Drinks, Crime and Prohibition Drinks, Crime and Prohibition

Documentary · 2018 · 51 min Paramount+
Available on Philo, Prime Video, Paramount+

Prohibition failed to see America sober. It weakened the country's respect for the law, organized crime became more pronounced, and the streets were turned into warzones. However, because of it, it caused an expasion of the United States prison system and federal criminal law enforcement. Delve deep into the area of speakeasies, the 1920s, bootlegging, and the legal prevention of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic drinks in the United States from 1920 to 1933.

Documentary · 2018 · 51 min
Director Alex Jouve

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1

    Flappers and Bootleggers

    After decades of decrying liquor and its corrosive impact on American culture, the Prohibition Party got their wish in 1919 when the 18th Amendment took effect, banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The ban was almost unenforceable from day one. The “Lost Generation” flocked to speakeasies, moonshine was made at home, corruption infected every level of the government, and gangsters grew in wealth and power. Witness the early days of Prohibition and the violent events that sent it careening towards its final days.

    43 min · Jun 11, 2018
  • EPISODE 2

    Gangsters and G-Men

    In the 1920s, Americans blatantly ignore Prohibition, while gangsters and small-time bootleggers use it as an excuse to build a gigantic underground industry. Up until this point, the federal role in crime prevention barely existed, but new president Hebert Hoover marshals the power of the state against it and Al Capone, the nation’s most famous outlaw. Witness their epic battle, which reshaped American law enforcement as we know it, and see how changing attitudes and a national crisis finally brought an end to the ban on liquor.

    43 min · Jun 18, 2018

Related

Cast & Crew

  • A‌J

    Alex Jouve

    Director
  • A‌J

    Alex Jouve

    Producer
  • W‌M

    William Morgan

    Producer
  • J‌W

    Jason Williams

    Producer
  • T‌E

    Tim Evans

    Producer
  • David Royle

    Producer

About

Drinks, Crime and Prohibition

Documentary

Prohibition failed to see America sober. It weakened the country's respect for the law, organized crime became more pronounced, and the streets were turned into warzones. However, because of it, it caused an expasion of the United States prison system and federal criminal law enforcement. Delve deep into the area of speakeasies, the 1920s, bootlegging, and the legal prevention of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic drinks in the United States from 1920 to 1933.

Information

Studio
Smithsonian Channel
Released
2018
Rated
TV-PG
Region of Origin
United States
© 2018 SNI/SI Networks L.L.C. All rights reserved.

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Original Audio
English (United States), English (Australia)
Audio
English (United States) , English (AAC)
Subtitles
English (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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