The Congress(1989)
The Congress Synopsis
For 200 years, the United States Congress has been one of the country's most important and least understood institutions. In this elegant, thoughtful and often touching portrait, Ken Burns explores the history and promise of this unique American institution. Using historical photographs and newsreels, evocative live footage and interviews with David Broder, Alistair Cooke, Cokie Roberts, Charles McDowell and others, the award-winning film chronicles the personalities, events and issues that have animated the first 200 years of Congress and, in turn, our country.
The Congress (1989) is a documentary and history film directed by Ken Burns, released on March 19, 1989 with a runtime of 1h 29m. It stars David McCullough, Cokie Roberts, Alistair Cooke and Arthur Miller. Viewers rate it 7.6 out of 10 across 5 ratings.
- Director:
- Ken Burns
- Writers:
- David McCullough, Bernard Weisberger
- Production:
- Florentine Films
- Status:
- Released
The Congress Cast & Crew
Main cast
David McCullough
as Self - Writer / Narrator
Cokie Roberts
as Self - Journalist
Alistair Cooke
as Self - Journalist
Arthur Miller
as Self
- Charles McDowell
Charles McDowell
as Self - Newspaperman
- Barbara Fields
Barbara Fields
as Self - Historian
- John C. Stennis
John C. Stennis
as Self - Former Senator
- David S. Broder
David S. Broder
as Self - Reporter
- George Tames
George Tames
as Self - Photographer
- James MacGregor Burns
James MacGregor Burns
as Self - Historian
- Jerome Dempsey
Jerome Dempsey
as (voice)
- Shelby Foote
Shelby Foote
as (voice)
Key crew
Directed by Ken Burns, written by David McCullough and Bernard Weisberger.
Explore more Documentary titles
The Congress Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 7.6/10 from 5 ratings.
You may also like
John Candy: I Like Me
2025
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
2019
9/11: Inside the President's War Room
2021
Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20
2022
Sidney
2022
I Am Heath Ledger
2017
I Am Ali
2014
Whitney
2018
RBG
2018
Downloaded
2013
For the Love of Spock
2016
Red Army
2015
180° South
2010
The Unknown Known
2013
One Life
2011
Justin Bieber's Believe
2013
Who Are You, Charlie Brown?
2021
Why We Fight: Prelude to War
1942
The Secret
2006
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
2020
Movies similar to The Congress
Jeffrey Smart
2022
Becoming Marilyn
2022
Diana: The Interview that Shocked the World
2020
Solo los vivos necesitan terapia
2023
Andrei Rublev
1966
Birdman of Alcatraz
1962
Cinderella Man
2005
My Friend Dahmer
2017
Francisco Brennand
2012
Da L'Mulud
1987
Mouloud Feraoun
2009
Michael Collins
1996
Prometey
1936
Viva Zapata!
1952
Man on the Moon
1999
Simplement Viola: Pour l’amour de la Sagouine
2016
Malcolm X
1992
Dolores
2018
Dreyfus
1930
Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing
2006
The Congress – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Congress online?
+
The Congress (1989) is available to stream on PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel, WETA+ and TPT, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in The Congress?
+
The main cast of The Congress (1989) includes David McCullough, Cokie Roberts, Alistair Cooke, Arthur Miller and Charles McDowell. The film was directed by Ken Burns. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was The Congress released?
+
The Congress was released on March 19, 1989 and runs for 1h 29m.
Is The Congress worth watching?
+
The Congress (1989) holds an average rating of 7.6 out of 10 from 5 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary and history films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.