20th Century: 1930s - The Great Depression (2000)

Synopsis
The 1930s are best known for the pain and anguish of the Great Depression, a global economic catastrophe. This documentary, the fourth volume in the ten-part series The 20th Century, examines this eventful decade. The failures of President Herbert Hoover to get America out of the Depression are contrasted with the successes of Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose abundance of social programs like the Works Progress Administration helped revive a struggling nation. The use of authentic newsreel footage helps capture the mood of the 1930s in great detail. In spite of the problems of this decade, the documentary also examines lighter issues like the rise in popularity of movies and baseball. The 1930s: Great Depression makes it clear that the '30s were critical years in terms of leading into the war-infested 1940s. ~ John Schietinger, All Movie Guide