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Category:    Home > Reviews > Documentary > Politics > History > Government > Law > TV Mini-Series > Bill Moyers – In Search Of The Constitution (1987/Athena/Acorn Media DVD Set)

Bill Moyers – In Search Of The Constitution (1987/Athena/Acorn Media DVD Set)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C+     Episodes: B

 

 

In what is turning out to be a major series of DVD releases from his long and impressive series of TV specials, Athena has added to box sets of Bill Moyers materials starting with In Search Of The Constitution from 1987.  This four DVD set has 11 episodes covering the advent of the document, then moves on to Mr. Justice Blackmun, Mortimer Adler: Teaching The Constitution, Mr. Justice Brennan,. Ronald Dworkin: The Changing Story, God & The Constitution, Strictly Speaking, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, For The People, 1987 vs. The Constitution and Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. in a still-timely look at the law of the land.

 

Since then, Republican managed to get justices on the U.S. Supreme Court who were just as far to the Right as the rejected Robert Bork, plus ideas like The Patriot Act and other unfortunate developments (including many of the cyber/Internet age not considered as widely as they may have been in 1987) are also still in the sites of this elongated look at law.  We get many great interviews, questions, facts and history; the kind you rarely see on law anywhere anymore, so despite being a little dated, the series holds up well.

 

Though text on Moyers and updates on those who participated are included on the DVDs, as well as a 16-page booklet that adds to the shows are included, no continuation or update on the issues was included.  Maybe that will be the basis for a new special, one that cannot arrive fast enough.  Overall, this is a strong set and very much worth your time, especially if you have concerns or questions about law and how it works in a free society.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on analog NTSC videotape and is on the soft side throughout, so expect the image to be dated and challenging, with haloing and aliasing errors, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is simple and can show its age, but is clean and clear enough to enjoy.  It is not as worn as you might expect from the average image quality.

 

For more Moyers DVD releases, try these links:

 

Joseph Campbell – The Power Of Myth

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10329/Joseph+Campbell+on+The+Power+of

 

Genesis: A Living Conversation + On Faith & Reason

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10579/Bill+Moyers:+On+Faith+and+Reason

 

A World Of Ideas: Writers

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10786/Bill+Moyers+%E2%80%93+A+World

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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