4 reviews
If you aren't familiar with the CCC and FDR's programs during the Great Depression, this will be an eye opener.
I had heard about the basics in a political science course, that FDR's New Deal really saved capitalism in America from possible revolution, so this wasn't all new. But here it was, in old film footage, the Hoover camps in D.C., the marchers with signs demanding "food, clothes, shelter" (the nerve!). And there were images of the soil erosion from poor farming and timber harvesting. And the hobos riding the rails, the soup kitchens, the despair. My prof was a great teacher and person, but there's something about seeing the people's faces, hearing their voices, seeing the work they did, that goes beyond political theory.
You look at the good being done by the CCC, instead of just handing out unemployment or welfare checks, and you wonder why we aren't doing something like this today? Are there no projects that need building? No people who can't find work? After the economic collapse of 2008, and the election of Obama and a Democratic Congress later that year, they could have, during that window.
But then you hear the ignorant remarks by Repubicans like Romney, about how the lazy 47 percent think they are entitled to food, clothing and housing, who only want to mooch off the government, and you realize how much of a disconnect with reality and history many of our politicians suffer from. Is this the "other side" of the issue that some think should have been included in this film? Yes, there's more that could have been covered. I would have liked to see a nut graf on the variety of New Deal programs, like the WPA, and where the CCC fit in. I know the Sky Line Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains was one of those projects, but I had associated it with the WPA, though perhaps both the CCC and WPA were involved? Nevertheless, this film covers a lot of ground and is a good introduction to the subject. It is just one piece of the picture. To understand the larger context and political discussion you need to keep studying.
A good complement to this film is Ken Burns' new documentary on The Dust Bowl. The opening of this CCC film starts with this, but goes on to show the larger situation of environmental problems across the nation, and gives you more economic context.
I wish it would have shown some stronger images of projects built, then and now, with names and places. But I guess there were so many, it was hard to know where to begin.
As I watched this, I couldn't help but think about some of the parallels with Nazi Germany during the 1930s, which had programs to get youth out into nature to build strong adults,and to put people to work. This film makes a brief, general reference to this. Ironically, the CCC helped prepare our young men for the military when war did break out, in part because the Army helped establish the program, but it was not intentional. War brought an end to the CCC. Too bad. We lost a fine tradition.
I had heard about the basics in a political science course, that FDR's New Deal really saved capitalism in America from possible revolution, so this wasn't all new. But here it was, in old film footage, the Hoover camps in D.C., the marchers with signs demanding "food, clothes, shelter" (the nerve!). And there were images of the soil erosion from poor farming and timber harvesting. And the hobos riding the rails, the soup kitchens, the despair. My prof was a great teacher and person, but there's something about seeing the people's faces, hearing their voices, seeing the work they did, that goes beyond political theory.
You look at the good being done by the CCC, instead of just handing out unemployment or welfare checks, and you wonder why we aren't doing something like this today? Are there no projects that need building? No people who can't find work? After the economic collapse of 2008, and the election of Obama and a Democratic Congress later that year, they could have, during that window.
But then you hear the ignorant remarks by Repubicans like Romney, about how the lazy 47 percent think they are entitled to food, clothing and housing, who only want to mooch off the government, and you realize how much of a disconnect with reality and history many of our politicians suffer from. Is this the "other side" of the issue that some think should have been included in this film? Yes, there's more that could have been covered. I would have liked to see a nut graf on the variety of New Deal programs, like the WPA, and where the CCC fit in. I know the Sky Line Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains was one of those projects, but I had associated it with the WPA, though perhaps both the CCC and WPA were involved? Nevertheless, this film covers a lot of ground and is a good introduction to the subject. It is just one piece of the picture. To understand the larger context and political discussion you need to keep studying.
A good complement to this film is Ken Burns' new documentary on The Dust Bowl. The opening of this CCC film starts with this, but goes on to show the larger situation of environmental problems across the nation, and gives you more economic context.
I wish it would have shown some stronger images of projects built, then and now, with names and places. But I guess there were so many, it was hard to know where to begin.
As I watched this, I couldn't help but think about some of the parallels with Nazi Germany during the 1930s, which had programs to get youth out into nature to build strong adults,and to put people to work. This film makes a brief, general reference to this. Ironically, the CCC helped prepare our young men for the military when war did break out, in part because the Army helped establish the program, but it was not intentional. War brought an end to the CCC. Too bad. We lost a fine tradition.
- worleythom
- Jan 14, 2014
- Permalink
We got a well-organized documentary on the CCC and what it was like to be there. The story of three million men put to work by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the legacy that they left us.
His story is told through a hand full of people that lived through time. It is supplemented with moving pictures and photographs. There is a film clip of John Wayne in "Three Faces West" (1940) describing the usefulness of sticking together. Jonathan Alter was one of the writers and narrator; he is the author of "FDR's 100 Days and the Triumph of Hope."
Everything moves so fast that you will want to watch the presentation over again for missed details.
His story is told through a hand full of people that lived through time. It is supplemented with moving pictures and photographs. There is a film clip of John Wayne in "Three Faces West" (1940) describing the usefulness of sticking together. Jonathan Alter was one of the writers and narrator; he is the author of "FDR's 100 Days and the Triumph of Hope."
Everything moves so fast that you will want to watch the presentation over again for missed details.
- Bernie4444
- Oct 4, 2023
- Permalink
I love PBS documentaries and have watched a ton of them through Netflix in recent weeks. Because I have seen so many (especially from "The American Experience"), I can see which ones rise above or fall below the quality standards this network has set--and it's usually, very, very, very high. So, because "Civilian Conservation Corps" was such a sub-par show, it really stands out from the rest. Now this isn't to say it's bad--it just isn't nearly as good as a typical PBS show.
There are two main problems with this particular show. First, the number of interviewees who worked for the CCC is very small (five, I think) and you wonder why they didn't talk with more folks. Surely there are a lot more workers who could tell their stories. Second, the show didn't offer much in the way of dissent concerning the CCC. Now I am not saying the CCC was a bad thing, but some did feel that way in FDR's time. Also, today in particular, the idea of government spending our way out of an economic disaster is even more controversial. Yet, according to the film, this is a GREAT thing and there really wasn't any controversy. Could this be because the show had a political agenda (particularly following the huge spending bills just passed by Congress in 2009)? Or was it just an oversight? The lack of a critical examination bothered me--though the show still is well worth seeing.
There are two main problems with this particular show. First, the number of interviewees who worked for the CCC is very small (five, I think) and you wonder why they didn't talk with more folks. Surely there are a lot more workers who could tell their stories. Second, the show didn't offer much in the way of dissent concerning the CCC. Now I am not saying the CCC was a bad thing, but some did feel that way in FDR's time. Also, today in particular, the idea of government spending our way out of an economic disaster is even more controversial. Yet, according to the film, this is a GREAT thing and there really wasn't any controversy. Could this be because the show had a political agenda (particularly following the huge spending bills just passed by Congress in 2009)? Or was it just an oversight? The lack of a critical examination bothered me--though the show still is well worth seeing.
- planktonrules
- Sep 16, 2011
- Permalink