America considerable progress in the early years of the 20th century is chronicled in the 1937 film America Marching On. The account of a miller's insight, planning and the resultant prosperity is told in a captivating manner. The story of how cities grew through industrialization, progressed and then fell prey to uncontrolled growth is beautifully recounted in A Place To Live. The depictions of the miserable living conditions in the slums of Philadelphia are both matter-of-fact and emotionally moving. The clips on Asbestos in the 1952 film According To Plan are actually quite informative. The film offers some practical suggestions to people wishing to build or renovate their homes. The repetitive discourse on the virtues of asbestos can be forgiven, since the sponsor was a well-meaning manufacturer. The animated film A Man Of Action provides some interesting footage after the discourse on building material. This film points to the devastating effects of negligence on a community. It is interesting to note how the township of Levittown sprung up almost overnight in the film The Quiet Revolution - thanks to Ford tractors and machinery. This is an intelligently rendered and captivating look at a very critical period in America's history of urbanization.

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American Suburbia