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"The Men Who Built America" is a six-hour, 4 part mini-series produced by the History Channel which was broadcast in the US Fall of 2012 and UK Spring 2013.
From the official website:
"John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford and J.P. Morgan rose from obscurity and in the process built modern America. Their names hang on street signs, are etched into buildings and are a part of the fabric of history. These men created the American Dream and were the engine of capitalism as they transformed everything they touched in building the oil, rail, steel, shipping, automobile and finance industries. Their paths crossed repeatedly as they elected presidents, set economic policies and influenced major events of the 50 most formative years this country has ever known. From the Civil War to the Great Depression and World War I, they led the way.
Using state of the art computer generated imagery that incorporates 12 million historical negatives, many made available for the first time by the Library of Congress, this series will bring back to life the world they knew and the one they created. The event series will show how these men took a failed experiment in democracy and created the greatest superpower the world has ever seen. We see how their historic achievements came to create the America of today."
When I first heard of this film from a friend, I grew wildly excited. I've always heard of these big names in American capitalism: J.P. Morgan, Vanderbilt. Rockefeller, Carnegie, Ford.
These people have lived a hundred years ago yet they have shaped the world we live in. Their names resonate even today. Let me tell you about the first time I've heard these people's names. BTW the author of this review does not reside in the U.S. nor a Western nation for that matter, yet their contributions to how we see the world as it is are just as profound.
John Pierpont Morgan has been known to me from people that I know who are somewhat do business in New York. They've told me Morgan-Stanley is one of the biggest investment banks there. I also know of a cousin who works at a J.P. Morgan BPO unit in The Fort.
Andrew Carnegie was a name I heard when I read Napoleon Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich". Carnegie along with J.P. Morgan established the United States Steel Corporation, which I read about was the biggest corporation in U.S. history. It was mostly used as an example for valuation of companies in Benjamin Graham's book "Security Analysis".
Rockefeller was a name of one of the historic buildings we visited when I had the luck to go to New York City. Rockefeller should have been a very wealthy man to build such a structure in Manhattan in the early 1900s.
Ford, as we know it is the brand of many automobiles, that are even in use today. Ford Motor Company Philippines is still a significant presence in the Philippine car industry today despite competition from new entrants such as Korean, Chinese car makers.
So, imagine my excitement when I learned of this mini-series that will finally narrate to me the history, the successes and quirks of these mighty titans of capitalism. We have heard their names, but who are they and how have they changed the world we live in?
I'm currently on the second episode of the mini-series and so-far I have been enjoying every bit of the show. From the old photographs, video clips, commentaries from people such as Donald Trump, Steve Wynn, George Soros, historians and more. The actors are quite believable in their roles. You can almost feel the awesome power of their determination, will and vision.
Visit the official website HERE.
Official Trailer:
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