Ken Burns: Prohibition
TV Show · Documentary · History

PROHIBITION, directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, is the fascinating story of idealism, folly, and above all, unintended consequences. In 1920, after a century of debate, America amends the Constitution to ban the manufacture and sale of alcohol, turning millions of law-abiding citizens into lawbreakers overnight.

2011 · 1h 34m
Starring John Lithgow, Campbell Scott, Peter Coyote
Director Lynn Novick, Ken Burns

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    A Nation of Drunkards
    The Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League push for an amendment to the Constitution, outlawing alcohol nationally.
    52m
  • EPISODE 2
    A Nation of Scofflaws
    Enforcing the new law of Prohibition creates problems.
    1h 50m
  • EPISODE 3
    A Nation of Hypocrites
    Support for Prohibition diminishes in the mid-1920s; Congress passes the 21st Amendment in 1933, repealing Prohibition.
    52m
  • EPISODE 101
    A Sea of Rum
    Republican Herbert Hoover, credited with the booming economy, is re-elected by a landslide, and meekly calls for an inquiry into the problems of Prohibition enforcement. A growing number of men and women across the country, however, begin to believe that only repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment could end the escalating crime, corruption and hypocrisy that has followed in its wake.
    52m

Related

Cast & Crew

  • John Lithgow
    Voice
  • Campbell Scott
    Reader
  • Peter Coyote
    Narrator
  • Lynn Novick
    Director
  • Ken Burns
    Director
  • Ken Burns
    Producer
  • Geoffrey Ward
    Writer

About

Ken Burns: Prohibition

Documentary

PROHIBITION, directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, is the fascinating story of idealism, folly, and above all, unintended consequences. In 1920, after a century of debate, America amends the Constitution to ban the manufacture and sale of alcohol, turning millions of law-abiding citizens into lawbreakers overnight.

Information

Studio
PBS
Released
2011
Rated
PG
© 2011 Ken Burns/ Florentine Films/ WETA

Languages

Original Audio
English (Australia), English, French
Audio

English (United States) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions refer to subtitles in available languages with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)