ The End of Suburbia ~ Fahrenheit 9/11 ~ Farmingville ~ FLOW: For Love of Water ~ The Ground Truth ~ Giuliani Time ~ Hacking Democracy ~ Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train ~ The Hunting of the President ~ The Insider ~ Iraq For Sale ~ Jesus Camp ~ J.F.K. ~ JFK: The Case for Conspiracy ~ Lake of Fire ~ The Laramie Project ~ The Murder of JFK ~ No End In Sight ~ Outfoxed ~ Outrage ~ Religulous ~ Roger and Me ~ Senator Obama Goes to Africa ~ Terrorstorm ~ This Divided State ~ Truman ~ Truman: The 33rd President ~ The Unforeseen ~ War Feels Like War ~ War Made Easy ~ What Would Jesus Buy? ~ With God On Our Side


© 2009 Patti Aliventi

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD