The Civil War (1990-1990)
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- TV-14
- 1h 16min
- Documentary, History
- TV Mini Series
A comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 12 wins & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Series Cast
| Sam Waterston | ... |
President Abraham Lincoln
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Julie Harris | ... |
Mary Chestnut
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Jason Robards | ... |
Ulysses S. Grant
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Morgan Freeman | ... |
Frederick Douglass
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Paul Roebling | ... |
Joshua L. Chamberlain
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Garrison Keillor | ... |
Walt Whitman
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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George Black | ... |
Robert E. Lee
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| David McCullough | ... |
Self - Narrator
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Arthur Miller | ... |
William Tecumseh Sherman
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Christopher Murney | ... |
Pvt. Elijah Hunt Rhodes
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Charles McDowell | ... |
Pvt. Sam Watkins
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Horton Foote | ... |
Jefferson Davis
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| George Plimpton | ... |
George Templeton Strong
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Philip Bosco | ... |
Horace Greeley
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Terry Courier | ... |
George McClellan
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Jody Powell | ... |
Stonewall Jackson
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Studs Terkel | ... |
Benjamin F. Butler
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Jeremy Irons | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Derek Jacobi | ... |
Various
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Kurt Vonnegut Jr. | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Gene Jones | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Jerome Dempsey | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Laurence Fishburne | ... |
Various
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Betsy Apple | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Carol Craven | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Marissa Copeland | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Halo Wines | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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David Marks | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Pamela Reed | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Ronnie Gilbert | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| M. Emmet Walsh | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Hoyt Axton | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| John Hartford | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Walt MacPherson | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Colleen Dewhurst | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| LaTanya Richardson Jackson | ... |
Various
/ ...
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Bradford Washburn | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Jesse Carr | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Wendy Tilghman | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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Joe Mattys | ... |
Various
(9 episodes, 1990)
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| Shelby Foote | ... |
Self - Writer
/ ...
(8 episodes, 1990)
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Ed Bearss | ... |
Self - Historian
(6 episodes, 1990)
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Barbara Fields | ... |
Self - Historian
(5 episodes, 1990)
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James Symington | ... |
Self - Former Congressman
(4 episodes, 1990)
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Stephen B. Oates | ... |
Self - Historian
/ ...
(4 episodes, 1990)
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| William Safire | ... |
Self - Journalist
(1 episode, 1990)
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Daisy Turner | ... |
Self - Daugher of Alexander Turner
(1 episode, 1990)
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See full cast and crew »
Production Companies
Distributors
- Direct Cinema Limited (1990) (United States) (theatrical)
- Astral Video
- NHK Kyôiku (1992) (Japan) (tv) (dubbed version)
- NHK-BS2 (1992) (Japan) (tv) (dubbed version)
- PBS Distribution (1990) (United States) (video)
- PBS International (1990) (Non-US)
- Polyband (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1990) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Turner Home Entertainment
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (funding)
- Balsmeyer and Everett (map animation)
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) (funding)
- Eastern Optical EFX (titles and opticals)
- General Motors Corporation (funding)
- The Frame Shop (animation stand photography)
- The John D. & Catherine MacArthur Foundation (funding)
- The National Endowment for the Humanities (funding)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
This highly acclaimed mini-series traces the course of the U.S. Civil War from the abolitionist movement through all the major battles to the death of President Lincoln and the beginnings of Reconstruction. The story is mostly told in the words of the participants themselves, through their diaries and letters. Visuals are usually still photographs and illustrations of the time, and the soundtrack is likewise made up of war-era tunes played on period instruments. Several modern-day historians offer periodic comment and insight on the war's causes and events.
Written by Eric Sorensen |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | It divided a country. It created a nation. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Shelby Foote became a celebrity after the success of this mini-series. Foote's phone number was listed in his local phone book, and he received frequent calls from fans. He never removed his number from the phone book, and received calls whenever the mini-series aired for the rest of his life. See more » |
| Goofs | Contrary to this documentary (and many historians) Winfield Scott never recommended Robet E. Lee for anything more than a "significant command" nor did Lincoln offer Lee command of the Union Army. An advisor to the President, Francis P. Blair, DID offer Lee command of the Defenses of Washington, via letter, but there are NO records that Lee. An Lincoln ever met in person. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in TV (2008). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Ashokan Farewell See more » |
| Quotes |
Abraham Lincoln:
As a nation, we began by declaring that "All men are created equal." We now practically read it, "All men are created equal, except Negroes." Soon, it will read "All men are created equal, except Negroes, and Foreigners and Catholics." When it comes to this, I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty. To Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure and without the base alloy of hypocrisy. See more » |