North and South:CCol (RPKG/VIVA)

Historical drama that is well-acted in a realistic story of a PA industrial family and a SC plantation family, and their workers and slaves, respectively. Lead characters are interesting and likeable, though also they have flaws. Miniseries creates a thematic mood that takes one along the history. While some parts are simplified or given artistic license, and the battles can have low injury levels for characters both the leads and supporting ones, the story is informative and emotional. Good amounts of knowledge of the era and the ideals of the North and the desperation of the South are seen.

The American Civil War is considered by many to be the most dramatic time in American history. So there is no coincidence that the war has been the subject or backdrop of many books, films and television productions. Three years after the war had been dramatized for television in The Blue and the Gray (The Complete Miniseries) , producer David L. Wolper brought his acclaimed adaptation of John Jakes' acclaimed "North & South" book trilogy to television that told the fictional tale of two families and their struggles, set at the backdrop of the most epic and tragic time in American History. "Book One: North and South" begins in 1842, and introduces us to Orry Main (Patrick Swayze), the son of a southern plantation family, and George Hazard (James Read), the son of a northern ironworks family, as they meet at West Point. It follows both families through the turbulent pre-war era, as two friends and their families face the grim reality that the issues of the day threaten to tear their country, and the bonds of love and friendship, apart. The series can definitely be categorized as a soap opera set within the pre-Civil War era. But the storytelling is very dramatic and well-handled, and the performances, despite some poor accents, are brilliant for the most part. "Book Two: Love and War" begins two months after the end of Book One, as the families face the harsh realities of war. From the first major battle at First Manassas, to the final surrender at Appomattox and beyond, the Mains and the Hazards struggle to come to terms with a war that is destroying their homes, and splitting their families, over the four years of bloody conflict. This is my personal favorite of the trilogy. While the war still remains the backdrop for the most part, the events themselves are shown very vividly, with mostly accurate portrayals of the historical people and events that shaped the war from 1861-1865. The acting and storytelling are at their best, and the battle scenes are outstanding. This is definitely 80s television at its best. "Book Three: Heaven and Hell" begins after the American Civil War, as the Mains and the Hazards attempt to put their lives and homes back together again. But an old enemy, thought dead at the end of the war, comes back and and seeks vengeance on the Mains and the Hazards, taking the lives of people they hold dear, while the rise of the Ku Klux Klan attempts to undermine the change coming to the South. While definitely the weakest of the trilogy, it is a pretty good program overall. Made eight years after the events of Book Two, the actors that returned for this one are age-appropriate this time. The weaknesses come from some slower passages, and one depressing moment too many. Also, the film introduces us to Cooper Main, Orry's brother, who was present in all three of the books, but was excised from the first two adaptations, and is suddenly thrown into the mix as if there all along. Nevertheless, the storytelling is pretty good, and the acting is great overall. While not the classic that Books One and Two are, it is still a worthwhile entry into the series, and overall decent finale to the story of the Mains and the Hazards. The five-disc DVD set presents the entire trilogy with great picture and sound, and while only one extra is included, it is a great retrospective of the series and its impact on the television scene in the 1980s. Overall, this is a brilliant recreation of the time when issues such as slavery, secession and war threatened to tear America apart, and how the bond of two families survived it all. Highly recommended! Movie/DVD Grade: A-

North and South Books 1 & 2 are wonderful; a great mix of war, romance, intrigue and politics set in the turmoil of the Civil War era. The story follows two families, a Northern one (the Hazards) and a Southern one (the Mains) and shows how their friendship is tried by the politics of the time and the differences of their cultures. Slavery plays a big role, but the author makes a passing reference to the lack of industrialization in the South. Sometimes the characters devolve into caricatures, namely Virgilia, Elkanah Bent, and Salem Jones, but the main characters are played solidly and the story moves along marvelously. The whole tale tries to be as historically accurate as possible, incorporating many details, but I was a bit disappointed by the depiction of the battle of Gettysburg, as it its importance appears to be played down. The romance aspect also plays a big role, focusing on the troubled affair of Orry and Madeleine, and Billy and Brett. Those are told well, although it was a bit difficult to believe that Madeleine would behave as she did at times, namely taking her husband's abuse, and running away after Ashton tells her she know's she's 1/8th black. And Ashton is a deliciously evil scheming character who is played brilliantly, and very fun to watch. All in all, the first two books are well-told, thoroughly entertaining stories. As far as the 3rd DVD is concerned, it is a shame they made it. It totally destroys the beautiful story that existed up to that point. You know the story is going to be really bad, when in the first scene Elkanah Bent appears unexpectedly (he is apparently put back on Earth by an act of God after having blown up in the second book) which is utterly ridiculous. Furthermore, Orry is killed by Bent in the first scenes (apparently to save on Patrick Swayze's salary). To compound the craziness, Bent plays his role as a less-plausible, 19th century Lex Luthor. Also, half the actors have been changed, and replaced by implausible selections. One clear example is Charlie; when the second book ends, he appears to be in his late 30s/early 40s. In the 3rd DVD, he is played by an actor who is clearly in his early 20s. I don't know what John Jakes (the author) was thinking, but in the third book he destroyed the fabric of the first two books just to make the RIDICULOUS romance of Madeleine and George fit. And Robert Wagner appears out of nowhere to play Orry's big brother. It has been said in other forums that the third dvd follows the book more closely, and that it is a more accurate depiction of the story. Maybe so, but it's just a bad story, played poorly that serves just to tarnish the story crafted by the first two dvds. It's worth buying the DVD set, but throw the 3rd one away. The beauty of the first two books makes it still worth the price.

Like many people who have complained about this series production, I also was frustrated to play Disc 2 Book 1 only to find about 22 episodes missing after Disc 1--for example, when did George meet Constance, missed the West point graduation, how did Orie get wounded, etc etc. I tried playing the other side (like some reviews suggested) but it wouldn't play. Having a hunch, I went back to Disc 1 and after the first 22 episodes, I continued watching after the credits. Sure enough, the second part came on with the next 22 episodes. Other than the several hours I wasted with frustration over this, I am so happy to have found this series on DVD! It was one of my favorite of all family shows when I was a teenager and am so happy to share this with my kids. Here are all the scenes the should be on the discs (which are referenced on the Barnes and Noble website reviewing this series): Scene Index Disc #1 -- North and South: The Complete Collection - Book One : North and South - Disc One 1. Credits [4:33] 2. West Point-Bound [3:30] 3. Love at First Sight [7:37] 4. Resolute Match [2:12] 5. Carpetbagger Fight [4:00] 6. Train to Progress [2:52] 7. Mind Over Beauty [1:21] 8. "Lower Than Plebes" [2:31] 9. Barracks Dispute [2:08] 10. Table Manners [2:21] 11. Bent Discipline [8:15] 12. Love Letters [3:08] 13. A Bitter Duel [4:40] 14. Long Distance [6:11] 15. Thin Ice [9:03] 16. Recuperation [1:45] 17. Of Human Bondage [9:03] 18. Changes at Home [3:32] 19. Mistreating Priam [3:25] 20. Wedding Woes [1:34] 21. A Ruined Woman [7:44] 22. End Credits [1:22] 1. Credits [2:43] 2. Madeline in Mind [7:17] 3. Insult to Injury [4:59] 4. Framing Bent [5:15] 5. Graduation 1846 [4:53] 6. Separation Anxiety [6:41] 7. Proper Punishment [5:49] 8. Forbidden Chapel [3:46] 9. Southern Pride [3:02] 10. Illegitimate Son [2:38] 11. Suicide Patrol [6:01] 12. Courting Constance [9:14] 13. A Fine Proposal [3:33] 14. Early Resignation [3:06] 15. Civilian Brawl [1:58] 16. Irish Eyes [3:23] 17. A Different Orry [1:50] 18. Love and Loss [4:17] 19. Helping a Runaway [2:47] 20. Hunted and Whipped [3:14] 21. Dangerous Meeting [4:59] 22. End Credits [1:25] Disc #2 -- North and South: The Complete Collection - Book One : North and South - Disc Two 1. Credits [2:48] 2. Running Free [4:20] 3. A Family United [4:48] 4. Offer Accepted [3:19] 5. Antislavery Talk [7:57] 6. Feminine Wiles [3:28] 7. A Secret Bond [4:15] 8. Hazardous Inferno [5:57] 9. Man of the House [3:51] 10. Blood Relative [2:18] 11. End of an Era [5:21] 12. Beau for Ashton [6:15] 13. Charles's Challenge [5:21] 14. Duel of Honor [5:04] 15. West Point Boy [2:20] 16. Visit to Belvedere [2:48] 17. Family Values [4:19] 18. Ironclad Partners [2:53] 19. Damn Gentleman [3:17] 20. A Wronged Wife [4:08] 21. Fugitive-Slave Law [6:25] 22. End Credits [1:21] 1. Credits [2:48] 2. Southern Charm [5:22] 3. Too many Suitors [2:34] 4. Painful Attraction [6:07] 5. Slave to Love [8:20] 6. Path to Freedom [3:09] 7. Blaming the North [7:42] 8. A Dark Secret [6:19] 9. Need for Violence [5:51] 10. Controversial Text [2:23] 11. The Graduates [3:56] 12. Sibling rivalry [3:17] 13. Loyal and True [1:38] 14. Basic Chemistry [2:45] 15. Troubled Friends [4:43] 16. Shaming the Mains [5:12] 17. Madeline's Dilemma [5:05] 18. Tea and Sympathy [3:38] 19. Backwoods Ordeal [2:23] 20. Betrayal [4:58] 21. A Kept Woman [4:03] 22. End Credits [1:22] Disc #3 -- North and South: The Complete Collection - Book One : North and South - Disc Three 1. Credits [2:49] 2. Wedding Vows [2:06] 3. Laudanum Treatment [6:03] 4. Distant Wives [7:40] 5. Secession Talks [4:06] 6. Bent at the Brothel [8:12] 7. Prejudice Railroad [2:49] 8. Profit Partners [3:22] 9. The Right Side [4:22] 10. George's Concerns [2:00] 11. Unity Postponed [2:50] 12. John Brown Detour [7:57] 13. Militia Martyrs [3:55] 14. The Inevitable [2:03] 15. Asylum Walls [4:03] 16. Mrs. Grady [5:43] 17. "War Is Killing" [4:10] 18. Strong Medicine [2:35] 19. Furious Orry [5:21] 20. Ashton's Scheme [6:20] 21. Palmetto Pride [3:25] 22. End Credits [1:20] 1. Credits [2:46] 2. Nothing to Wear [2:16] 3. Election-Day Thugs [5:50] 4. Services Rendered [2:48] 5. Reconciliation [3:09] 6. Arranged Marriage [2:28] 7. Call to Arms [2:22] 8. Rights and Wrongs [5:27] 9. Family Tree [2:02] 10. Choosing Sides [5:15] 11. Fort Sumter Orders [1:53] 12. One Less Yankee [6:12] 13. Newlywed Ambush [8:23] 14. One Bad Apple [2:48] 15. Addiction's Cure [1:37] 16. True Devotion [4:15] 17. A Look at Lincoln [1:58] 18. Bent on Blockade [2:21] 19. Hazards at Odds [7:09] 20. April 12, 1861 [2:59] 21. Brotherly Love [18:43] 22. End Credits [1:21] Disc #4 -- North and South: The Complete Collection - Book Two : Love and War - Disc Four 1. Credits [2:46] 2. Sharpshooter [6:13] 3. The Race to Fight [6:59] 4. Heroic Departure [3:38] 5. Southern Aggression? [5:07] 6. A Woman Alone [7:35] 7. The Need to Nurse [2:10] 8. Influential Men [7:42] 9. Impolite Politics [9:33] 10. Lord of Discipline [2:33] 11. Shameful Secret [1:41] 12. Mrs. La Motte [1:30] 13. Fiery Destruction [4:22] 14. Homecoming [1:54] 15. Business and Pleasure [6:11] 16. News to Brett [1:53] 17. Drumming up Support [5:55] 18. Lincoln's Strategy [2:00] 19. Watching the War [4:52] 20. Carnage at Manassas [3:32] 21. Leisurely Retreat [5:03] 22. End Credits [:47] 1. Credits [2:47] 2. Presidential Defeat [2:40] 3. Fugitive Women [8:38] 4. Davis Approves [2:35] 5. Hate for Love [5:19] 6. Blockade Champagne [4:03] 7. Bent Desire [3:24] 8. Napoleon and Josephine [4:31] 9. The Happiest Day [7:17] 10. A War on Paper [4:06] 11. Trading Post [2:03] 12. Saved at Gunpoint [5:55] 13. Dorothea Dix [4:00] 14. Medical Benefits [3:26] 15. Horseback Target [4:02] 16. Augusta's Soldier [7:45] 17. Officer Feud [4:11] 18. Emancipation [3:04] 19. A Hard Bargain [3:35] 20. Thwarted Liaison [6:48] 21. A Mistress Reveals [3:18] 22. End Credits [:56] Disc #5 -- North and South: The Complete Collection - Book Two : Love and War - Disc Five 1. Credits [2:47] 2. Hazardous Business [3:52] 3. Friend and Foe [7:00] 4. Counting the Dead [2:22] 5. Ulysses S. Grant [3:27] 6. Freeing the Slaves [4:57] 7. Condolence Call [4:09] 8. Back Pay [6:54] 9. Ambush in Virginia [2:38] 10. Family Man [10:43] 11. Brothers of Arms [2:43] 12. Gettysburg [4:07] 13. A Hollow Victory [1:29] 14. Dueling Deserters [3:03] 15. Working Women [5:26] 16. Ashton's Revenge [7:32] 17. Water Wheel [4:00] 18. Brief Rendezvous [5:32] 19. A Sister's Scorn [4:34] 20. Insubordination [3:25] 21. Low Country Lawyer [2:51] 22. End Credits [:46] 1. Credits [2:47] 2. Rebel Training [4:28] 3. Augusta and Charles [5:24] 4. Sniper Patrol [4:26] 5. A Boy's Life [1:37] 6. Grant's Move [3:03] 7. Wilderness Hell [5:39] 8. Negligent Nurse [3:38] 9. Orry Investigates [2:48] 10. Wounded General [3:59] 11. Madeline's Mercy [4:54] 12. "Mrs. Picard" [5:05] 13. Enemy Sympathizer [4:48] 14. Libby Prison [7:59] 15. State's Rights [2:59] 16. Using Huntoon [5:09] 17. Murder suspect [6:39] 18. Mistress Protection [4:02] 19. Valiant Rescue [4:41] 20. Lincoln's Priorities [3:04] 21. Hazard's Plight [6:02] 22. End Credits [:56] Disc #6 -- North and South: The Complete Collection - Book Two : Love and War - Disc Six 1. Credits [2:47] 2. Dismal Conditions [2:33] 3. Prisoner Transfer [8:08] 4. Christmas Presents [4:04] 5. A Visit From Salem [2:47] 6. Cavalry Clues [3:20] 7. Rafe's Generosity [4:07] 8. "Honor Is Dead" [2:48] 9. Justice in Charity [2:03] 10. Speedy Recovery [2:58] 11. Defective Weapons [3:07] 12. A Man Named Morgan [2:25] 13. Iron Forgery [2:11] 14. Money for Love [5:13] 15. Armed Celebration [3:06] 16. Sold to a Scoundrel [3:30] 17. Double or Nothing [2:15] 18. Madeline's Mystery [5:28] 19. Benefit Performance [8:12] 20. Lost Causes [12:09] 21. Violent Traitor [10:24] 22. End Credits [:48] 1. Credits [2:46] 2. Last Chances [3:17] 3. Spared by Sherman [5:04] 4. The New Boss [3:32] 5. Greene Investigated [4:24] 6. Home Fires Burning [2:42] 7. Lincoln's Vision [3:31] 8. Petersburg, 1865 [7:41] 9. Wounded Boy [1:36] 10. Outnumbered [6:33] 11. Lee at Appomattox [6:12] 12. The War at Home [7:55] 13. A New Era [3:07] 14. More Than Bricks [1:46] 15. Servicing Sam [4:57] 16. Accepting Fate [4:28] 17. Several Concerns [2:50] 18. Looking for Orry [5:25] 19. Overjoyed [3:52] 20. Battle Mont Royal [7:21] 21. "Charity for All" [4:33] 22. End Credits [:48] Disc #7 -- North and South: The Complete Collection - Book Three : Heaven and Hell - Disc Seven 1. Vendettas (Credits) [6:18] 2. The End of Orry [5:16] 3. Soldier and Actress [6:16] 4. Mont Royal Doubts [3:04] 5. Private Performance [1:35] 6. Klan Invitation [2:49] 7. Madeline's Mission [3:05] 8. Segregated Church [4:00] 9. Visit From George [2:58] 10. Mentally Disturbed [1:35] 11. New Partnership [4:06] 12. Desire to Love [4:29] 13. Bawdy House [2:48] 14. Charlie's Past [4:30] 15. Intervention [2:18] 16. Schemers [3:15] 17. Cheyenne Country [7:17] 18. Business Ventures [5:13] 19. Teepee Sanctuary [5:29] 20. Cooper's Fire [8:17] 21. Bent Revenge [5:27] 22. End Credits [1:01] 1. Credits [2:42] 2. Fire and Blood [3:32] 3. Untimely Funeral [4:07] 4. Tracking a Butcher [3:54] 5. Pride in Liberty [4:40] 6. Cooper's Claim [1:10] 7. Piano Lessons [3:23] 8. Wanted Man [2:18] 9. Scarred for Life [3:09] 10. Vows and Threats [4:25] 11. Terms of Investment [3:10] 12. Without Malice [3:05] 13. Slavery With Interest [:53] 14. Impossible Love [6:53] 15. Labor Talks [2:12] 16. Obsessive Behavior [2:45] 17. Magic Magee [4:46] 18. The Right of Men [10:29] 19. Box-Office Smash [6:09] 20. Asking for Help [3:42] 21. Taking Lives [11:50] 22. End Credits [1:01] Disc #8 -- North and South: The Complete Collection - Book Three : Heaven and Hell - Disc Eight 1. Credits [2:58] 2. Healing Scar [4:33] 3. Civil Action [5:44] 4. Purchasing Power [7:25] 5. Soul Mates [5:42] 6. Called to Rescue [2:06] 7. Society Woman [2:42] 8. Charlie's Trail [3:09] 9. Sobering Encounter [4:32] 10. Special Treatment [2:19] 11. Dynamite Plan [2:25] 12. Finding Rocks [5:10] 13. Touched in the Head [5:01] 14. Clues From a Friend [1:56] 15. Ashton's Return [2:50] 16. Saving the Enemy [2:35] 17. Resting Place [4:53] 18. The Devil in Cooper [4:10] 19. Need to Leave [6:23] 20. Prepared for attack [4:38] 21. Good and Evil [8:26] 22. End Credits [1:02]

An old favorite. Ordered DVD because it was cheaper than buying on prime.

Good movie series about the North and South before the Civil War, the reasons for the outbreak of the war, and the actual Civil War. There are a number of good factoids hidden in this movie series about key issues of the Civil War and it is worth watching.

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Great buy if you like the civil war

Si te gustan los clásicos de la guerra confederada éste es un clásico!,excelente calidad y precio!

Great series

Interesting series, enjoyed it.

Absolutely fantastic, have seen it about 6 or 7 times now, never get tired of it. John Jake's, a fantastic writer.

Wonderful film