Jim's Favorite Documentaries
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- StarsHenry Louis Gates Jr.Malik KadduKazeem Tosin AmoreProfessor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. takes a fresh look at the history of Africa, from the birth of humankind to the dawn of the 20th century.
- StarsNeil deGrasse TysonChristopher EmersonKeythe FarleyAn exploration of our discovery of the laws of nature and coordinates in space and time.
- CreatorAnn DruyanCarl SaganSteven SoterStarsCarl SaganJaromír HanzlíkJonathan FahnAstronomer Carl Sagan leads us on an engaging guided tour of the various elements and cosmological theories of the universe.
- CreatorGeorge PageThomas LovejoyStarsF. Murray AbrahamGeorge PageChris MorganDocumentary series exploring various global wildlife issues and subjects.
- CreatorDon HewittStarsAndrew RooneyLesley StahlSteve KroftThe classic long-running prime time TV investigative news magazine.
- CreatorDaniel HartAlan KwanTacita MorwayStarsJay O. SandersCraig SechlerStacy KeachScience documentaries about various topics.
- StarsMark Lee GardnerBert Thomas MorrisDavid H. StevensA large-scale review of the American frontier stories.
- In January 1969, The Beatles set out to write and record new songs for their first live show in more than two years, culminating in an impromptu concert atop their Savile Row studio.
- StarsSteve IrwinTerri IrwinWes MannionSteve and wife Terri educate and entertain on the subject of Australia's all too often dangerous wildlife.
- StarsBear GryllsChris KrattWill FerrellBear Grylls travels the world in search of challenges to his survival skills.
- DirectorMichael WadleighStarsJoan BaezRichie HavensRoger DaltreyOscar-winning musical chronicle that brilliantly captures the three-day rock concert and celebration of peace and love that became a capstone for the Sixties.
- StarsNeil deGrasse TysonSeth MacFarlaneSasha Sagan"Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" returns for a second season. Ann Druyan, original creative collaborator to Carl Sagan, serves as executive producer.
- StarsNeil deGrasse TysonBill NyeChuck NiceFamed astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses science and pop culture with notable guests.
- StarsDavid McCulloughSam WaterstonJulie HarrisA comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.
- StarsDaniel OkrentGeorge F. WillJohn ChancellorA documentary on the history of the sport with major topics including Afro-American players, player/team owner relations and the resilience of the game.
- StarsPeter CoyoteDaniel MendelsohnPeter HayesExplores America's response to the Holocaust, and how it challenged the ideals of democracy.
- StarsPeter CoyoteMandy PatinkinJosh LucasExploring the life and work of writer and publisher, scientist and inventor, diplomat and signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution: Benjamin Franklin.
- StarsGerald EarlyTodd BoydSalim MuwakkilAn in-depth look at the life of boxer, Muhammad Ali, including his years as an activist and philanthropist.
- CreatorDon MeierStarsMarlin PerkinsJim FowlerJoe SlatteryHost Marlin Perkins explores various animals in their natural habitats.
- StarsPeter CoyoteWilliam CrononDayton DuncanThe history of the U.S. National Parks system, including the initial ideas which led to the world's first national parks and the expansion of the system over 150 years.
- StarsKeith DavidKatharine PhillipsTom HanksA seven-part series focusing on the many ways in which the Second World War impacted the lives of American families.
- StarsGwyneth PaltrowSam WaterstonMichael PottsA biographical film about The United States' influential and profoundly enigmatic Founding Father.
- StarsPeter CoyoteMarty StuartVince GillThe story of the creation of modern Country music.
- StarsKeith DavidJamie FoxxDocumentary chronicles the personal and professional life of Jackie Robinson from his birth in 1919 to his death in 1972. Robinson's rise from humble beginnings to became an American hero and pivotal figure in American history are detailed.
- StarsPeter CoyoteGeorge F. WillGeoffrey C. WardA documentary that weaves together the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of one of the most prominent and influential families in American politics.
- StarsDorothy Christenson WiliamsonDonald WorsterTimothy EganA documentary about the 1930s drought of North American prairie farm land, and its consequences during the great depression.
- StarsPaul GiamattiLaura LinneyJohn DossettThe life of one of the USA's Founding Fathers, its second President, and his role in the nation's first 50 years.
- StarsKevin CostnerBill PaxtonMatt BarrDramatization of the bitter blood feud between the two families on the West Virginia/Kentucky border in the years after the Civil War.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughTravel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughCong LiuFreek VonkDive into a world where a single life can last a thousand years, with David Attenborough. See things no eye has ever seen, and discover the dramatic, beautiful plant life of Earth.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughJoerg WiedenmannExploring the many ways animals use colour throughout their lives.
- StarsPaul McGannGreta ThunbergSvante ThunbergThe 17-year-old's environmental campaigning and her journey into adulthood.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughPeter DrostGoetz BielefeldtMillions of years ago incredible forces ripped apart the Earth's crust creating our seven continents - each with its own distinct climate, its own distinct terrain and its own unique animal life. From the colourful paradise of South America to the scorching heat of Africa, Seven Worlds: One Planet showcases the true character of each continent in turn and reveals just how it has shaped all life there. Be surprised by unexpected stories. Marvel at iconic landscapes. And be awestruck by spectacular wildlife. Seven Worlds: One Planet is an eye-opening journey around a world you thought you knew.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughExplores and unravels the mystery of how and why animals migrate, showing some of the most dramatic and compelling stories in the natural world through spectacular and innovative cinematography.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughRolf SteinmannEmma NapperDavid Attenbourough narrates on the greatest of all adventures - the journey through life.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughDavid Attenborough embarks on a remarkable 500 million-year journey revealing the extraordinary group of animals that dominate our world, and how their evolution defines our human bodies.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughSimon BlakeneyBill RudolphAfrica, the world's wildest continent. David Attenborough takes us on an awe-inspiring journey through one of the most diverse places in the world. We visit deserts, savannas, and jungles and meet up with some of Africa's amazing wildlife.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughAnthony GeffenMartin WilliamsFilmed in one of the most extreme and hard-to-reach locations in the world, 'Galapagos' explores the unique environments and species of the Galapagos. It will take viewers on a voyage to understand the stunning archipelago which changed the way we see the world and has long-remained a place of true interest with the nation's favourite naturalist.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughOver three very personal films, Sir David Attenborough looks back at the unparalleled changes in natural history that he has witnessed during his 60-year career.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughEach chapter is named after an iconic species (Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, Asian lion) of India's remaining wildlife. However each also draws a more general picture of a type of biotope in another corner of the Indian subcontinent (jungle, Himalayas, desert). Interaction involves fauna, flora and human population.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughAlec BaldwinChadden HunterFocuses on life and the environment in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughGavin ThurstonTim FoggOver 80% of Madagascar's animals and plants are found nowhere else on Earth. Discover what made Madagascar so different from the rest of the world, and how evolution ran wild there.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughJustin MarshallJean-Bernard CaronDavid Attenborough goes back in time to investigate the origins of life.
- StarsJim Al-KhaliliRichard DawkinsJames DysonCharismatic men of action and reclusive eccentrics. Eureka moments and serendipitous strokes of luck. Discoveries born of crisis and insatiable curiosity. The history of scientific progress in Britain offers an astonishing breadth of personalties and has had an awe-inspiring effect on world progress. Each episode in this five-part series brings an era of scientific thought to vivid life, with modern-day geniuses examining the legacies of their heroes. Stephen Hawking takes on Isaac Newton, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins discusses Alan Turing, acclaimed naturalist David Attenborough profiles Joseph Banks, and many more. Also in the mix: industrial designer James Dyson, Nobel-prize winning geneticist Paul Nurse, and others. Along the way, learn intriguing facts about famous scientists and discover unheralded people whose revelations have changed the way we live today, paving the path for everything from the steam engine to current thinking about the atom and evolution.
- StarsOprah WinfreyDavid AttenboroughDoug AllanDavid Attenborough's legendary BBC crew explains and shows wildlife all over planet earth. From giving an overview of the challenges facing life to hunting the deep sea and various major evolutionary groups of creatures.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughJoe StevensShane MooreThis exploration of the planet's most breathtaking natural events follows vast migrations, huge ocean convergences, powerful weather systems and mighty floods.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughDavid Attenborough explores Charles Darwin's controversial theory of evolution by natural selection.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughDavid Attenborough narrates the lives of four growing tiger cubs using footage collected by hidden-camera-carrying elephants. Over two years, the elephants help capture the most intimate portrayal of tigers ever filmed.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughA nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough, that looks at the evolution and habits of amphibians and reptiles.
- StarsSigourney WeaverDavid AttenboroughNikolay DrozdovA documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenborough.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughLakshmiJeff TurnerOccasional series of one-off documentaries, each examining the lifestyle of a particular animal.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughDavid Attenborough's comprehensive study of how a remarkable group of animals evolved - a group that includes ourselves.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughPierce BrosnanPeter ScoonesMammoth series, five years in the making, taking a look at the rich tapestry of life in the world's oceans.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughDavid Attenborough's comprehensive and richly detailed study of birds, examining the variety of different species and their ways of life.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughLester WundermanPolly SargentFascinating series of documentaries about tribes and the artefacts that they create as part of their beliefs. In seven parts: "Behind the Mask" documents the crafting of traditional West-African Dogon tribal headgear and later shows how it is used in dance ritual. "The Crooked Beak of Heaven" looks at the construction of totem poles and their place in the local American Indian culture. "The Sweat of the Sun" examines the architecture and golden artwork of the Aztecs and Incas. "The Kingdom of Bronze" returns to West-Africa to study traditional methods of manufacturing sculpture in Benin."Woven Gardens" travels to Persia to film the nomadic carpet-weaving tribes and explore meanings embedded within traditional rugs."The Man Blong Custom" looks at how of beliefs and customs of the indigenous people of the Solomon Islands have changed due to the outside influence of colonialism. "Across The Frontiers" includes snippets from the previous documentaries already mentioned including additional footage of the Dogon. As well as exploring several other tribes and their artwork including traditional Inuit walrus-tusk tools. Attenborough concludes by looking at the commercialisation of tribal art. Interviewing collectors and exploring how tribal sculpture has changed.
- StarsJohn MohawkJoy HarvoA three-part American television documentary miniseries that explores the history of Native American cultures, with each hour of the series devoted to a particular region of the United States.
- StarsRobbie RobertsonJoy HarjoYan GarciaAt the intersection of modern scholarship and Native knowledge is a new vision of the Americas and the people who built it.
- StarsKenneth BranaghStockard ChanningLarry AgenbroadUsing the latest digital technology, the era between the dinosaurs and man is superbly recreated by the BBC and Discovery Channel in another winning production from the coalition.
- StarsNikolay DrozdovKenneth BranaghAvery BrooksDocumentary-style series about the era of the dinosaurs, mixing real locations and CGI.
- StarsRobert WinstonAlec BaldwinAndrew SachsThe great follow-up to 'Walking with Dinosaurs' and 'Walking with Beasts', presented by Professor Robert Winston, explains the story of human evolution.
- StarsJohn HurtBased on the latest paleontological discoveries from all continents, veteran actor John Hurt narrates the gory, bleak stories of the brutal relationship between the ancient apex predators and their gigantic herbivorous prey.
- StarsRod ArthurSuzanne McNabbNigel MarvenNigel Marven travels back in time to rescue exotic creatures on the brink of extinction. CGI is used to create animals no longer seen on earth, from woolly mammoths, and T Rex, to dinosaur-eating crocodiles.
- StarsPaul McCartneyGeorge HarrisonRingo StarrAn autobiographical documentary of the greatest of the rock bands.
- StarsBrian CoxCarolyn PorcoRichard HooverIn this spellbinding series Professor Brian Cox visits the most extreme locations on Earth to explain how the laws of physics carved natural wonders across the solar system.
- StarsBrian CoxSteven MackintoshProfessor Brian Cox visits some of the most dramatic parts of the globe to explain the fundamental principles that govern the laws of nature - light, gravity, energy, matter and time. With the world's most profound science at its heart, Wonders Of The Universe reveals how the story of humanity is intimately entwined with that of the complex story of the origins of the universe.
- StarsBrian CoxPhysicist and professor Brian Cox travels across the globe to uncover the secrets of the most extraordinary phenomenon in the universe: life.
- StarsBrian CoxPaul NurseSimon Baron-CohenBrian Cox discusses British scientists and their contributions to our modern world.
- StarsBrian CoxBill AndersCharles DukeBrian travels the globe to discuss these topics with examples from our planet and others in the universe.
- StarsNeil deGrasse TysonBrian CoxBrian GreeneProfessor Brian Cox on tour in Australia talks about the life of our universe to scientists and to space-loving audiences.
- StarsBrian CoxFran BagenalJohn GrotzingerWelcome to the greatest story that's never been told. In a new, ground breaking series we'll be telling the story of the planets as never before.
- StarsBrian CoxRobert MuellerBrian Cox tackles some of the most challenging and intriguing questions facing science today by using his best material from past programmes and the latest scientific research.
- StarsBrian CoxGibor BasriGrant TremblayProfessor Brian Cox journeys across the vastness of time and space revealing epic moments of sheer drama that changed the universe forever.
- DirectorMichael LachmannStarsBrian CoxCox will reveal how the mission could potentially transform our understanding of life not just on Mars but Earth as well.
- StarsGraham HancockSantha FaiiaJohn Anthony WestGraham Hancock is a bestselling author and journalist who specializes in ancient civilizations. He explores, amongst other things, the submerged Yonaguni monument off the coast of Japan, Easter Island, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the pyramids of Egypt and looks at astronomical alignments.
- StarsStephen RashbrookJoann FletcherZahi HawassThe civilisation of Ancient Egypt was the greatest the world has ever seen, continuing for 3000 years with one religion, one language and one evolving history.
- StarsKeith DavidPeter EganJohn ShrapnelEGYPT'S GOLDEN EMPIRE comes to life through letters and records evoking the passion and riches of a time when Egypt was the center of the known world, its Pharaohs called gods, and great cities, temples and tombs built.
- StarsZahi HawassNick SchatzkiFayçal AziziThe ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamun is one of the most famous leaders in history, yet even now, thousands of years after his reign, mystery still surrounds his life and death. These fascinating programmes follow leading Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass as he and his team attempt to uncover the truth behind one of the ancient world s best kept secrets.
- StarsAlastair SookeZahi HawassSalima IkramIn this 3 part series Alistair Sooke visits 30 great treasures of Egyptian art, some in Egypt either in situ or in the Cairo Museum, others in museums elsewhere.
- StarsRamy RomanyZahi HawassSalima IkramThe quest of Egyptologist, archaeologist and linguist and three-time Emmy Award winner, Ramy Romany, to unlock the fascinating secrets of mummies.
- DirectorFabrice HourlierStarsJérémy BraitbartLaurent SchillingThis historical drama takes us back to one of the great battles in naval history. It took place in 1805 during the great Napoleonic Wars and pitted the British Royal Navy against the combined fleets of Spain and France. In one of the most decisive engagements ever, the Royal Navy lost only one ship while sinking 22 French and Spanish warships. It put an end to Napoleon's plan to invade England.
- StarsDavid CostabileSiddhartha MukherjeeWendy ChungThe Gene: An Intimate History weaves together science, history & personal stories for a historical biography of the human genome, while also exploring breakthroughs for diagnosis & treatment of genetic diseases & the complex ethical questions they raise.
- DirectorKen BurnsSarah BurnsDavid McMahonStarsAntron McCrayKevin RichardsonKharey WiseA documentary that examines the 1989 case of five black and Latino teenagers who were convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park. After having spent between 6 and 13 years each in prison, a serial rapist confessed to the crime.
- StarsPeter CoyotePete HamillCatherine Gilbert MurdockThe story of the American activist struggle against the influence of alcohol, climaxing in the failed early 20th century nationwide era when it was banned.
- DirectorKen BurnsStarsJack JohnsonKeith DavidSamuel L. JacksonThe story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight boxing champion.
- DirectorKen BurnsStarsHal HolbrookAdam ArkinJohn Logan AllenThe story of the most important American exploration expedition in American history and the participants in it.
- StarsPeter CoyoteN. Scott MomadayMurphy GuyerStephen Ives' "The West" is a PBS 4-Video Series co-produced by Ken Burns: - "Death Runs Riot" 85 min. - "Fight No More Forever" 85 min. - "Ghost Dance" 58 min. - "The People" 82 min.
- DirectorKen BurnsStarsJason RobardsRed BarberErik BarnouwFor 50 years, radio dominated the airwaves as the first mass medium. Ken Burns examines the lives of three men who shared the responsibility for its invention and early success.
- StarsAbdur-Rahman MuhammadMuhammad A. AzizZak A. KondoActivist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad begins his own investigation into the perplexing details surrounding the assassination of civil rights leader Malcolm X.
- StarsAbdur-Rahman MuhammadMuhammad A. AzizZak A. KondoActivist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad begins his own investigation into the perplexing details surrounding the assassination of civil rights leader Malcolm X.
- StarsKristian BergNina JablonskiHenry Louis Gates Jr."Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings" follows 13 young people at a genetics and genealogy summer camp as they explore their family histories with techniques never before used in an educational setting.
- StarsOprah WinfreyNasCornel WestDocumentary with host Henry Louis Gates Jr. chronicles the triumphs, struggles and contradictions of the last fifty years in African American History.
- 20136 epsTV-PG8.7 (292)TV Mini SeriesStarsHenry Louis Gates Jr.Vincent BrownBernard E. Powers Jr.Professor Gates describes the history of the African American people by talking to historians, authors, and the people who made history.
- StarsHenry Louis Gates Jr.Zezé MottaMarial Iglesias YutsetIn a style similar to "Wonders of the African World", Skip Gates will travel to places in Latin America where Africa has touched the continent with lasting cultural results to explore what happens when African and Hispanic worlds meet.
- StarsMeryl StreepStephen ColbertMike NicholsOur American Stories exploring the dynamic and shifting relationship America had with her new immigrants in the 20th century. Becoming American - exploring the many journeys to becoming American that defined the "Century of Immigration" (1820s - 1924) and transformed the United States from a sleepy agrarian country into a booming industrial power. Making America - tells the story of the peopling of the New World, of how land came to define the settling and identity of America, and of how the guests' ancestors were part of this history. Know Thyself - takes up the search for the guests' ancestries where the historical record leaves off and links their distinctive family histories to the broader history of "the family of man."
- StarsHenry Louis Gates Jr.Whoopi GoldbergChris TuckerThis 4 part PBS series attempts to trace the roots of 8 guests using genealogy, oral history, family stories, and DNA analysis.
- DirectorDavis GuggenheimStarsAl GoreBilly WestGeorge BushFilmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows Al Gore on the lecture circuit, as the former presidential candidate campaigns to raise public awareness of the dangers of global warming and calls for immediate action to curb its destructive effects on the environment.