Tom Cohen

Six documentaries that portray American family life.

Many times during his presidency, Lyndon B. Johnson said that ultimate victory in the Vietnam War depended upon the U.S. military winning the "hearts and minds" of the Vietnamese people. Filmmaker Peter Davis uses Johnson's phrase in an ironic context in this anti-war documentary, filmed and released while the Vietnam War was still under way, juxtaposing interviews with military figures like U.S. Army Chief of Staff William C. Westmoreland with shocking scenes of violence and brutality.

Six-part documentary on the city of Muncie, Indiana - nicknamed "Middletown" after a study in the 1920s deemed it representative of middle America. The series finds that amid the great ...

Documentary celebrating 10 years of Rugrats.

Howie Snyder is an archetype: a retired Marine colonel in his mid-40s, a prototypical American entrepreneur struggling to make his business go. Howie's Shakey's Pizza franchise in Muncie, Indiana employs his whole family: wife, nine children and Howie himself. He is the representative of the American Dream: the chance to invest long hours and hard work in exchange for financial security for oneself and family.

Focusing on a mayoral race in Muncie, Indiana, The Campaign follows closely the personalities, strategies and pressures of an American political contest. In particular, it examines the sharply contrasting styles and backgrounds of the Democratic and Republican candidates.

"This film shows the agricultural revolution taking place in the villages of East Pakistan, with the help of American advisors (including Ben Ferguson) who assist the farmers to identify and solve their problems, both individually and with community effort. The film was presented by the Agency for International Development, produced by Amram Nowak, and directed by William Jersey" (US National Archives). The film was distributed by the US Information Agency.