Henry Ford

Henry Ford was not only an inventor and tinkerer, but also a social engineer and visionary who sought to transform America, increase mobility, and end the isolation of the average family. Narrated by Oliver Platt, this PBS-aired American Experience documentary, written and directed by Sarah Colt, examines the life and legacy of Ford, whose influence continues to this day. Born in rural Michigan, Ford quickly grew bored with farm life, preferring to work on tractors and other machinery. Ford eventually moved to the city, joining others in a race to develop an automobile. One of Ford's first efforts had no brakes and could only move forward, but he kept at it. Originally thought to be merely a plaything for the wealthy, Ford aimed to make the auto a cheap means of transportation for the masses. Blessed with confidence in his own talent and vision, Ford finally hit on the Model T, a durable, easily repaired automobile. A farm wife once wrote of Ford that he "lifted us out of the mud" and "brought joy to our lives." Ford was credited with keeping costs low by perfecting the mass production line (work on the factory floor was likened to the noise of "a million sinners groaning as they are dragged to hell"). Ford promised workers a five-dollar-a-day wage, which he hoped would allow employees to buy the cars they produced. Revealing a devious and often despicable side, Ford also hired men to gather information on the personal habits of his workers, and throughout his life aimed invectives at the wealthy, labor unions, and Jews, whom he repeatedly attacked in his own newspaper (distributed in his car dealerships). The film also covers his epic labor battles, massive displays of ego, and troubled relationship with his only son, Edsel (scorned for being weak), as well as his ultimate desire to escape to a simpler America, avoiding the modern world he helped create. Combining archival footage with insights from historians, this biography of a brilliant but deeply flawed man is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)