On contemporary mainstream television, it’s not often that airtime is given to prominent intellectuals to debate deep, and thorny ideas, but in 1968 it wasn’t so out of the question. And the documentary "Best Of Enemies" takes viewers back to the time when two of the biggest, wittiest brains around sparred on national television like it was a prizefight (we named it one of the Best Documentaries Of 2015 so far). And we’ve got some copies on the movie on Blu-ray so you can get a ringside seat to the action.
The setting is the 1968 presidential election, and with ABC viewership hitting an all-time low, renowned political thinkers William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal revived the network’s ratings with 10 unforgettable, unscripted debates. Buckley, a famous conservative thinker, and Vidal, a leftist novelist and polemicist, sparked a cultural phenomenon in media and politics with their clashing visions of an ideal America. Again, it’s hard to fathom that kind of space being given to individuals of that calibre these days. And in this exclusive featurette, directors Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon share their enthusiasm for "Best Of Enemies" hitting home video just as the election cycle heats up.
To win, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, tweet: "I want to win Best Of Enemies from @ThePlaylist. #WinThePlaylistContest," and include this link. Your final step: just email us your tweet, with your full name and address, and tell us who you’d like to see debate on national TV. Good luck!
"Best Of Enemies" is now available on home video and digital download.
Update: Contest closed, winners will be contacted via email.