Sights and Sounds

The Mysterious Lost State of Franklin

Sights & Sounds has recently added a new documentary that will be of interest to local history buffs. The Mysterious Lost State of Franklin is a locally produced film that has been nominated for several awards. The film uses local actors and historic locations to explorethe brief history of the revolutionary era state of Franklin. Franklin existed briefly in what is now upper east Tennessee with its capital in Greeneville. For more information visit the documentary website or place a hold on the DVD in our catalog.

More DVDs on Tennessee history

In Memory of Ben Gazzara

Actor Ben Gazzara died yesterday at the age of 81 after suffering from pancreatic cancer. Mr. Gazzara enjoyed a long and diverse career on the stage and screen, appearing more than 100 roles in film and television. Although he never quite became a leading star, his body of work shows an actor unafraid to try anything, from the challenging work in the films he made with John Cassavetes to his lighter roles in films such as Road House and The Big Lebowski.

Ben Gazzara videos and DVDs at the library

New York Times obituary for Ben Gazzara

In Memory of Etta James

 

Singer Etta James died this morning at the age of 73. Known for her powerful voice and hits such as "At Last," she bridged pop, blues, and rock and roll throughout her long career. Check out Etta James CDs in our catalog or listen online (you'll need your library card number).

Martin Luther King Day, 2012

  

January 16 marks Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and we have several resources available for you to remember him by, including videos and audio recordings. Our collection also includes several videos about the Civil Rights Movement.

Don't feel like getting out? You can also listen to online recordings of Dr. King (you'll need your library card number to log in):

The Wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King Vol. 1

The Wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King Vol. 2

You Got To Move: Stories of Change in the South

 

We've just added a DVD copy of You Got To Move, a documentary about the struggles of "ordinary plain folks" against injustice, told in their own words, with historical photos and films. The film covers community actions against strip mining in Kentucky, toxic waste dumping in Tennessee, and illiteracy and discrimination in South Carolina. These grassroots movements all gained impetus from the legendary Highlander Folk School in Tennessee, which for over 50 years under the leadership of Myles Horton, has catalyzed communication and social change.

You Got To Move website

Test your Recognition of Movie Objects

There are many iconic objects from movies that instantly make you think of the film when you see them. We made our own lamp inspired by the one from A Christmas Story. You can see it by the Sights & Sounds desk at Lawson McGhee Library.

Here is a fun game to test your recognition of famous movie objects:

Famous Objects From Movie Classics

See how many you can get right and then stop by Sights & Sounds for DVDs of the films in the quiz!

A Christmas Story

 

See pint-size hero Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story

Nine-year old Ralphie Parker wants only one thing for Christmas: a Red Ryder BB gun. He comes up with various schemes for convincing his parents that he needs such a gift but he is thwarted at every turn as every adult he meets tells him, "You'll shoot your eye out." His hopes are further dimmed when he beats up the school bully swearing all the way and his mother washes his mouth with soap. He stands in line for hours to plead his case with Santa who responds with-well, you know.

Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2:30 pm at Lawson McGhee Library with special commentary by Jack Neely.

Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War

 

Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War, a new exhibit at the East Tennessee History Center, opens on Sunday, November 20 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The exhibit utilizes artifacts, documents, and informative panels to illustrate Lincoln’s struggle to reconcile his policy preferences with the basic American ideals of liberty and equality during the Civil War.

Sights & Sounds owns several audiovisual resources about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Click the titles below for more information or give us a call at 215-8714.

DVDs:

Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided: Weaves the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln; Abraham the dirt-farmer's son turned Great Emancipator and Mary the emotionally fragile daughter of wealthy Southern slave-owners.

The American Civil War: These 48 lectures, taught by leading Civil War historian Professor Gary W. Gallagher, are a true tour de force-the work of a master teacher at the top of his form. Professor Gallagher richly details the effect of the war on all Americans.

The Civil War: The celebrated documentary by Ken Burns.

Lincoln: Filmed as if through the president's own eyes, Lincoln goes deeper than any documentary has before to reveal the troubled depths behind the man known as the Great Emancipator.

Looking for Lincoln: In light of the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, this documentary focuses on many of the controversial aspects of Lincoln's life--race, equality, religion, politics and depression.

Find more DVDs on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War

Audiobooks:

The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery by Eric Foner: In this landmark work of deep scholarship and insight, Eric Foner gives the definitive history of Abraham Lincoln and the end of slavery in America.

Abraham Lincoln: the Sixteenth President by George McGovern: McGovern describes a complex yet simple man in this biography of Abrahan Lincoln.

1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History by Charles Flood: Best-selling author, renowned biographer, and Harvard graduate Charles Bracelen Flood presents the life of Abraham Lincoln in the monumental year of 1864, when the war and the election made a dramatic turn.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Goodwin: Noted historian Goodwin attempts the ambitious task of capturing in a single volume the complex relationship between President Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet.

Find more audiobooks about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War

Downloadable materials about Abraham Lincoln

Downloadable materials about the Civil War

Joe Frazier, 1944-2011

Joe Frazier's autobiography

Heavyweight champion Joe Frazier has died at the age of 67. Known as "Smokin' Joe, " he was the first boxer to defeat Muhammed Ali. His third fight with Ali is documented in the acclaimed film Thrilla in Manila: Ali vs. Frazier, which is available in our collection.

DVDs with Joe Frazier

The Business of Food

We've added a number of documentaries that reflect the growing interest in the ways that our food supply is produced and managed. These films examine different aspects of the food business and the impact it has on our lives and environment. 

American Farm: In a little town in upstate New York, a close-knit family struggles over many decades to hold onto a small dairy farm. With extraordinary candor and heartbreaking intimacy, this poignant documentary brings to light the true story of an American family: their hopes and dreams, their triumphs over tragedy, the modern conflicts that divide them and the love that binds them together.

Dive!: Inspired by a curiosity about society's careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, the multi award-winning documentary Dive! follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated garbage receptacles of Los Angeles' supermarkets. In the process, they salvage thousands of dollars worth of good, edible food, resulting in an eye-opening documentary that is equal parts entertainment, guerilla journalism, and call to action.

The Farmer and the Horse: Farming in the Garden State is tough. It's even tougher without a tractor. In New Jersey, farmland is more expensive than anywhere else. It's not an easy place to try to start a career as a farmer. But for a new generation of farmers inspired by sustainability, everything seems possible. Even a farm powered by draft horses. Follow filmmaker Jared Flesher as he follows farmers Tom, Matt, and Aubrey out of the suburbs and back to the land. Way back.

Food, Inc.: Lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing how our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profits ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. Reveals surprising - and often shocking truths - about what we eat, how it's produced and who we have become as a nation.

Food Stamped: Presented is an informative and humorous documentary film following a couple as they attempt to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet on a food stamp budget. Through their adventures they consult with members of U.S. Congress, food justice organizations, nutrition experts, and people living on food stamps to take a deep look at America's broken food system.

Fresh: Profiles the farmers, thinkers, and business people across the nation who are at the forefront of re-inventing food production in America. With a strong commitment to sustainability, they are changing how farms are run, how the land is cared for, and how food is distributed. Their success demonstrates that a new paradigm based on sustainable practices can be profitable and a model for the food system, if people choose to support it.

The Harvest (la Cosecha): Every year there are more than 400,000 American children who are torn away from their friends, schools, and homes to pick the food we all eat. Zulema, Perla, and Victor labor as migrant farm workers, sacrificing their own childhoods to help their families survive. Follow these three as they journey from the scorching heat of Texas' onion fields to the winter snows of the Michigan apple orchards and back south to the humidity of Florida's tomato fields to follow the harvest.