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: 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: 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: 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: Good documentary of an American dictator
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: Worth seeing!!!
Review: Another unbiased look at our american past by Ken Burns. Very well done.

Rating:
Summary: First rate documentary on the great populist demagogue
Review: I attended a convention in the city of New Orleans once where I saw two memorable things. First, was a bus named Desire (the streetcars no longer run). Second, was a political commercial in which one candidate suggested people should not vote for his opponent for sheriff because the man was a convicted felon. My immediate thought was how in the name of perdition does a convicted felon get to run for public office? Then I remembered that I was in Louisiana and that the legacy of Huey Long is alive and well.

"Huey Long: A Film by Ken Burns" provides just what you would expect from America's premier documentarian: extensive archival footage mixed with recollections from Louisianans who knew Long and commentary from celebrated talking heads such as historian Arthur M. Schlessigner, Jr., journalist I. F. Stone, and, of course, author Robert Penn Warren, whose novel "All the King's Men" was a fictional retelling of the rise and fall of Huey P. Long. The balance between Long's supporters and opponents, between his own rhetoric and the verdict of history, and between his political accomplishments and his quest for an American dictatorship, is quite impressive. As a viewer you understand why the man was so popular with his "Every Man a King" and "Share-the-Wealth" programs and also how dangerous he was as a political demagogue.

Huey Long's quest for the White House remains one of the great "what ifs" of American politics in the 20th century. My opinion has always been that Long could not have mounted a successful challenge to FDR in the 1936 election. The techniques of bribery, intimidation, and coercion that Long used so effectively in his home state to be both Governor and U.S. Senator at the same time, would not have worked outside the borders of Louisiana (although I have little doubt he would have tried). Long would also have to contend with Roosevelt's own formidable charisma as well as the machinery of the Democratic Party and the enmity of every other Democratic politician in the rest of the country. However, this point is certainly debatable and one of the reasons Long remains such an intriguing figure, especially when you are considering the American variant of fascism from the first half of the 20th century.

This 88-minute documentary is nominated by David McCullogh, and there is a point where "Ashokan Farewell" pops up and you have to remind yourself that this documentary on "Huey Long" came out before "The Civil War" made Ken Burns a household name. This is a first rate documentary that provides a fairly objective portrait of a complex and controversial man, as well as the era in which he lived and the power politics that made Long a legend.

Rating:
Summary: First rate documentary on the great populist demagogue
Review: I attended a convention in the city of New Orleans once where I saw two memorable things. First, was a bus named Desire (the streetcars no longer run). Second, was a political commercial in which one candidate suggested people should not vote for his opponent for sheriff because the man was a convicted felon. My immediate thought was how in the name of perdition does a convicted felon get to run for public office? Then I remembered that I was in Louisiana and that the legacy of Huey Long is alive and well.

"Huey Long: A Film by Ken Burns" provides just what you would expect from America's premier documentarian: extensive archival footage mixed with recollections from Louisianans who knew Long and commentary from celebrated talking heads such as historian Arthur M. Schlessigner, Jr., journalist I. F. Stone, and, of course, author Robert Penn Warren, whose novel "All the King's Men" was a fictional retelling of the rise and fall of Huey P. Long. The balance between Long's supporters and opponents, between his own rhetoric and the verdict of history, and between his political accomplishments and his quest for an American dictatorship, is quite impressive. As a viewer you understand why the man was so popular with his "Every Man a King" and "Share-the-Wealth" programs and also how dangerous he was as a political demagogue.

Huey Long's quest for the White House remains one of the great "what ifs" of American politics in the 20th century. My opinion has always been that Long could not have mounted a successful challenge to FDR in the 1936 election. The techniques of bribery, intimidation, and coercion that Long used so effectively in his home state to be both Governor and U.S. Senator at the same time, would not have worked outside the borders of Louisiana (although I have little doubt he would have tried). Long would also have to contend with Roosevelt's own formidable charisma as well as the machinery of the Democratic Party and the enmity of every other Democratic politician in the rest of the country. However, this point is certainly debatable and one of the reasons Long remains such an intriguing figure, especially when you are considering the American variant of fascism from the first half of the 20th century.

This 88-minute documentary is nominated by David McCullogh, and there is a point where "Ashokan Farewell" pops up and you have to remind yourself that this documentary on "Huey Long" came out before "The Civil War" made Ken Burns a household name. This is a first rate documentary that provides a fairly objective portrait of a complex and controversial man, as well as the era in which he lived and the power politics that made Long a legend.

Rating:
Summary: Nearly Perfect
Review: I saw this wonderful documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1986, so I was prepared when "The Civil War" appeared on PBS. I was already stoked by this splendid film. Anyone who uses Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927" on the soundtrack in on the right track. Getting Robert Penn Warren before he died to talk about Long on film was also a stroke of genius. This is a must-purchase for history buffs or anyone else who loves good filmmaking.