Rating: 
Summary: Marvelous -- with or without the book!
Review: After reading Hillenbrand's captivating book last year, I was really looking forward to this PBS special, and it did not disappoint. Lots of footage of Seabiscuit, on and off the track, and he's even more captivating on screen than I expected (and I'm someone who generally prefers the written image to the visual one). The producers do an excellent job of setting the larger historical context, and of weaving in interviews with a wide variety of people, including Hillenbrand and Red Pollard's daughter, whose comments were very poignant. The biggest compliment I can give this show is that it will appeal to both those who have and have not read the book. For the latter, it covers not only the highlights of Seabiscuit's career, but also his low points, and the heartbreak of Pollard's life, and the hardship of a typical jockey's life, as well. It covers much ground in only an hour without seeming rushed or crowded. The producers did well in selecting material. For those who have read the book, I found the story just as fresh and exciting the second time around. It's a wonderful compliment to the book, and made me want to go back and reread it. The closeup footage of actual races is mesmerizing, more dramatic than any artificial special effects in Hollywood movies. I understand that a movie version is coming out soon, but I can't imagine it equalling, much less surpassing, this documentary. In this case, I'm betting that Plato's injunction against deception of art will prove true: the real thing is better than an imitation. The only thing better than this documentary would be a ride on the Great Horse himself.
Rating:
Summary: Poetry in Motion
Review: Combining a great collection of still photos with stirring video, this PBS special tells Seabiscuit's story in splendid fashion. The video footage includes three Santa Anita Handicap races and the famous match race with War Admiral in 1938. Watching both horses come around the final turn and entering the home stretch, I still got "the chills," even though I already knew the outcome!The show also explains the popularity of horse racing in 1930s America, as well as the hardships people faced during the Depression. The tough life of a professional jockey is also covered (e.g., having to "cut weight" to 110 pounds)! Interviews with Laura Hillenbrand (author of 2001's "Seabisuit"), Red Pollard's daughter, and others familiar with the story round out the program. This is an excellent companion to Hillenbrand's 2001 book. Five stars!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Footage
Review: Helpful documentary for understanding film and book. Of the stuff country made of, comeback heroes: Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Owner, Country
The Viewer, Reader is also winner with this one excellent edited with great film clips interspersed with commentary from jockey's sister, fellow jockeys, sportscasters, etc. and by author of book on the same.
Sountrack is good and rich also.
Nice addition to all of us "Biscuit fans!
Rating:
Summary: Documentary of "Comeback Heroes"
Review: Helpful documentary for understanding film and book. Of the stuff country made of, comeback heroes: Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Owner, Country
The Viewer, Reader is also winner with this one excellent edited with great film clips interspersed with commentary from jockey's sister, fellow jockeys, sportscasters, etc. and by author of book on the same.
Sountrack is good and rich also.
Nice addition to all of us "Biscuit fans!
Rating:
Summary: The movie was good, the documentary is better
Review: Here is a an excellent example of the supposedly "dry bones" of history actually being more compelling than a dressed-up Hollywood dramatization. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the movie, but not only is the documentary more informative, but also is more fun to watch much of the time. In particular, the complete footage of the race against War Admiral is infinitely superior to the race as rendered in the movie; having seen the documentary first, I was a little disappointed with the presentation of the race in the movie. Definitely, this is one of the more entertaining "American Experience" documentaries to be produced in recent years & is very much worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: The movie was good, the documentary is better
Review: Here is a an excellent example of the supposedly "dry bones" of history actually being more compelling than a dressed-up Hollywood dramatization. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the movie, but not only is the documentary more informative, but also is more fun to watch much of the time. In particular, the complete footage of the race against War Admiral is infinitely superior to the race as rendered in the movie; having seen the documentary first, I was a little disappointed with the presentation of the race in the movie. Definitely, this is one of the more entertaining "American Experience" documentaries to be produced in recent years & is very much worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific story, beautifully made
Review: I am not a horse racing fan and know next to nothing about the sport. But I found myself watching this incredible story and was transfixed by it. Not only in this documentary gorgeously photographed, the narration, interviews and background material are all first-rate. It tells the story of the magnificent Seabiscuit, a horse deemed "ugly," too small and too insignificant to make the slightest impact on the track. The documentary beautifully weaves in the hindered jockey, Red Pollard, who had broken his leg three times and was considered a "cripple," in the jargon of the 30's. But Pollard and the Biscuit fuse together and beat War Admiral, the most fabled horse of the era. You get to see actual footage of Seabiscuit pulling away and trouncing the noble War Admiral. I found myself jumping up and down, screaming, "Go, Biscuit!" Yup, this film is that mesmerizing. The rags-to-riches story and the ending, in particular, will leave you spellbound. This is a magnificent story, the only criticism is that it's too short at only 60 minutes.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful companion to the Hollywood movie
Review: I first saw the Jeff Bridges/Tobey Maguire film about Seabiscuit, and became interested enough to read the book, which was terrific and finally to see this PBS documentary, which I now consider an essential companion piece for those who enjoyed either/both of those other stories about the longshot horse who, with a motley contingent of owner, trainer and jockeys, became a champion and an inspiration to a nation held in the grip of depression. This one hour documentary is filled with magnificent old photos and fabulous film of Seabiscuit as he races and even when he first comes to the Howard barn. Commentary by Pollard's daughter and others is terrific, and DVD extras include a 5-minute interview with documentary director Stephen Ives and a photo gallery of ten champion horses.
Rating:
Summary: Great gift...
Review: I got this as a gift for my father. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoyed the movie and would like to learn and see more.
Rating:
Summary: Documentary WINS!!
Review: I imagine that the PBS documentary was timed to coincide with the release of the feature film. It was a stroke of genius!! I was channel-surfing and ended up viewing the documentary until the wee hours of the morning, i.e., 2 a.m., because it was so captivating and engrossing that I couldn't turn the television off. After seeing the documentary, I couldn't wait to see the movie. I was the first one in line to purchase my ticket for the first showing of the movie in my hometown. I must admit that the film was poignant and well-made, which is a feat in and of itself in these salacious and superficial times. However, with all of its cinematography, music and screenplay, the documentary wins hands down! Every family, young and old, should get this documentary about triumph over adversity. It is a true American classic and it just happens to be about a horse (go figure). The story truly defines character.
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