For two and a half years, Americans fought against the British, Canadian colonists, and native nations. Some of the War of 1812's battles and heroes became legendary, yet its blunders and cowards were just as prominent. The two-hour film shows how the glories of war become enshrined in history — how failures are quickly forgotten — how inconvenient truths are ignored forever. With stunning reenactments, evocative animation and the incisive commentary of key experts, The War of 1812 presents the conflict that forged the destiny of a continent. Premieres Monday, October 10, 2011 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

The War of 1812 is a production of WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions Inc., in association with WETA Washington, D.C.

Images

  • Warof1812_01

    Photo by David Litz. Courtesy WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions Inc.

    British in firing formation letting loose the “fog of war,” in a re-enactment from The War of 1812.  Premieres Monday, October 10 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

  • Warof1812_02

    Photo by Stephen McCarthy. Courtesy WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions Inc.

    American regular soldiers, in a re-enactment from the The War of 1812.  Premieres Monday, October 10 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

  • Warof1812_07

    Photo by David Litz. Courtesy WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions Inc.

    The British impressment of American sailors on the USS Niagara, in a re-enactment from the The War of 1812.  Premieres Monday, October 10 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

  • Warof1812_08

    Photo by Mieke Zuiderweg. Courtesy WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions Inc.

    The Kentucky reinforcements of William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Indiana Territory, in a battle near Fort Meigs, Ohio, in a re-enactment from the The War of 1812.  Premieres Monday, October 10 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

  • Warof1812_09

    Photo by Mieke Zuiderweg. Courtesy WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions Inc.

    U.S. soldiers fighting at the Battle of Tippecanoe, Indiana, in a re-enactment from The War of 1812.  Premieres Monday, October 10 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

  • Warof1812_10

    Photo by Mieke Zuiderweg. Courtesy WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions Inc.

    U.S. soldiers in retreat, in a re-enactment from The War of 1812.  Premieres Monday, October 10 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).