The War: A Ken Burns Film

Watch The War: A Ken Burns Film

  • TV-14
  • 2007
  • 1 Season
  • 9.0  (18,149)

The War: A Ken Burns Film from PBS is a documentary miniseries that aired in 1990. It explores the experiences of ordinary Americans during World War II through interviews, archival footage, and photographs. The series is narrated by David McCullough and features an impressive cast of actors including Sam Waterston, Jason Robards, Julie Harris, Morgan Freeman, Garrison Keillor, Arthur Miller, George Plimpton, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Horton Foote, Derek Jacobi, Colleen Dewhurst, Pamela Reed, M. Emmet Walsh, Hoyt Axton, Gene Jones, and Kurt Vonnegut, among others.

The War is divided into seven episodes, each of which explores a different aspect of the war. The first episode, "A Necessary War," sets the stage by providing an overview of the events leading up to the war, including the rise of Hitler and the devastating effects of the Holocaust. The next episode, "When Things Get Tough," focuses on the experiences of American soldiers during the early years of the war, including the attack on Pearl Harbor and the battle for Guadalcanal.

The third episode, "A Deadly Calling," explores the experiences of American soldiers in North Africa, Italy, and Normandy. It includes interviews with veterans who vividly recall the brutal realities of combat and the sacrifices they made for their country. The fourth episode, "Pride of Our Nation," celebrates the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, an all-black fighter pilot squadron, and the Navajo code talkers, who played a key role in the war effort by transmitting secret messages in their native language.

The fifth episode, "FUBAR," takes its title from a military acronym meaning "fouled up beyond all recognition." It examines some of the most notorious military blunders of the war, including the failed mission to capture the Arnhem bridge and the disastrous Battle of the Bulge. Despite these setbacks, the soldiers interviewed for the program express a deep sense of pride in their service and their willingness to fight for their country.

The sixth episode, "The Ghost Front," focuses on the experiences of American soldiers as they fought their way across Germany, from the Rhine River to Berlin. It includes interviews with veterans who describe the horrors of combat, as well as their relief and joy at the end of the war. The final episode, "A World Without War," explores the aftermath of the war, including the Nuremberg Trials and the creation of the United Nations.

Throughout the series, The War uses a combination of archival footage, photographs, and interviews to provide a detailed and intimate portrait of the war and its impact on ordinary Americans. The interviews with veterans are particularly powerful, as they provide a firsthand account of the realities of combat and the sacrifices made by those who fought in the war.

Overall, The War: A Ken Burns Film from PBS is a moving and comprehensive documentary series that provides a powerful and poignant account of one of the most significant events in modern history. It is a must-see for anyone interested in history, World War II, or the experiences of the "Greatest Generation."

The War: A Ken Burns Film is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (7 episodes). The series first aired on September 23, 2007.

The War: A Ken Burns Film
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Seasons
A World Without War: March 1945 - September 1945
7. A World Without War: March 1945 - September 1945
October 2, 2007
A few weeks after the death of President Roosevelt shocks the country, Germany surrenders. Meanwhile, American sailors, soldiers and Marines endure the worst battle of the Pacific--Okinawa. In August, American planes drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Japanese, too, surrender. Millions return home--to try to learn how to live in a world without war.
The Ghost Front: December 1944 - March 1945
6. The Ghost Front: December 1944 - March 1945
October 1, 2007
Americans are shocked by Hitler's massive counterattack in the Ardennes Forest--but by mid March, 1945, they are across the Rhine, while the Russians are 50 miles from Berlin. In the Pacific, after weeks of desperate fighting, Iwo Jima is secured, and American bombers begin a full-fledged air assault on Japan.
FUBAR: September 1944 - December 1944
5. FUBAR: September 1944 - December 1944
September 30, 2007
Victory in Europe seems imminent, but in Holland, the Vosges Mountains, and the Hurtgen Forest, GIs learn painful lessons as old as war itself--that generals make plans, plans go wrong and soldiers die. Meanwhile, on the island of Peleliu, the Marines fight one of the most brutal, and unnecessary, battles of the Pacific.
Pride of Our Nation: June 1944 - August 1944
4. Pride of Our Nation: June 1944 - August 1944
September 26, 2007
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, 1.5 million Allied troops take part in the greatest invasion in history, but then bog down in the Norman hedgerows for weeks. Saipan proves the costliest Pacific battle to date, while back home dreaded telegrams from the War Department begin arriving at an inconceivable rate.
A Deadly Calling: November 1943 - June 1944
3. A Deadly Calling: November 1943 - June 1944
September 25, 2007
Americans are shocked by terrible losses on the Pacific atoll of Tarawa, while in Italy Allied forces are stalled for months at Monte Cassino and a risky landing at Anzio fails utterly. At home, as overcrowded "war towns" boom, economic transformation leads to confrontation and ugly racial violence.
When Things Get Tough: January 1943 - December 1943
2. When Things Get Tough: January 1943 - December 1943
September 24, 2007
Americans mobilize for total war at home and overseas. Factories hum around the clock, while in North Africa and then Italy, inexperienced GIs learn how to fight. Meanwhile, in the skies over Europe, thousands of American airmen gamble their lives against preposterous odds on daylight bombing missions.
A Necessary War: December 1941 - December 1942
1. A Necessary War: December 1941 - December 1942
September 23, 2007
The tranquil lives of the citizens of Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; Waterbury, Connecticut; and Luverne, Minnesota are shattered on December 7, 1941, as they, along with the rest of America, are thrust into the greatest cataclysm in history.
Description
Where to Watch The War: A Ken Burns Film
The War: A Ken Burns Film is available for streaming on the PBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The War: A Ken Burns Film on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    September 23, 2007
  • IMDB Rating
    9.0  (18,149)