Project Twenty

These are wonderful documentaries, only a few of which are available on DVD these days. One hour, full music score and intelligent narration, they set the standard for smart, saavy entertainment via the documentary format. My favorites? All of them so far that are out, only the latter show hosted by Groucho Marx on the automobile is a bit flat. THE INNOCENT YEARS, THE GREAT WAR, THE JAZZ AGE, LIFE IN THE THIRTIES and - on VHS oddly - THE TWISTED CROSS are smart stuff indeed. END OF THE TRAIL - Indian history by Walter Brennan and THE REAL WEST by Gary Cooper are both enormously moving. Brennan and Cooper are excellent in every way. NOT SO LONG AGO, America 1945-50 is a hard to find show, hosted by Bob Hope who narrates STORY OF WILL ROGERS. You cannot find a smarter documentary series save for some recent PBS work by Dave Grubin.