Product Description

As one of the nation's most recognizable faces, he appears in every American history textbook and graces the dollar bill. Yet although he acts as the iconic figurehead of America, little is known about the man behind the myth. Before George Washington became America's first president and an enduring national symbol, he was a soldier. In this landmark release, THE HISTORY CHANNEL® presents an intimate chronicle of Washington's little-known military life. Follow him from his first officer's commission in the Virginia militia through the difficult lessons of his youth and his 17-year retirement. Witness his reemergence as the soul of the American Revolution and see how he transformed a ragtag band of men into an army that could battle--and beat--the greatest military in the world. Featuring stunning location footage, gripping re-enactments, and candid interviews with historical and military experts, WASHINGTON THE WARRIOR narrates one man's epic journey to greatness--and the birth of a nation. DVD Features: Behind-the-Scenes "History in the Making"; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29871 in DVD
• Brand: A&E HOME ENT.
• Released on: 2006-08-29
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 92 minutes

Features

• The History Channel takes a look as George Washington's pre-presidential career as a soldier on this fascinating program. Exploring a part of Washington's life that is rarely covered, WASHINGTON THE WARRIOR is full of exciting reenactments and wise words from historians. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES Rating: NR Age: 733961760187 UPC: 733961760187 M

Amazon.com
He was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," and Washington the Warrior puts the emphasis on the beginning of that equation. The military career of George Washington is the well-chosen focus of this History Channel documentary, which will probably surprise the casual history buff. It gives the fascinating story of Washington's youthful ride into the Ohio territory to deliver a message to the French, a defining moment (and one that made Washington a celebrity after his diary of the journey was published). The film strongly suggests that the young Washington was in over his head in the early battles that followed, and that his career might well have ended after he led a British debacle at Fort Necessity, a stumble at the start of the French and Indian War. Glossing lightly over GW's years as a gentleman farmer, the doc picks up again with Washington's takeover of the Revolutionary army (he showed up at the Second Continental Congress dressed in his military uniform, leaving little question about his intentions) and the tenacious years that followed. The approach here is basically an illustrated lecture, with Stacy Keach intoning the story of Washington, and experts (mostly sounding enthralled with Washington's life) providing context. Meanwhile, armies of reenactors march through their paces in pretend battles. Jackson Bolt plays the mature Washington, with Shea Patrick as the younger version--and how refreshing to see the carved-in-marble George Washington as a guy in his twenties. CGI effects are a big boost here, and the location work is often flavorful. The re-creations have the flat, unconvincing quality of many such things--nobody ever gets their uniforms dirty--but the life being described is an important one, and the approach is foursquare. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

I'd die for this man.
That is pretty much the sentiment of many of the soldiers serving under General Washington during the Revolutionary War.
Rightly so. In fact, so much of what we are today we owe to him. He set the stage for so much that followed.
This fine documentary traces the education & evolution of Washington that he obtained from his many years in the military. That career started before the French-Indian Wars. His first experienced success in pre-war diplomatic missions into the Ohio territories claimed by both the French & the British. I got the impression that he was at least, in part responsible for those hostilities commencing in the first place. He suffered embarassing losses to the French in his first command in the 1750's & some sucesses as an aide to British General Edward Braddock. General Braddock was killed in battle leaving Washington again in command of troops. This was essential to his growth as a leader. He was very brave, somtimes foolishly so. He was a colonial officer & all he wanted to be was an officer in the regular British army with his own command. But that was not going to happened. He was formally polite, reserved & self taught to behave as the gentry of the day acted. But he was loved by his men, most of them of low birth & farmers. He could inspire men to great things. If he did not win the revolution, it is important to realize that he did not lose it.
He was also the template for other generals who followed his example into the presidency. Two generals, Grant & Eisenhower were more sucessful as generals than they later were as president. Few men in history have been able to resist absolute power when it was available to them. Washington didn't even have to fight for it. To be king was there for him if he so desired. He truly loved liberty & justice over power.
This is a fine addition to the library of any school's history
dept. & has been shown recently on the History Channel. It is a bit narrow in scope but, it has the advantage right now of being the newest dvd on The Father of Our Country.

Interesting Look at Washington
Relatively well made film, the computer generated graphics that created larger number of soldiers on the battlefield and some of the other scenes was some of the best I have seen. Washington's portayer did a very good job even though he spoke VERY little during the entire film. My only issue with this was the filming in Lithuania and nothing against Lithuanians but while watching the story something just did not appear "right".

Very informative and energetic, can help attract even greater attention to one of the great people in American History.

GREAT PRODUCTION
This was a very unique view of a man I have only seen on money and paintings. School and college do not do this man justice. However, in this program you really get a better idea of the man and how antimated he was with his men and in stressful situations.