Ken Burns: American Lives

Watch Ken Burns: American Lives

  • 1999
  • 1 Season
  • 9.0  (32)

Ken Burns is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and in 1997, he created a series for PBS titled "Ken Burns: American Lives." This series is a collection of profiles on some of the most influential and notable figures in American history, exploring their lives and legacies in detail.

Each episode focuses on a different individual and consists of interviews with experts, historians, and family members, as well as archival footage and photos. The subjects of the episodes include people from diverse backgrounds such as politicians, writers, athletes, musicians, and civil rights leaders.

The first episode of "Ken Burns: American Lives" is about the architect of the Vietnam War, former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The episode explores McNamara's role in America's involvement in Vietnam as well as his experience in World War II and his career at Ford Motor Company. The episode also delves into McNamara's leadership style, which was controversial and polarizing, and his later work to prevent nuclear war.

Other episodes in the series cover subjects such as scientist and environmentalist Rachel Carson, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, playwright Eugene O'Neill, and comedian Richard Pryor. The series highlights the struggles and triumphs of each person, and the impact they had on American culture and society.

One of the strengths of "Ken Burns: American Lives" is the way it presents a multifaceted view of each individual. Rather than simply glorifying their accomplishments, the episodes explore the complexities and contradictions of each person. For example, the episode on Frederick Douglass looks at both his abolitionist work and his complicated personal life, including his relationship with the white woman who became his wife.

The series also provides a broader historical context for each subject's life. For instance, the episode on Rachel Carson explores not only her pioneering work in environmentalism but also the social and political climate of the time. She faced significant opposition from the chemical industry and politicians who didn't believe in the dangers of pesticide use.

"Ken Burns: American Lives" is not just a collection of biographies—it's a look at the evolution of American culture and politics through the lens of some of its most influential figures. The series touches on important topics such as civil rights, the Vietnam War, and the intersection of politics and the media.

Overall, "Ken Burns: American Lives" is an engaging and informative series that shines a light on some of America's most influential individuals. Through compelling storytelling and insightful analysis, the series paints a vivid picture of America's past and provides an illuminating look at its present.

Ken Burns: American Lives is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (15 episodes). The series first aired on November 7, 1999.

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Seasons
Lewis & Clark: Part 2
13. Lewis & Clark: Part 2
November 4, 1997
The most notable expedition in U.S. history was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with soldiers, an African-American slave, a female guide, and Canadian boatmen.
Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
12. Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
November 4, 1997
The most notable expedition in U.S. history was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with soldiers, an African-American slave, a female guide, and Canadian boatmen.
Unforgivable Blackness: Part 2
11. Unforgivable Blackness: Part 2
January 17, 2005
"Unforgivable Blackness" tells the story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American boxer to win the most coveted title in all of sports, and his struggle to live his life as a free man.
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
10. Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
January 17, 2005
"Unforgivable Blackness" tells the story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American boxer to win the most coveted title in all of sports, and his struggle to live his life as a free man.
Horatio's Drive; America's First Road Trip
9. Horatio's Drive; America's First Road Trip
October 6, 2003
In the spring of 1903, on a whim and a fifty-dollar bet, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson set off from San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car hoping to become the first person to cross the United States in the new-fangled "horseless carriage."
Mark Twain: Part 2
8. Mark Twain: Part 2
January 14, 2002
Samuel Clemens rose from a hardscrabble boyhood in the backwoods of Missouri to become, as Mark Twain, America's best known and best loved author.
Mark Twain: Part 1
7. Mark Twain: Part 1
January 14, 2002
Samuel Clemens rose from a hardscrabble boyhood in the backwoods of Missouri to become, as Mark Twain, America's best known and best loved author.
Frank Lloyd Wright: Part 2
6. Frank Lloyd Wright: Part 2
November 10, 1998
He was a master builder, a rebel and a worshipper of nature. Frank Lloyd Wright left behind a legacy of beautiful homes and buildings, and changed America's approach to architecture forever.
Frank Lloyd Wright: Part 1
5. Frank Lloyd Wright: Part 1
November 10, 1998
He was a master builder, a rebel and a worshipper of nature. Frank Lloyd Wright left behind a legacy of beautiful homes and buildings, and changed America's approach to architecture forever.
Thomas Jefferson: Part 2
4. Thomas Jefferson: Part 2
February 18, 1997
Revered as the author of the Declaration of Independence, the most sacred document in American history, yet condemned as a lifelong owner of slaves, Thomas Jefferson remains the enigma that is America.
Thomas Jefferson: Part 1
3. Thomas Jefferson: Part 1
February 18, 1997
Revered as the author of the Declaration of Independence, the most sacred document in American history, yet condemned as a lifelong owner of slaves, Thomas Jefferson remains the enigma that is America.
Not For Ourselves Alone: Part 2
2. Not For Ourselves Alone: Part 2
November 7, 1999
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were born into a world ruled entirely by men. By the time their lives were over, they had changed for the better the lives of women everywhere.
Not For Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony
1. Not For Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony
November 7, 1999
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were born into a world ruled entirely by men. By the time their lives were over, they had changed for the better the lives of women everywhere.
Part One
114. Part One
January 13, 2002
Mark Twain tells the story of the writer's extraordinary life.
Part Two
115. Part Two
January 13, 2002
The conclusion of the story of America's best-loved and best-known author, Mark Twain.
Description
Where to Watch Ken Burns: American Lives
Ken Burns: American Lives is available for streaming on the PBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Ken Burns: American Lives on demand at Amazon, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    November 7, 1999
  • IMDB Rating
    9.0  (32)