Hoover Dam: The Making of a Monument

Okay, first you get four-and-a-half million cubic yards of concrete. Well, actually, first you decide to change the geographical landscape of the United States by irrigating the desert Southwest. Combining abundant archival footage and commentary from several individuals who worked on the Hoover Dam project (begun in 1931), this WGBH documentary effectively encapsulates the unbelievable industrial effort involved in building the dam, as well as the hellish working conditions the workers had to endure. Although the subject matter was clearly worth more than 60 minutes, the filmmakers did a reasonable job of explaining the chronology of the project, from finding the site for the dam (Black Canyon), to characterizing the obstacles and the engineering brilliance that overcame them, to topping off the structure (Feb. 6, 1935). When it was finished, Hoover Dam stood 60-stories tall (726½ feet), backed up the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, and, via 17 turbines, generated two billion watts of electricity. 5,000 men worked on the project and 112 of them died for their trouble. A solid chronicle. Recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (P. Van Vleck)