Watch the national premiere of the documentary, The Day Carl Sandburg Died on WTTW at 9 PM CST on September 24, 2012.
This documentary (83 min.) is a dynamic exploration into the life and work of the iconic American, Carl Sandburg. From an impoverished youth on the prairie of Illinois to the halls of Congress and the Ed Sullivan Show, it was a tale of perseverance and success. During his lifetime he was revered, becoming one of the most successful writers of the 20th century. But when he died in 1967, his legacy suffered an unusual an inexplicably fast decline. His work was disparaged and his remarkable life all but forgotten.
The Day Carl Sandburg Died revisits the impressive range of his work through modern-day celebrities, scholars, artists, family and friends. A strong, succinct biographic thread connects his life story to his most significant works and how his life, in turn, influenced events. Abundant archival film clips and television appearances re-introduce the iconic Sandburg with all his nuances.
The Day Carl Sandburg Died is made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly.
- For more information about the film and to view the trailer visit the official website.
- For more excerpts and interviews about the film and Carl Sandburg, visit pbs.org.
- To purchase a copy of the film, go to pbs.org.