The American Road

Here's a documentary to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Model T Ford. Whitewashed and a bit simplistic, yes, but it was produced by the Ford Motor Company, so who expected it to concern itself with Ford's racist and often stupid opinions? No, far better to show him as a man with a vision. In truth, that's what he was, as well as a good engineer and a fine salesman of his own products.

Raymond Massey narrates in a thoughtful, contemplative tone, as if he's mildly surprised at each turn in the long story of the Ford Motor Company.

This film is first a promotional film for the Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford. It starts from the horse & buggy days of the 19th century and brings it to modern (1953) times.

Entertaining but fudges some of the facts. It gives a lot of lies & myths about Henry Ford. So no, he didn't build the first automobile. He didn't build his first car all by himself. They omit that the Ford Motor Company was his third company after two previous failures. So don't buy into all the myths they present.

Still it is entertaining as a bit of history about cars, society and the move from an agrarian rural to a urban country. They even put a little slapstick comedy from the silent movie era. Well worth watching.

No idea why this has such a low rating it's a great little documentary about Henry Ford and the origins of the motor car from it's humble beginnings to eventually the present day which is the early fifties in this case.