The Kennedy Films of Robert Drew & Associates (Primary / Adventures on the New Frontier / Crisis / Faces of November) (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Once again Criterion puts together yet another fine package for a film and/or film series. I have been purchasing Criterion items back in the 1990’s when Laser discs were still the best-to-date media delivery system and in the great LP size and some time gate-fold option packages. Always pricey but well worth it. I have been a Kennedy fan back to the 80’s and these films taken before and after Kennedy’s assertion to the Presidency by a Manhattan ad agency (probably the “best/cool” job either represented by 60’s TV shows and now MAD MEN) truly captures the times and the energy of the moment. Great addition to anyone’s collection.

If you grew up in the 50's and 60's, you most likely were fascinated by candidate and then President Kennedy. This gives some peaks behind the curtain as how history came about for him and those around and against him.

A national treasure.

Excellent DVD, quality and packaging.

Wonderful intimate films of the President of the United States and his circle, by a group of pioneers just getting started.

very interesting.

As giant Kenndy fan this was a great addition to my collection of JFK DVDs. Candid not often seen footage of a great president.

The best study of any historical subject is to source primary documents and or contemporary audio/visual from the time. Through Robert Drew's short documentaries an "up close and personal" and relatively uncensored unscripted glimpse is allowed into President Kennedy's personality, his team, and the background to interesting historical events between 1960-63. One anecdote is that the normally media savvy, confident, JFK who is rarely flummoxed, looks startled in his rocking chair in the oval office, for one second, when his brother Bobby suggests that the President go on television that night (June 1963) to give a speech in defence of civil rights for African Americans. The speech was given and is one of JFK's finest and most noble. No plastic spin-driven politician here - just raw unfettered filming of an American leader we have never seen the likes of since (sadly).

An interesting perspective on the Presidency of John F. Kennedy. I found CRISIS the most interesting of the four films. If you grew up with JFK and followed his Presidency as I did then this collection may be worth purchasing. Others with a casual interest might find certain aspects of each film tedious and the overall image quality throughout disappointing. In other words not to all tastes.

Very good