America Today

America Today serves as a significant example of early American social documentary filmmaking. The film compiles newsreel footage that highlights critical issues of its time, including fascism, labor struggles, and war preparations. It features notable scenes, such as Mussolini and Hitler alongside Franklin D. Roosevelt, and covers protests like the Scottsboro demonstration in Washington, D.C.

This documentary's skillful editing presents a stark panorama of the socio-political climate of the 1930s. Viewers witness police violence against striking steelworkers and labor unions confronting scab workers during a dairy farmers strike. The film conveys Hurwitz's belief in the urgent need for radical change, making it a compelling study of historical activism.

For collectors, America Today is available in all formats, making it accessible for various media collections. Its historical significance and the context it provides about labor movements and global politics of the era enhance its value in any documentary collection.