Roots with Marvin J. Chomsky: DVD Cover
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Roots Director: Marvin J. Chomsky, David Greene, Gilbert Moses

DVD - 4 Disc Set - 30th Anniversary Edition Learn more

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  • DVD Release Date: 05/22/2007
  • Original Release: 1977
  • Rating: Not Rated
  • Sales Rank: 1,234

Viewer Rating: (16 ratings)

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Features

Closed Caption; All new 2007 documentary - Crossing Over: How Roots Captivated an Entire Nation; Roots: One Year Later - hosted by Louis Gossett Jr.; Cast/crew commentaries with video option

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Editorial Reviews

Based on author Alex Haley's bestselling novel (and his family's lineage), Roots (1977) is a sweeping 12-hour historical drama that opened the floodgates for the golden age of television miniseries. Enslaved African warrior Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton) refuses to bow to oppression alongside his mentor, Fiddler (Lou Gossett Jr.), and repeatedly attempts to escape. Even in his hobbled old age -- played with dignified perfection by John Amos -- he refuses to accept his slave name, Toby. Kunta's defiant legacy endures in succeeding generations. Eventually, Chicken George (Ben Vereen) uses his skills as a plucky handler of gamecocks to buy freedom for himself and his children, the great-grandchildren of Kunta Kinte. Each of the six two-hour programs in the series is an enthralling journey into the emotional and physical torments of one of the most shameful times in American history. Amid beatings, rapes, and the forced separation of spouses and families, Roots tells the epic story of a family's struggle to maintain a solid identity against all odds. The cast is as impressive as the scope of the story: Maya Angelou, Ed Asner, Lloyd Bridges, Todd Bridges, Scatman Crothers, Lorne Greene, Moses Gunn, Richard Roundtree, O. J. Simpson, Burl Ives, and even Haley himself all make fine turns, among so many others. The series' original broadcast broke ratings records, won five Emmys, and left a legacy of its own: 1979's Roots: The Next Generations; the 1988 TV movie Roots: The Gift; and 1993's Queen, featuring Halle Berry. The Roots 30th anniversary DVD set includes a feature-length audio commentary plus a behind-the-scenes documentary, "Remembering Roots." Stuart Gazzo, Barnes & Noble

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Customer Reviews

Rootsby Anonymous

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December 21, 2007: I first heard about Roots from my reading book last year. I read an excerpt out of it, and thought it was VERY,VERY GOOD! There was a picture to go with it, and recognized it as the guy from "Reading Rainbow""LeVar Burton". I asked my mom about it, and she said Roots was made into a TV series in 1977. Then, I started nagging my mom about getting Roots for my birthday. As soon as I got it, Iwatched the first episode. I finished it in FOUR DAYS. It made my Mom and Dad cry in some parts, but this is a TV series everyone should see!

Rootsby Anonymous

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May 29, 2007: This series was shocking to me as a child, I have carried IT with me into adulthood. For years I searched everywhere for it and was only able to check it out of the Library on video. Now I own it, and it has the same affect on me now as it did then. It is a groundbreaking achievement in filmmaking. A brutally honest and powerfully uplifting journey through our history's saddest time. May it never happen again.


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