Victory at Sea

by far one of the best documentaries ever made concerning WW II. The musical score by Richard Rogers and the narration by Mr.Graves adds to the superb quality of these episodes.I loved it at 6yrs. old when it first came out in '52 and love it more now at 54.Excellent!

I watched the series "Victory at Sea" when it was first aired in 1952 and 1953. My dad had me sit with him to watch the documentary week after week. I loved it! Even when my brother was born 10 January 1953. The doctor said my mom would be in labor quite a while, but dad said she would have the baby and he would be home to watch Victory at Sea. He was!

I viewed this several times over the years on PBS, and eventually purchased the VHS copies. I cannot watch this without recalling my dad telling me the places shown where he was stationed, and the events he witnessed. I totally associate this set with my father.

Now I have the DVD set, and just watched it again between Vet's day and my father's 85th birthday in 2005. I miss him all the more since his passing in 2002 watching this set. I LOVE the music!While my dad told me about the war my mom told me about the music. Much of the music is from musicals composed by Richard Rodgers in collaboration with hart. The music for all planes flying is in F sharp, and many other specific key usages. You really need a musical ear to fully appreciate Victory at Sea!!!!

Watching this series is overwhelming to say the least. I once watched the first eight episodes in one day straight through. THat was hard to take, but I sure appreciated this being recorded!

Terry Klasek Saint Louis, Missouri

I first watched this film series at the age of 13 and to say the least I was enchanted. Richard Rogers Music was a huge boost to a documentary that was unequaled then and since. The stark black and white film and the real footage went a long way in providing the realism. I found the Narration excellent along with the haunting refrains of Rogers' score in the background. I have watched the film all 26 episodes time and time again and of course have the original records including the one with sound effects. I strongly recommend the series to anyone interested in the History of World War 11 as it pertained to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp.

I have had the video of all 26 episodes for several years now. I have seen other WWII documentaries on television, but where Victory at Sea stands heads and shoulders above them is in Richard Rodgers' music and, most importantly, Leonard Graves' incomparable narration. I just cannot imagine anyone else narrating that documentary. My favorite part is the last half of the final episode, when the men come home. That's what it was all about in the first place.

I just found the entire 3 DVD set at Wal-Mart in the bargain bin for $5.50, so I thought I would take another look. Total of 13 hours to watch it all (26 episodes). I was born in 1948 and saw most of them on TV in the sixties. Many independent stations repeated them for many years.

Better than I expected actually, time has been kind to the obvious sincerity of it's creators, and to the obvious gratitude and respect they give to all the Allied fighting men and women. More abstract and arty than a straight forward documentary, but very truthful in it's depiction of the causes and final results of WWII. That war was greatly dependent on sea transportation, and the final victory was dependent on who achieved the final mastery of the world's oceans. The Allies were the ones who were able to do it.

Interesting too, to see how they try to strike a balance between big events, and the individual soldiers and sailors that made them happen. The score is impressive, if a bit too much by today's standards. I read somewhere that Robert Russell Bennett contributed just as much as Richard Rodgers to final score. I imagine that Rodgers provided all the major themes, and it was up to Bennett to fit them to the images. Great job!

Should be seen by every ruler, or potential ruler. A warning to tyrants that wars are eventually won by ideals, determination, and the supplies to back them up. Logistics: their quality and delivery will determine the eventual victors. The Allies outproduced and surpassed the material quality of the Axis, attacked their very source in the process, and insured their eventual defeat.

Sorry to see that the producer, Henry Salomon, lived a very short life. IMDb's facts were rather skimpy, I have to find out more about him. He did a few more outstanding documentaries before his early death. Might have more to say at a later time

Trivia: I had all 3 LP records made of the background music, pretty good overall. Unfortunately, the producers decided to add sound effects to the last one, relegating immediately to just novelty status, rather than for serious music listening. Too bad too, because it contained some interesting but more minor themes in the series. Silly stuff like 16 inch guns firing, torpedoes being fired, bulldozers, planes...just for kids mainly.

RSGRE