New York: A Documentary Film (1999)
S01E06 City of Tomorrow (1929–1941)
Episode Overview
Over a span of just over a decade, New York experienced tremendous upheaval, driven by the Great Depression and the subsequent New Deal, which fundamentally reshaped both the city and the nation. During this tumultuous period, two extraordinary figures emerged: Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and visionary planner Robert Moses. They endeavored to construct a vibrant future for the city amidst despair. This episode delves into their influential careers and the significant public projects that revitalized New York in the 1930s. It also covers the fall of Mayor Jimmy Walker, the arrival of the New Deal, Harlem's struggles during the Depression, and the growing complexities of automobile influence on urban life.
