The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God

About The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God

They called themselves the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, but because of their ecstatic dancing, the world called them Shakers. Ken Burns creates a moving portrait of this particularly American movement, and in the process, offers us a new and unusually moving way to understand the Shakers.

The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God (1984) is a documentary film directed by Amy Stechler and Ken Burns. The film is filed under 19th century and religion.

David McCullough stars as Narrator (voice), Paul Roebling as (voice), Julie Harris as (voice), and Olga Bellin as (voice). Released in November 1984, it runs 60 minutes.

The screenplay is by Amy Stechler and Tom Lewis. Produced by Florentine Films. It streams on PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel in the United States.

There Will Be Blood, A Fortunate Man, and The Song of Bernadette make useful companions to The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God. It carries a NR rating.