Product Description

Even the most hard-hearted will get misty eyes when the elderly Irish immigrant tells of his first view of Ellis Island and the "golden lady" in New York Harbor. People were weeping with joy he recalls still tearing up and he couldn't help but fall down in prayer. To newcomers in the early 1900s the United States was a land of hopes and dreams and Ellis Island was the gateway offering new soil for their first step. This film--produced for and first broadcast on the History Channel--documents in full detail the life of the way station. What started out as a modest outpost became a monumental processing center where during its 62-year history nearly 12 million people were poked prodded tested and graded to see if they were fit for citizenship. Those with mental or physical illnesses were marked with chalk X's and sometimes shipped home. Rich with personal accounts and rare footage and photos Ellis Island is a fitting tribute to the island and the era. It takes special care to document the shameful anti-immigrant sentiment that led to quotas and eventually the island's ruin and closure in 1954. Never again would new Americans be fed donuts and milk in the waiting room. --Jennifer VogelSystem Requirements:Copyright 2003 A&E Home Video.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 733961704297 Manufacturer No: AAE-70429

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21597 in DVD
• Brand: A&E HOME ENT.
• Released on: 2003-02-25
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 150 minutes

Features

• Even the most hard-hearted will get misty eyes when the elderly Irish immigrant tells of his first view of Ellis Island and the "golden lady" in New York Harbor. People were weeping with joy, he recalls, still tearing up, and he couldn't help but fall down in prayer. To newcomers in the early 1900s, the United States was a land of hopes and dreams, and Ellis Island was the gateway, offering ne

Amazon.com
Even the most hard-hearted will get misty eyes when the elderly Irish immigrant tells of his first view of Ellis Island and the "golden lady" in New York Harbor. People were weeping with joy, he recalls, still tearing up, and he couldn't help but fall down in prayer. To newcomers in the early 1900s, the United States was a land of hopes and dreams, and Ellis Island was the gateway, offering new soil for their first step. This film--produced for and first broadcast on the History Channel--documents in full detail the life of the way station. What started out as a modest outpost became a monumental processing center where, during its 62-year history, nearly 12 million people were poked, prodded, tested, and graded to see if they were fit for citizenship. Those with mental or physical illnesses were marked with chalk X's and sometimes shipped home. Rich with personal accounts and rare footage and photos, Ellis Island is a fitting tribute to the island and the era. It takes special care to document the shameful anti-immigrant sentiment that led to quotas and, eventually, the island's ruin and closure in 1954. Never again would new Americans be fed donuts and milk in the waiting room. --Jennifer Vogel

Customer Reviews

Watch it and weep...
"My father hugged my mother and told her, 'you don't need to be afraid ever again. We're in America now.'"

That was one of the MANY personal narratives included in this FANTASTIC documentary that brought tears to my eyes. The stories of how immigrants reacted when they first came to this country and saw "Lady Liberty" is very well told and will leave you with a new appreciation of the great blessing of being born in this free and prosperous land.

I've watched this four-volume documentary two times and will probably watch it a third time. The stories are all so inspiring and so amazing and so emotional! Prior to viewing this, I did not have an understanding of what price our grandparents and great grandparents paid to get to this country.

I can't recommend this video highly enough. My daughter watched it in school and she loved it, too.

Of all the documentaries I've watched, I'd give this a 5 stars PLUS. I'd say it's one of the best I've ever seen. It will leave you changed. I can't even look at a flag now, without thinking about those precious, faith-filled immigrants and getting a tear in my eye. "Ellis Island" is *that* kind of video.

Adapted from a TV series, professional
So far I have only seen the first hour. Used this to show to my genealogy class to give some idea of what it was like for their ancestors. This is worth viewing and keeping in your home.

Educational, but dragging
An adult might like it, but you can get the same info reading online articles about emigrees and Ellis Island.
It jumps around from person to person, and shows the Ellis Island building about 100 times.
It is not entertaining for middle school or high school students at all. It has a lulling to sleep quality.
It repeats info too much, and is too slow in moving forward.