American Experience - The Donner Party: A Film by Ric Burns (1992)

"Remember, never take no cutoffs and hurry along as fast as you can."

I first saw this American Experience documentary on PBS on the night it premiered in 1992. I was riveted to my TV set from start to finish, the hour went by so quickly. I later bought the VHS tape and recently got the DVD from Amazon. The Burns brothers are excellent story tellers through their films and Ric Burns is just as much a master documentarian as his famous brother Ken. The story of the Donner Party is haunting, their tragic ordeal seemed almost as if it was predestined. This is one of the best documentaries ever made. The movie has a 'you are there' feeling to it, the actors' voices sound believable and are well matched. Even the music carries a sense of hopelessness and doom hanging like a dark shadow over the whole tale. If you like watching history on film, you definiately want to see this one. It lingers in your mind long afterwards and it might make you wonder what you would do if faced with similar awful circumstances. Some life lessons learned the hard way indeed. November 1, 2007

The Donner Party-Ric Burns

This is one of the best documenteries I've seen. Ric Burns did an amazing job of drawing the audience into a real sense of the horrors these people experienced. The interviews made you feel as if the people interviewed actually experienced the tragedy themselves. Finally, the musical score draws you into the forlorn experience through its haunting melodies. I highly recommend this DVD. January 12, 2007

One of the best documentaries I have ever seen

Very moving and award winning. You actually feel like you are traveling with the doomed party. I love the aerial views of the terrain they fought thru to get to California. I had to watch this as a AP History student in high school. You learn a whole ton about manifest destiny as well. To think, these people literally walked across the United States. February 11, 2005

An excellent account of a terrible event

This was an excellent documentary, period. Even if you are not "into" history, you will be hooked on this story. It is a tragic tale of the perils of westward expansion. Sure it is just an ink drop on the pages of history, but the story will live on. December 9, 2004

A chilling depiction of a real-life horror story!

I first saw this incredible documentary as a child & for several nights afterwords I had terrible nightmares! This is one of the finest PBS documentaries I've ever seen, & it's also one of the most grusome tales in American history. While dozens of books have been written about the Donner Party, I believe this is the only documentary that's been made about it so far. The story is told through eyewitness accounts that make you feel like a member of the doomed wagon train. What's even more interesting is how the weary survivors rebuilt their lives after returning to "civilization". If you want compelling, horrifying, & unforgettable entertainment, this is the documentary to get! November 10, 2004

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