A three-disc set of specials that originally appeared on the History Channel, this collection focuses on 10 pivotal moments in American history—although not the ones you might expect. 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America doesn't cover the signing of the Declaration of Independence, or Lincoln's delivery of the Gettysburg Address, or JFK's assassination. Instead, the series revisits events that, while perhaps not as immediately dramatic, would end up having lasting effects on American life and perceptions. Among other topics, the episodes cover Shays' Rebellion—the post-Revolutionary War uprising that unintentionally gave rise to the Constitutional Convention and the drafting of a Bill of Rights; the 1848 California Gold Rush and subsequent gold fever that gripped the nation; the 1925 Scopes “Monkey Trial,” which pitted science against religion in a battle that's still being waged today; and Elvis's culture-shaking appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. Although these programs feature the virtues and faults common to many History Channel productions—an abundance of stock footage, the constant repetition of images, and a reliance on scholarly “talking heads”—the collection as a whole (directed by such notable documentarians as Joe Berlinger, Kate Davis, Barak Goodman, Rory Kennedy, and Bruce Sinofsky) serves up a compelling look at important turning points in American history. DVD extras include a half-hour “behind the scenes” documentary. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Hulse)
10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America
(2006) 3 discs. 460 min. DVD: $39.95. The History Channel (dist. by A&E Home Video). PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 0-7670-8930-8. Volume 21, Issue 5
10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America
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