Watch The Roosevelts: An Intimate History For Free

Why so much hype?

Memorable, crazy movie

Absolutely brilliant

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Ken Burns wants you to know the Roosevelts were really awesome. Noble hardworking, intelligent people who devoted their lives to public service. And yes, they were. But they also had some serious flaws, and the only way you'll know that after watching this documentary series is if you knew it before watching it.FDR gets more time than anyone else, and while the series spends endless amounts of time on political minutia and his love life, it spends about two minutes on the greatest stain of his presidency; the Japanese internment camps. When it is mentioned it's cheated by focusing on Eleanor's rather mild early objections to the program.I have read elsewhere that, like most white people of the time FDR told racist jokes and seemed put off by other peoples, such as Asians and Jews, but there's not a hint of that here. The approach to Teddy is similar, obsessed with stories of his strong will and good deeds, but TR was a decidedly problematic character and we see little of that.This doesn't mean there's not a lot of interesting information, nor that the series doesn't make it's narrative compelling, but simply that I don't trust that narrative. To me there's something problematic about spending hours on a World War II president without looking at American antisemitism and those times when America rejected refugees just as we are today. The world is a complex place full of complex people, and I don't see the point in turning politicians into Prince Charmings.As Ken Burns documentaries go, I didn't find this one as engaging as my favorites, like Jazz and The Dust Bowl, but overall it's worth watching, even if it loses momentum towards the end.

This is indeed my favorite documentary. It's an intimate look at the life of the best president ever Teddy Roosevelt, his niece Eleanor Roosevelt, and her husband Franklin Roosevelt. I am biased, you see, so I will admit that my favorite bits are about teddy, and his war hero sons. Although Eleanor's accomplishments are incredible and I'm more impressed with her than I am with her husband Frank.If you only see one documentary this year, make it this one. For I can only describe it with one word: BULLY!And remember, speak softly and carry a big stick!

Although folks adore Ken Burns' series on the Civil War and it will no doubt be his most famous series, to me this one on the Roosevelts is as good. It ostensibly covers from the birth of Teddy until the death of Eleanor, it in fact emphasizes Franklin Roosevelt foremost. So, although Teddy was born decades before them, starting in the first episode, the show kept bouncing back and forth between the lives of Teddy and Eleanor and Franklin on the other. This did short-change Teddy's portion of the film just a tad but even still, it really delves into them all in depth unlike any other biography on any of the Roosevelts.Like other Burns series, this one consists of the roving camera over photos, lots of interviews as well as important celebrity impersonations of the particulars. Especially good among these was Meryl Streep's voicing for Eleanor, as it really sounded like her. In addition to all this, the show features quite a bit in the way of film footage and overall, they all create a gorgeous and loving look at these famous folks. Well worth seeing and exhaustive--clocking in at about 12 hours!

Government, backed by masses of people organised to craft a government that works more for ordinary people than it does for hyper-rich elites, can help to engender a more benign and inclusive society, worth living in by ordinary people...Franklin Delano Roosevelt had been in office nearly four years and was up for re-election when he made a speech in New York's Madison Square Garden on 31 October 1936. Here is an excerpt: "We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace-- business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob. Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred."