Thomas Hart Benton
by Ken Burns
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Jason RobardsDirector: Ken Burns
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 86 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-09-28
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Pbs Paramount
Movie Reviews of Thomas Hart Benton
Movie Review: great narrative
Summary: 5 Stars
What is remarkable is what a cohesive story this truly comprehensive bio of THB makes. As all documentarians do, Burns clearly had to help along/trace out the narrative thread, but the brilliance of this particular film is that the story of it just seems to emerge on its own.
Also, the story of THB's death is particularly moving. The entire film is a great intro to THB and is accessible for any audience. Even those who feel distanced from the "aloof" world of art will really enjoy this film. This film opened my eyes to actually appreciate art. Previously I was turned off completely by what I saw (and indeed often still see) as pretension.
SUMMARY: The film traces THB's childhood and early training, his time of formal training in Europe and life in NY. After that, THB rejected the elitist world of the NY art scene and instead went back to Missouri and became one of the triumvirate of American Regionalists (John Stueart Curry and Grant Wood were the other two--FYI GW painted American Gothic, the most famous American painting of a farmer and his daughter, though most people think it's his wife. Anyway, THB's work is in much the same vein--Americana). In his work, THB tried to capture America and all its ambivalences. That's why I say it's honest. Though critics might say he was too "Pollyanna"-ish, I would disagree, and I think you will after seeing this film.
I cannot recommend this film enough. Anyone who is interested in the concept of "America" (you know, the optimism, hope, dream, nightmare, utopia, distopia, democratic promise, dark underbelly--all the contradictory impulses within the myth of America) will find this a vital part of that dialogue.
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