Hail to the Chief: 41 Presidential Portraits

How do you summarize the administrations of 41 American Presidents over 200 years of history? Very quickly and superficially, judging by this video. Citing the growth of presidential power as a major development in American history, the program reviews the significant accomplishments and trials of each Chief Executive, gauges their reactions to threats at home and abroad, and describes how they dealt with problems as varied as state's rights, slavery, and the spoils system. President Clinton is mentioned, but no evaluations are made, and any video which devotes equal time to Millard Fillmore and Abraham Lincoln seems fundamentally questionable. The documentary is obviously geared to secondary school audiences, but it's hard to believe that any student's attention will last after five or six of these presidential profiles. A lot of information is crammed into 100 minutes, but watching this relentless, chronological parade of presidents becomes a bit of an ordeal. Chalk this one up as a good subject doomed by a faulty concept. Not recommended. Aud: H. (S. Rees)