The 30's were marked by the worst economic depression in the nation's history, a painful time which tore apart households and financial institutions, and ruined untold dreams of the common man. Soup lines, massive unemployment, and social unrest threaten to overwhelm the country until Franklin Roosevelt takes office and brings with him a ?new deal? to bring an end to the depression. The 1940's brought America another great challenge?perhaps it's greatest?fighting a massive world war against Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan; the likes of which the nation had never encountered before. The 40's saw Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball, the formation of Israel and the United Nations, while films like Casablanca and Citizen Kane gave Americans a respite from the War, as did a young skinny singer named Frank Sinatra. Post war euphoria ushered in the fabulous fifties an era of great economic expansion and dreams. The 1950's saw the birth of the next great youth revolution?Rock and Roll and its king Elvis Presley?while Rosa Parks? brave stand started the modern civil rights struggle. All these years are brought to life in this fascinating documentary.
