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Title: Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery (1997– )
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Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
| Adam Arkin | ... |
Merriwether Lewis
(voice)
|
|
| Hal Holbrook | ... |
Narrator
(voice)
|
|
 |
Murphy Guyer | ... |
William Clark
(voice)
|
| Sam Waterston | ... |
Thomas Jefferson
(voice)
|
|
| Matthew Broderick | ... |
John Ordway
(voice)
|
|
| Kevin Conway | ... |
Patrick Gass
(voice)
|
|
| Gene Jones | ... |
Joseph Whitehouse
(voice)
|
|
| Tantoo Cardinal | ... |
(voice)
|
|
|
|
Tim Clark | ... |
(voice)
|
|
|
Ken Little Hawk | ... |
(voice)
|
| John Trudell | ... |
(voice)
|
|
| Daniel von Bargen | ... |
(voice)
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
John Logan Allen | ... |
Himself (geographer)
|
|
|
Stephen Ambrose | ... |
Himself (historian)
(as Stephen E. Ambrose)
|
|
|
Gerard Baker | ... |
Himself (Mandan-Hidatsa)
|
Storyline
This film documents the exploration expedition led by Meriwether Lewis William Clark into the interior of North America in the early 19th century. We follow the Corps of Discovery as they winded their way across the unknown territory gained in the Louisana Purchase by the United States in their futile search for the legendary Northwest Passage. Along the way, they discovered wonderous new things as they depended on the aid of Native Americans like their adept guide, Sacagawea, as they conducted the most important exploration mission in American history. Written by Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@home.com>
"Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery" is a very lengthy documentary that seems almost as long as the group's two year journey! This really isn't a complaint--more a comment about how incredibly thorough the show is. It's yet another exquisitely made documentary by Ken Burns--using the same wonderful and familiar style you'll see in his other PBS films. And, perhaps, it's made a bit better--very slow and lovingly rendered. The cinematography might just be the best thing about it--with wonderful vistas of the west and northwest United States. There were a few interesting surprises in the film--especially concerning Lewis' sad life due to debilitating difficulties which today would be diagnosed as a Bipolar Disorder. The interactions of the expedition with the natives was also an interesting surprise. All in all, a terrific film--just know that you'll need to devote a lot of time to it. However, IMDb indicates it's four hours long but the DVD was only about three and a half. I am not sure what this discrepancy is all about--I assume that the time listed on IMDb is just a simple mistake.
By the way, it's never mentioned in the film, but I wonder if President Jefferson sent OTHER expeditions as well but these were just never heard from again. Could this be the case? I do know that Zebulon Pike was soon sent on another western expedition--but there must have been others.
Perfect in every way--not to be missed.