Studio: Acorn Media Release Date: 05/13/2008 Run time: 780 minutes

Anyone interested in the birth of America, and those who formed its precious Constitution--that would be just about anybody--will be riveted to all 13 hours of The Adams Chronicles, an Emmy-nominated miniseries from the mid-'70s that focuses on the life, and political dynasty, of John Adams. While occasionally rather talky, the series is accessible, well-directed and a fascinating history lesson, telling the larger story of politics, conflict, and power, through a family and relationships that are touchingly real to contemporary audiences. Adams launched an American political and financial dynasty that the Kennedys and Bushes can only dream of emulating. The second president of the U.S. was a key player in the battle for Independence and the drafting of the Constitution, and his offspring would become statesmen, historians, diplomats, a railroad magnate--even another U.S. president. Originally broadcast in 1976, the height of the American miniseries rage, The Adams Chronicles was a ratings smash, and proves to be a timeless, satisfying tour through America's inspiring formative years.

Adams (also paid detailed homage in both David McCullough's biography and the HBO miniseries starring Paul Giamatti) was a more low-key Revoluntary figure than, say, George Washington or Benjamin Franklin. But his political stealth, and fervent beliefs in liberty and freedom, helped mold the very country at its birth. The Emmy-nominated George Grizzard is nuanced as Adams, whose conscience must forever be reconciled with political reality. His relationship with his intelligent wife, Abigail, is depicted lovingly. Years after the Revolution, living in France as a diplomat for the still-unrecognized United States, Adams greets his family whom he hasn't seen in several years. When Abigail asks, simply, "How are you feeling, Mr. Adams?", he replies, holding her gaze, "Twenty years younger than yesterday." The 13-hour series traces John and Abigail's children, and their children, and so on, up through the Civil War and then the turn of the 20th century. By then there is no doubt that the Adams family is America's family, intertwined with the great upheavals, and achievements, in the young country. --A.T. Hurley

It was a gift and the person really enjoyed it. They were so happy that it was the original John Adams and not the one from HBO.

The history of the John Adams generations beginning with the second President takes in many other historical figures associated with that Adams path. Washington, King George III, John Hancock, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and others were there when the Adams family worked in their way to make America the United States. What this delightful video history also presents, in addition, is the powerful force that wives and children had upon the family leadership. Of course, the children would eventually become the leaders in the family as well as the nation.

"The Adams Chronicles" is 13 chapters/episodes of a family 4-generation history that impacted upon every American. Also other countries. Although not every detail of this family could be put into this 13 hours of history, enough is there. We have the personal side of the Adams' history due to the preservation of the letters of John and Abigail (Smith) Adams. This set of DVDs will take you back to a time when American history began producing heros. A necessary set for every school and every American family. Highly recommended.

This was a disappointment after watching "John Adams (HBO Miniseries)". Characters, script, filming, settings seemed to be of very low budget quality.

This was a very good TV series about John Adams and his descendents; However, I felt that George Grizzard should have been John Quincy Adams and William Daniels should have been John Adams within this series.

The reason for this is due to the fact that Mr. Grizzard didn't quite pull off Mr. Adams's famous "tempermental and dislikeable" personalty, and Mr. Daniels did in his role as John Adams in the movie/musical "1776".

very well done = informational and enjoyable
excellent view of the opinions of different founding fathers
this is 13 well spent hours