Heroes of World War II

Walter Cronkite serves as the characteristically skillful host for Heroes of World War II, a double-disc set featuring four complete programs--"The Attack on Pearl Harbor," "The Battle for the Pacific," "The War in Europe," and "The Air War"--along with a bonus hour of rare archival war newsreels. As the title implies, the focus is on the soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen who fought the battles, featuring interviews with veterans and generally emphasizing the personal side of the war rather than offering detailed analyses of the campaigns themselves. Although much of the stock footage seen here has been previously presented on various VHS programs, the DVD offers a crisper, clearer look at what's been called "the last good war" while the price makes this comprehensive overview affordable to public and college libraries of all sizes. Definitely recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Carlson)