American Experience · SEASON 14
War Letters
Episode 3 · 2001-11-01

- Documentary
Episode overview
War letters from the American Revolution to the Gulf War are read by 15 actors (including Joan Allen, Edward Norton, Kevin Spacey and Courtney B. Vance). Accompanied by clips, home movies and re-creations, the letters reflect the horror, boredom, anger and, mostly, fear that war engenders. Many readings are followed by notations that the writers had died, but the hour isn't unrelentingly grim. “Pucker up,” one WWII GI writes to his sweetheart on VJ Day. “Here I come.”
55 minutes
Season 14 episodes
1. New York (6): The City of Tomorrow2001-09-10
2. New York (7): The City and the World2001-09-17
3. War Letters2001-11-01
4. Woodrow Wilson (1): A Passionate Man2002-01-06
5. Woodrow Wilson (2): The Redemption of the World2002-01-13
6. Mount Rushmore2002-01-20
7. Miss America2002-01-27
8. Zoot Suit Riots2002-03-01
9. Monkey Trial2002-02-23
10. Public Enemy #12002-02-17
11. Ansel Adams2002-04-21
12. A Brilliant Madness2002-04-28
13. Ulysses S. Grant (1): The Warrior2002-04-01
14. Ulysses S. Grant (2): The President2002-04-02