Documentary Style
HistoricalThe Polio Crusade
The remarkable story of defeating polio through collective action and science. Vaccine debates and public health campaigns that echo today's challenges.
Year
2009
Type
film
Runtime
60 min
Language
English
Director
Sarah Colt
Genres
Summary
In 1950, fear gripped Wytheville, Virginia. Parents burned children's belongings, theaters closed—anything to avoid polio.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, this film traces the crusade to conquer polio. The film interweaves survivor accounts with Basil O'Connor's story, who revolutionized philanthropy by asking citizens to contribute dimes instead of relying on wealthy donors. The March of Dimes funded Jonas Salk's vaccine research while promoting awareness, turning eradicating polio into America's national crusade. The film captures vaccine safety debates, federal urgency, and the 1955 breakthrough when Salk's vaccine was declared effective.
When Americans banded together to conquer disease, creating a fundraising model that transformed public health.