[78-L] "Prohibition" DVD - The FACTS

[David Lewis]

Steve wrote:

The series presents a composite history of prohibition which repeats many oft told yet widely 
accepted canards and embellished generalizations while occasionally creating brand new mistakes.>>>>

Even with that, I felt "Prohibition" was a bit of a return to form, though he has never IMHO topped my favorite of his films, "The Empire
of the Air" which was I felt purposeful, interesting and at times gripping. "Jazz" was a major misstep and I think Ken has had the 
opportunity many times to have been addressed directly on its foibles; I noted he uses Paul Whiteman's music quite extensively in this
film, though I don't know if that's so much atonement as simply using the selections which his consultants suggested.

And I noted one canard even as I watched "Prohibition;" "Dion" O'Banion was Dean O'Banion; he was Irish, not Italian. This was a
well-traveled error from the newspapers of the 1920s, though that his name was really "Dean" has been known for a long time.
You would think they might take the high road and use the right name. But they didn't.

The film makers who made films like "The Plow That Broke the Plains" and therefore developed in documentary the technique of
scanning in on still photographs -- Paul Strand, Ralph Steiner et al -- were fellows who got their start in still photography. Although
Apple may have credited it to Burns, Burns himself must realize by now that he -- "Ken Burns" -- is a brand, and what he does
may mainly be about burnishing the brand. Altruism may have nothing to do with it; there may be an attitude that says "We'll
rely on our experts to check facts, as historians have opinions and opinions are like a**holes; everybody has one." One might
surmise PBS' cash-poor status may have cut back on his ability to hire many fact checkers, but Burns is an independent, and is
ultimately responsible for the content.

Uncle Dave Lewis
uncledavelewis at hotmail.com