PBS Distribution Holiday Gift Guide: Ken Burns' Country Music, Downton Abbey Collector's Set & Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

This holiday season PBS Distribution has a wonderful selection of gift-giving options for Ken Burns and music lovers, fans of Downton Abbey, the Roaring 1920s Jazz Age, and the Poldark Saga. Available just in time for the holidays are: Ken Burns’s “Country Music,” “Downton Abbey: The Complete Limited Edition Collector’s Set,” the feature film, “The Chaperone” (a perfect accompaniment to “The Downton Abbey Collector’s Set”), “Poldark: The Complete Collection” and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Would You Be Mine Collection.” 

What gifts will you be giving this holiday season? 

Check out my review of The Chaperone and Poldark: The Complete Collection.

COUNTRY MUSIC: A FILM BY KEN BURNS Directed and produced by noted documentarian, Ken Burns, “Country Music” is an epic series that explores the roots of “America’s music.” Focusing on biographies of country music royalty and its original trailblazers: the Carter Family, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and more, the documentary also features over 100 interviews with country music stars, 40 of which are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. These include Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Naomi and Wynonna Judd, among many others. The documentary traces the history of the genre from its early years in the 1920s when country music was called “hillbilly” music, to when Hollywood B movies started the fad of singing cowboys, to the rise of Juke Joints after WWII, which changed the style of the music completely. Throughout, the documentary focuses on the constant struggle between the desire to make country music as mainstream as possible and the periodic reflexes to bring it back to its roots. At the documentary’s heart are the stories of unforgettable songs and the artists who created them. “Country Music” has a run time of 16 hours on 8 discs and over 3 hours of extra bonus footage not aired during broadcast. The DVD SRP is $99.99 and the Blu-ray SRP is $129.99. The series is currently available.

DOWNTON ABBEY: THE COMPLETE LIMITED-EDITION COLLECTOR'S SET

With the new feature film coming out in September, fans of Downton Abbey can curl up and relive the magic that started it all with the Downton Abbey Collector’s Set. This set is complete with all six of the Emmy®, Golden Globe®, and SAG® Award-winning series (52 episodes). The set contains 13 hours of bonus content containing all of the splendor, romance, desire and heartbreak, scandal and rumor that flourished both upstairs and downstairs, as well as exclusive collectible keepsakes. The run time of the set is approximately 51 hours on 22 discs and the SRP is $69.99. The Gold Keepsake Box Contains: - Working Downton Abbey pull-bell (the famous bells from the opening credits) ready to hang on the wall or stand on a shelf. - Collectible set of six elegant cork-based coasters featuring the official Downton Abbey crest. - The Costumes of Downton Abbey, an exclusive photo-filled booklet featuring a forward from executive producer Gareth Neame. - Collectible hardcover book with 22 discs featuring all 52 episodes including each season finale Christmas special, video extras from each season, full color photography and favorite quotes from iconic characters.

THE CHAPERONE Louise Brooks, the 1920s silver screen sensation who never met a rule she didn’t break, epitomized the restless, reckless spirit of the Jazz Age. But, just a few years earlier, she was a 15 year-old student in Wichita, Kansas for whom fame and fortune were only dreams. When the opportunity arises for her to go to New York to study with a leading dance troupe, her mother (Victoria Hill) insists there be a chaperone. Norma Carlisle (Elizabeth McGovern), a local society matron who never broke a rule in her life, impulsively volunteers to accompany Louise (Haley Lu Richardson) to New York for the summer. Why does this utterly conventional woman do this? What happens to her when she lands in Manhattan with an unusually rebellious teenager as her ward? And, which of the two women is stronger, the uptight wife-and-mother or the irrepressible free spirit? It’s a story full of surprises—about who these women really are, and who they eventually become. This film has a run time is approximately 2 hours and the SRP is $24.99. The film will be available on November 26, 2019. In Emilee's opinion: The Chaperone is a must see movie! It was fantastic! I love the 1920's and PBS Distribution has done it again by providing some remarkable entertainment about a popular screen sensation named Louise Brooks. I laughed, cried and was surprised at some parts. Overall it was an amazing story about two women who leave Wichita, Kansas to pursue Louise's dream of studying dance in New York City.  Elizabeth McGovern played Norma Carlisle (the chaperone) and was fantastic.  In the end, the women help each other see each other's potential and life isn't as bad as they think. They make it work even when things aren't going the way they had planned. I definitely recommend watching The Chaperone. This movie would make a great gift for anyone.

POLDARK: THE COMPLETE SERIES The critically-acclaimed series “Poldark,” starring Aidan Turner (The Hobbit) as the smoldering Ross Poldark and Eleanor Tomlinson (Death Comes to Pemberley) as the fiery Demelza, follows the thrilling story of solider Ross Poldark after his return to Cornwall from fighting in the American Revolution. Once he is back in Cornwall he realizes that his life at home has been completely turned upside down – his father is dead, his lands are gone, and the love of his life has agreed to marry someone else. Ross comes to find that his fighting days are far from over. Will he be able to return his crumbling estate to its former glory? Will an unexpected romance change his life forever? Follow Ross Poldark’s journey and watch the whole saga unfold in the 44 episodes that comprise the complete series. The box set has a run time of approximately 42 hours on 15 discs and an SRP of $199.99. The complete collection will be available November 12, 2019. In Emilee's opinion: PBS Distribution's holiday gift guide continues with a series called, Poldark. It is AMAZING! And I can't stop watching. I haven't finished all five seasons but I'm already hooked. It started with Aidan Turner (Ross Poldark) fighting in the American Revolution. Then he returned home to Cornwall but everything changed. His love, Elizabeth thought he had died so she found someone else to marry. His father passed away. There was so much that Ross lost but he was mature and dealt with all his trials. Aidan Turner was breathtaking and treated everyone with kindness (besides those who made wrong choices).   I loved the unexpected romance between him and Demelza. They deserved each other.  I loved Demelza's character. She was unexpected and may relate to a lot of people in the world (unfortunately). With a little kindness, people can change and become better than they were.  If you haven't watched Poldark, I highly recommend it. I am definitely following Poldark's journey.

MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD: WOULD YOU BE MINE COLLECTION

Stroll down memory lane with this four-disc set featuring 30 iconic episodes from the beloved children’s series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, hand-selected by Fred Rogers Productions. This set includes classic episodes about getting along with others, dealing with different feelings, and caring for your family. Plus enjoy visits from incredible guests, such as the music group STOMP, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and Olympian Suzie McConnel. This set also includes a special bonus episode from Mister Rogers’s visit to the crayon factory. The collection has a run time of approximately 15 hours on 4 discs and an SRP of $19.99. The collection is currently available.

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services for free in the hope that I would mention them on my blog and offer an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.