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Darwin's Darkest Hour [Blu-ray]

Cusick, Henry Ian (Actor) Rated:
Unrated
Format: Blu-ray
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
$6.49
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November 17, 2009 		—
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Genre Mystery & Thrillers
Format Widescreen, Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, NTSC, Color, AC-3, Dolby
Contributor Cusick, Henry Ian
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 42 minutes
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Product Description

Product Description

Starring Henry Ian Cusick ("Lost") and Frances O'Connor ("Mansfield Park") Darwin's Darkest Hour depicts the professional and personal trauma Charles Darwin endured the year before the publication of On the Origin of Species. Darwin's life's work, what he called "his abominable volume," is in danger of being scooped by Alfred Wallace, at the same time, one of his children is stricken by scarlet fever and one with diphtheria. His wife, Emma, is his rock, helping him through the turmoil even though his work challenges her deep Christian faith. We flash back with Charles to his journey as he figures out what he called "the mystery of mysteries" and come to understand why a letter from Wallace is such a bombshell. In the end, it is the remarkable, erudite Emma who will see Charles through this nightmare, even as one of her children dies of fever. Darwin's Darkest Hour brings to life the compelling human story behind the publication of one of history's most influential theories.

Amazon.com

National Geographic makes superb use of its vast store of nature footage in Darwin's Darkest Hour, which dramatizes how Darwin wrestled with honor and ambition when a rival scientist was on the verge of publishing material exploring similar theories of how species are created. Darwin (Henry Ian Cusick, Lost) hesitated to publish from concerns about the religious controversy that might erupt; he held back until he was sure he had the evidence to substantiate his ideas about natural selection. Darwin's Darkest Hour suggests that his wife Emma (Frances O'Connor, Mansfield Park), though firm in her religious belief, pushed Darwin to secure the proof that his writings predated his rival's. Interwoven with this immediate conflict is the story of how Darwin conceived his theories in the first place--accompanied by gorgeous footage of rainforests and mountainsides, seals and seabirds, iguanas, tortoises, and much, much more. Darwin grappled with the industry of bees, the sex lives of barnacles, and the feeding habits of Venus flytraps.

Darwin's Darkest Hour provides both a sprightly exposition of a volatile branch of science (more than a hundred years later, his work continues to provoke violent responses) and beautiful illustrations of what obsessed this influential scientist. Also on the DVD is an excellent special feature about the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin found the most vivid illustrations of his ideas. --Bret Fetzer

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 0.7 x 5.4 inches; 3.2 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ NOV4193B
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Widescreen, Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, NTSC, Color, AC-3, Dolby
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 42 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ November 17, 2009
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Cusick, Henry Ian
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Nat'l Geographic Vid
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002N1AE46
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5
29 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Joey Maier
5.0 out of 5 stars a much more reasonable film
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2014
Verified Purchase
This film and the film Creation both cover the difficulties - both personally and professionally, that Darwin faced when writing On the Origin of Species. Personally, he dealt with the reactions of his highly religeous wife Emma Wedgewood, and the boughts of depression due to the death of his daughter Annie. Professionally, he had to struggle with what to do about a document from Alfred Russell Wallace who had independently discovered and written about natural selection.

Of the two films, this is more carefully made. Unlike Creation, it doesn't unnecessarily dramatize Darwin's relationshipship with his wife's pastor (....someone with whom he actually worked closely on charity work after the publishing the Origin.) Creation dwells on visions and hallucinations (neither of which I'm aware of Darwin discussing) and quack medical treatments (which Darwin actually DID use.) This film is thankfully free of that focus.
5 people found this helpful
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Susan
2.0 out of 5 stars Boring
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2023
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Was recommended by a travel company that was promoting tourism to Galapagos. I tried for two evenings to get through it and gave up. Boring and dull.
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A. J Terry
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent explanation of evolution for those unfamiliar with its basic principles
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2009
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"Darwin's Darkest Hour" is visually gorgeous, whether it's the many scenes in Darwin's upper-middle-class British home or the nature shots that are sometimes interspersed with them. It's also intellectual, consisting almost entirely of Darwin carefully explaining his theories to his wife Emma and his children. Never mind that in real life Emma had probably heard them all many times: The goal of this film is clearly to educate the viewer. I was hoping to learn something, because I'm an adult who does not work in the hard sciences and who has not heard Darwin's theories explained in detail since high school. It turned out that I've remembered all the material in the film, and have considered it part of the basic stuff that "everyone knows." The film lacks real drama; it ends with Darwin receiving a copy of his just-published _The Origin of Species_, and does not enter the controversy that followed publication. Therefore, it was a overall a bit of a disappointment to me.

BUT, I think this would be a fantastic movie to show to high school kids, and younger kids with good vocabularies, to explain Darwin's principles of evolution to them. And, since theories of evolution have also evolved since Darwin, this movie inspired me to start reading Stephen Jay Gould's books.
4 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed this movie very much.
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2010
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As far as I'm concerned no one does these kinds of movies better than the British. I'm not a Darwin expert and never will be, but I enjoyed this movie as a visually stunning and wonderful story. I don't usually watch movies to critique them (no criticism intended here), I very much enjoy reading the very detailed comments about the accuracy and how the movie was made, it's like I'm getting a history and movie making class for free. But for me, I just want to be entertained. So if you want to be a critic......go for it, if you want to see an enjoyable movie go for it, to each his own. I hope you enjoy this movie as much as I did. :o)
3 people found this helpful
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cele Abad-Zapatero
5.0 out of 5 stars The drama prior to the 'Origin of Species'
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2014
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This video is an excellent dramatization of many of the events in Darwin's family (spouse, children and himself) prior to the publication of his influential book 'On the Origin of Species'. The personal and scientific events are accurately documented and portrayed, including: the timing of the letter/packet from Wallace, his scientific and personal dilemma, the suggestions by his professional colleagues etc. The only thing for which I do not have a sound documentation (from my readings) is whether or not the suggestion to consult with his friends came from Emma, his wife. It is quite possible but I have not read (or know) of any document confirming. That aside, it is and excellent and engaging film.
One person found this helpful
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A. Khasin
2.0 out of 5 stars Sappy dramas like that abound in better incarnations and don't call for ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2016
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If natural selection were true, this attempt would go extinct on arrival.
Totally devoid of fascination with the major branch of knowledge finding its scientific foundations, or with its subject - life itself - is amusing. Sappy dramas like that abound in better incarnations and don't call for shadows of great scientists. Can I have my money back
One person found this helpful
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FilmGal
1.0 out of 5 stars Bad anti-Christian propaganda
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2017
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An anti-God movie that tries to make Darwin some kind of hero he was not. Bad anti-Christian propaganda.
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Matt
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice movie
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2010
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Darwin's wife was one of strong character grace. She was a very good wife and stood by his side through thick and thin. There are some tragedies in this documentary, but it was good nonetheless. Darwin goes through his accounts and discoveries as he comes to his conclusion of the theory of evolution. Even though his wife is a devout Unitarian Christian, she supports him fully. He goes to different parts of the world making discoveries,which all help him form his theories. Really nice addition to a blu-ray/DVD collection. Most know who Charles Darwin is, so I don't have to go into specific details of the movie. It's rather short, but a great source of history. It's not out to prove that there isn't a God, only to ask questions, which we all should do.
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