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Roots (Four-Disc 30th Anniversary Edition)
starring: Maya Angelou, Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Moses Gunn, Thalmus Rasulala, Hari Rhodes
directed by: Marvin J. Chomsky, David Greene, Gilbert Moses

List Price: $59.98

Amazon.com's Price: $44.99

You Save: $14.99 (25%)
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Used Price: $25.98
Collectible Price: $69.95
Third Party New Price: $26.98

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 0085391144854
Format: Box set, Color, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 4
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: May 22, 2007
Running Time: 573 minutes
Sales Rank: 2191
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: January 23, 1977

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Editorial Review:

Description:
Based on Alex Haley's best-selling novel about his African ancestors, Roots followed several generations in the lives of a slave family. The saga began with Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), a West African youth captured by slave raiders and shipped to America in the 1700s. The family's saga is depicted up until the Civil War where Kunte Kinte's grandson gained emancipation. Roots made its greatest impression on the ratings and widespread popularity it garnered. On average, 130 million - almost half the country at the time - saw all or part of the series.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Documentaries
Electronic press kit
Featurette
Interviews

Amazon.com essential video:
From the moment the young Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton) is stolen from his life and ancestral home in 18th-century Africa and brought under inhumane conditions to be auctioned as a slave in America, a line is begun that leads from this most shameful chapter in U.S. history to the 20th-century author Alex Haley, a Kinte descendant. The late Haley's acclaimed book Roots was adapted into this six-volume television miniseries, which was a widely watched phenomenon in 1977. The programs cover several generations in the antebellum South and end with the story of 'Chicken' George, a freed slave played by Ben Vereen whose family feels the agony of entrenched racism and learns to fight it. Between the lives of Kunta and George, we meet a number of memorable characters, black and white, and learn much about the emotional and physical torments of slavery, from beatings and rapes to the forced separation of spouses and families. Nothing like this had ever confronted so many mainstream Americans when the series was originally broadcast, and the extent to which the country was nudged a degree or two toward enlightenment was instantly obvious. Roots still has that ability to open one's eyes, and engage an audience in a sweeping, memorable drama at the same time. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- THE NATION'S ROOTS AS WELL!!
Perhaps the most famous TV miniseries of all time. Played for eight straight evenings in January of 1977. The country practically came to a halt during that time slot every evening. Over 130 million views tuned in to watch this amazing story of Alex Haley's family's roots and history. It has been translated into 28 languages since. While the story and technology may seem a little outdated today (how can it not?), this is one story worth watching to gain a better understanding our country's history and where we have come from. In many ways it is the story of our nation from the days of slavery through the great struggles for freedom for all. Kunta Kinte is the main character who was captured and forced into slavery as a young man and brought to America. Perhaps the most poignant moment in the movie is where he has refused to give up his African name and be called Toby, the name his master has given him. He is beaten ... Read More

Rating:

- Sound is deciving
Roots, what can one say about the grestest even in television history? But, if you are like me and have a surround sound systen DON'T purchase the 30th Anneversay edition. I only get audio out of the center speaker and it sounds like I am using a tin can for a speaker. Afriad that it may be my system I put in another DVD (Blade) and the sound was fantastic as usual. If anyone else has experienced this issue please let me know.

Rating:

- Wish my kids had longer attention spans...
I remember gathering with my college roommates every Sunday to see the next program of this weekly series. I wanted to share it with my kids because it had such a profound impact on my generation. It sure looks like it was filmed in the 70's! Unfortunately, except for recognizing OJ Simpson, and Lamar from Star Trek, they weren't that interested. It's good for them though.

Rating:

- Highly recommend but I have a couple of suggestions
I was a month short of 9 years of age when Roots was first broadcast on TV. Til only recently I had never ever seen it. I heard a lot about it but never actually sat down to watch it. I was recently at our town library and decided to take volume 1 home. I was somewhat excited about it as I sat down to watch.

In the first volume I found the idealization of Kunta Kinte's tribe and, except for the Ed Asner character, most white characters were 1 dimensional, to be a little too difficult to swallow.
However I continue to watch.

In the subsequent volumes as Kunta grew up, married and raised Kizzy, the writing of the characters began to show some depth. Frankly in those episodes I was pleased that not all white people were evil masochists. I liked Robert Reed's character. He was fair, deep and introspective. Even when he sold Kizzy away it was not done for no reason. ... Read More

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