American Experience The Rockefellers: Part 2 (1988– ) watch online HD

This is the second part of a biographical portrait of the Rockefeller family. "The American Experience" has managed to do an exhaustive film--over three hours in length. Part one was mostly about the life of John D. and his son, John, Jr.--but much of part two also discusses both men (in the case of John because he lived so very long). And, following a discussion of their lives it branches out into discussions of the various famous and not so famous members of the family. All in all, this is an exceptional film--just like part one. It is relatively thorough and chock full of interesting facts and insights. I strongly recommend it. However, I had a very, very, very minor quibble about one section of the film as it discussed Rockefeller Center. It made it sound as if it was the only major building project in New York during the Depression, but the HUGE Chrysler Building and Empire State Buildings had just been completed as the Rockefeller Center Project began.

Well told and intelligent, the saga of the Rockefeller family is one of the great American stories. There was a lot of detail in this thorough documentary I had never known before. I was never bored despite the two parts running three and a half hours.

That said, it was somewhat lacking in emotion, as, apparently the Rockefellers were themselves at times. Unlike the story of the Kennedys or FDR, or others that American Experience have covered, it felt like a great history lesson, but not a powerful film.

That almost certainly is a comment on the subjects, not the film-making, and I'm glad they didn't try to force this cold, distant and strange bunch into artificially likability.