Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
I read a couple of reviews complaining about the sound on Victory at Sea re-releases, but the sound on this one was just fine. I grew up watching Victory at Sea on the tube every week faithfully. My Dad served in the Navy in WW2, from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay, and every so often we'd get a glimpse of his ship in the footage. The commentary seems a bit melodramatic by today's standards, but the work was done rather close in time to the actual events . . . and, of course, war is the ultimate melodrama. Moreover, it is frankly a great relief to have these stories told without the oily political correctness that has strangled honest reportage for far too many years now. War is nasty, dirty, bloody, terrifying, hellish, and it causes people to die in thousands of unpleasant ways. The person trying to kill you doesn't need to be analyzed, understood, coddled, or forgiven. He needs to be destroyed. That most obvious of all facts has somehow escaped our national consciousness. Victory at Sea was produced at a time before an interest in self-preservation evaporated from the American social milieu. It is a pleasant shock to hear again this series, in which the realities of war are so tacitly assumed and so forthrightly expressed.Read full review
For those who saw the series in all its glory on TV, this is a great throwback to that time. Parts of the video were choppy from digitization, but the overall quality was pretty good (sound and picture). Picture was the same grainy look of the series on tv, but the sound was actually better than I remember. Classic Richard Rogers soundtrack. Leonard Graves narration flips between terribly heavy and dramatic and eerily happy and light. This is 1950's era TV at its stereotypical best. There are good guys and bad guys, and you can't get confused about who is who, but there is also a considerable amount of blaming the leaders (Hitler, Goering, Tojo, Hirohito, et al) but not the people. This may be an artifact of the time of production (1950's) when we still needed to view Japan and West Germany as sympathetic allies in the fight against the Soviet Bloc. Interestingly, I didn't remember how socially progressive the show was. Multiple scenes of Black soldiers/sailors alongside white servicemen. At the time of WWII, the units were still segregated, but there seems to be an emphasis of getting at least a couple of shots with people of color working/fighting with white soldiers. The series also showed bodies of the dead soldiers (not gratuitously), usually in the "aftermath" of a battle scene. This was pretty far ahead of its time for a TV series shown across the US. They also showed footage of wounded and possibly shell shocked US troops. Way ahead of its time, and I'm wondering how this got past the censors of the era. Overall, a great war history series, with amazing footage for its time. History buffs, and those of us who can actually remember seeing the show, will surely enjoy it.Read full review
When I saw this collection available, I snapped it up because I remembered something about these shows being on television following the war, and wanted to know more about the war. I was only seven years old when the war ended in 1945, so there was so much I didn't know. In my opinion, this set of old documentaries from the 1950's is an excellent commmentary on that great, terrible War, and the crucial part the United States played in ending that war. I learned SO MUCH from watching it, which I have done several times already. This collection is well worth the money, and in my opinion, should be seen be all Americans, to help them gain a greater understanding of the obligation of leadership America has given in the past. We DID save the world from Nazism and the Japanese. War is hell, whenever and wherever, and the "good guys" have an obligation to help end wars. The musical score by Richard Rodgers is absolutely wonderful, and the adaptations of it for the different sequences is charming and appropriate! Anyone should love this! I just think this a well-done piece of journalism, and packaged wonderfully with the beautiful music. The format of the DVDs is also so easy to access. PaulineRead full review
I have the VHS tape set, but the CDs are much more convenient to use. I had not seen the VHS tapes in several years, and this CD set encouraged me to buy the set. Also, the price was right. I had forgotten much of the battle scenes, and it was good to see them again after several years. Seeing the whole set again, it shows just how many men gave their lives to protect this Nation, and just how quickly we forget the sacrifices of the people all over the World for the egos of just a handful of leaders in Germany and Japan. After seeing this set of CDs, I cannot understand why anyone in this country cannot understand why we dropped the Atom bombs on Japan to end World War II. Those people did not live through WW II, or had loved ones who died in the War. Grow up America! Remember 9/11 can and probably will happen again. Just yesterday (11/2/06), I heard that the bombers on the plains from England were not going to blow up the planes over the Atlantic, but planned to blow up the planes over American cities to cause more destruction. We hear that History is valuable so we can learn from the past and not repeat the mistakes in the future. Watch North Korea and Iran to supply nukes to all our enemies to bring their goodies to the USA. Watch Victory at Sea and learn History's lesson for the present generation.Read full review
Shipping and delivery was extremely fast. Good value for the money. However, I was a little disappointed with the picture clarity and resolution. Again, for the money, a good deal. For the best resolution available, if that is what makes you happy, you will probably need to pay at least twice the money for a digitally remastered set. The resolution in this set is probably adequate for smaller screens.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Unlike many films centered on World War 2, Victory At Sea does not flaunt the gore and blood. Instead this series centers itself on the war as a whole, the people who fought in it, the major battles, and how the Allies overcame great odds in order to secure victory. Each separate "Chapter" places focus on one aspect of the war. From Pearl Harbor to the end of the war, from Europe to the far reaches of the Pacific, Victory At Sea provides an incredible incite into the causes of the war, the reasons battles occurred and how, and the thought processes of the various leaders. In summary, this series should be a must watch for every history student. Because it was edited together only 7 years after the war ended the perspective it provides is unmatchable. The very individuals who created Victory At Sea were in many cases actively involved in fighting in the war. It is much more than simple opinion or speculation. It is fact based and truly gets to the heart of the matters that led to the worldwide conflict. Add to this the immense pride that any American should have as they view the series, and overall this is perhaps the single most important documentary style film of its age. Were I a history instructor I would most certainly require my students to watch this series. I would sincerely hope that in the aftermath they would feel immense pride along with respect for that generation who fought in this war and managed to somehow gain victory over enormous odds.Read full review
The cover was ripped up but the disks are great
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
It's important history, but too much of the episodes are bombastic symphonic music, little narration and not much story line. It could have been produced much better, but then this is an old series.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This true-life documentary shows the reality of war like none other. Shows actual war-time footage with expert profesional naration and a great sound track to go along with this as well. This documentary was slightly ahead of it's time, envisioning a time when television would show live events as they actually happened. Highly recomend this one, as it is hands down one of the best investments in entertainment you will ever make. Great for veterans and non-veterans alike, as well as anyone who knows the price of freedom is never free. 5 STARS*****
If you need to see what our fathers and grandfathers had to deal with in order to provide us with the freedoms that we enjoy and far to often take for granted today, then pay close attention to this series. But be advised it is not for the faint of heart, because it's not a made up story from Hollywood written strictly to garner the almighty dollar it is in fact a documentary showing the selfless acts of individual heroism that were a common everyday occurrence during one of the most difficult times in the history of man. If you come away from this with nothing else you will have a new found respect for those who are willing to give all to protect us, not just in the past but in the present and future as well. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!