Huey Long

Rating:
Summary: Life of an American dictator
Review: Although forgotten or largely discounted today as a political aberration, Huey Long came closer to becoming a total dictator than any other American. This film by Ken Burns brings the power and presence of Long into its proper context of a poor and desperate state in the throes of a crippling depression. Burns illustrates this documentary with excellent interviews with Long's contemporaries, constituents, friends and opponents. There is also revealing footage of Long himself that reflects his intended image of a "countrified buffoon," which caused his enemies to underestimate him. This doucmentary brings Long back to life as a veritable dictator who might have won the presidency if not for his assassination.

The film's main strength lies in its balanced approach to this controversial figure. Although Burns interviewed many of Long's enemies, he also sought the opinion of the average Louisiana citizen who benefited from Long's provision of free school books and hospital care. These people were Long's source of strength of power who still regard him as a great man and never cared how Long managed to give them these things. Again, Burns balances the man who provided relief to a struggling people, and the dictator who compromised decomcracy in order to provide that relief. This is an excellent documentary.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent documentary of a would be American Tyrant
Review: Although forgotten or largely discounted today, Huey Long came closer to becoming a total dictator than any other American. This film by Ken Burns brings the power and presence of Long into its proper context of a poor and desperate state in the throes of a crippling depression. Burns illustrates this documentary with excellent interviews with Long's contemporaries, constituents, friends and opponents. There is also revealing footage of Long himself that reflects his intended image of a "countrified buffoon," which caused his enemies to underestimate him. This doucmentary brings Long back to life as a veritable dictator who might have won the presidency if not for his assassination.

The film's main strength lies in its balanced approach to this controversial figure. Although Burns interviewed many of Long's enemies, he also sought the opinion of the average Louisiana citizen who benefited from Long's provision of free school books and hospital care. These people were Long's source of strength of power who still regard him as a great man and never cared how Long managed to give them these things. Again, Burns balances the man who provided relief to a struggling people, and the dictator who compromised decomcracy in order to provide that relief. This is an excellent documentary.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating story, powerfully told.
Review: Although forgotten or largely discounted today, Huey Long came closer to becoming a total dictator than any other American. This film by Ken Burns brings the power and presence of Long into to its proper context of a poor and desperate state in the throes of a crippling despression. Burns illustrates this documentary with excellent interviews with Long's contemporaries, constituents, friends and opponents. There is also revealing footage of Long himself that reflects his intended image of a "countrified buffoon," which caused his enemies to fatally underestimate him. This documentary brings Long back to life as a veritable dictator who might have won the presidency if not for his assasination.

The film's main strength lies in its balanced approach to this controverisal figure. Although Burns interviewed many of Long's enemies, he also sought the opinion of the average Lousiana citizen who benefited from Long's provision of free text books and hospital care. These people were Long's source of strength and power and regard him as a great man. Again, Burns balances the man who provided relief to a struggling people, and the dictator who compromised democracy in order to provide that relief. An excellent documentary.

Rating:
Summary: Old Huey was something else!
Review: My grandmother was born on the day Huey was elected governor and is in this video as the only woman named after Huey P. Long. This is indicative of the impression this man made on the Louisiana voter- a better propagandist you'd be hard pressed to find. Even without my bias towards the content, this is one of the finest documentaries I have seen, as one would expect from Ken Burns.