Huey Long (1985)Ken Burns' portrait of Louisiana governor/U.S. senator Huey Long. Director:Ken BurnsWriter:Geoffrey C. Ward |
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Huey Long (1985)Ken Burns' portrait of Louisiana governor/U.S. senator Huey Long. Director:Ken BurnsWriter:Geoffrey C. Ward |
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Huey Long | ... |
Himself
(archive footage)
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Russell Long | ... |
Himself
(as Russell B. Long)
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David McCullough | ... |
Narrator
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Jennings Randolph | ... |
Himself - Senator of West Virginia
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| Arthur Schlesinger Jr. | ... |
Himself
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I.F. Stone | ... |
Himself
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| Robert Penn Warren | ... |
Himself
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Ken Burns' portrait of Louisiana governor/U.S. senator Huey Long.
Back in 1977, I watched a made for TV movie called "The Life and Assassination of the Kingfish". It starred Ed Asner and was a fascinating story of the life and death of Huey Long. I was 13 and had never heard of Long and was fascinated by the amazing power the man wielded--and how he could have very possibly been elected president if he hadn't been killed. Fascinating indeed. So, when I saw that Ken Burns did a biography of Long, I was excited to see it--an expert documentarian and a really interesting subject. It also helps that I've seen "All The King's Men" and "A Lion In The Streets"--two very fictionalized stories about a character who was obviously based on Long.
Huey Long was a socialist, though the term progressive is most often associated with him. His political philosophy was that the government should take care of the poor and that wealth should be limited to $10,000,000--anything more is wrong and would redistributed to the people. Pretty radical stuff back in the 1930s, but ideas that strongly resonated in Louisiana and the rest of the country due to the poverty of the Depression. He was powerful and also quite ruthless in exercising power. So, oddly, he was a great force for both good and evil--a very complex man. And, like the characters from "All The King's Men" and "A Lion In The Streets", he appeared to feel that the end surely justified the means. I loved how the film emphasized BOTH. Many in the film loved the man, some hated him and some had mixed feelings--and all that is very understandable.
The story is told using films footage of Long, photographs, interviews and some location shots. It's narrated by David McCullough--who had a wonderful voice and is a great historian. Now I rarely say this, but there is nothing I didn't like or admire about the film. It was expertly made, compelling and great viewing. I just wish all documentaries were this good!