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Season 1 – The Innovators: The Men Who Built America

Play trailer Season 1 – The Innovators: The Men Who Built America Oct 2012 Documentary History Special Interest Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford are names synonymous with innovation and big business in America. They all built empires and created advances in technology. They helped shape the country in its early days by doing things such as developing the models for modern railroads, creating the modern financial system and making cars accessible to the masses. The men came from meager beginnings to build their respective empires, which helped formulate the concept of the American Dream. This series profiles the lives of these early visionaries and includes perspectives from such modern business icons as Mark Cuban, Alan Greenspan, T. Boone Pickens and Jack Welch.
The Innovators: The Men Who Built America — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Men Who Built America is hampered by a narrow view of greatness and unconvincing reenactments, but the sheer breadth of pioneering personalities covered makes for a compelling enough history lesson.

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Critics Reviews

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Arifa Akbar Independent (UK) 07/14/2020
The signature marks of far wider purse strings than a bog-standard BBC documentary were all over this high-octane hour, with its filmic reconstructions, its rousing soundtrack and its access to high-ranking talking heads. Go to Full Review Linda Holmes NPR 07/11/2020
The material is there for an intriguing show about how big business worked in a very different era. Unfortunately, that history is presented in just about the dullest way possible; the reenactments are very corny and the narration falls flat. Go to Full Review Michael Miner Chicago Reader 07/11/2020
The history is dished out at a junior high level, but when you're pitting cherries that's the way you want it. At some point it hit me. This was American history as Game of Thrones. Vanderbilt et al are stamped from the die of Tywin Lannister. Go to Full Review Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 07/14/2020
It's a fairly decent mix with the dramatic scenes looking authentic enough but the production does its credibility no favor when blowhard publicity hound Donald Trump shows up to comment. Go to Full Review Patrick Mulkern Radio Times 07/14/2020
[A] superb docudrama series. Go to Full Review Mack Rawden CinemaBlend 07/11/2020
4.5/5
The overall narrative has a really nice rise and fall structure to it that should appeal to a wide base. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

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09/12/2020 Loved this. Make more just like it! See more Read all reviews
The Innovators: The Men Who Built America — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Campbell Scott

Narrator

H.W. Brands

Narrator

Mark Cuban

Narrator

Donny Deutsch

Narrator

A.J. Achinger

Actor

Russ McCarroll

Executive Producer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 16, 2012 A New War Begins Out of the turmoil of the Civil War, the nation enters an age of enlightenment fueled by five innovators who will change the world forever. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 16, 2012 Oil Strike The demand for oil goes sky high and Vanderbilt turns to John D. Rockefeller. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 23, 2012 A Rivalry Is Born Andrew Carnegie immigrates to the United States with his parents and starts working at age 12. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 23, 2012 Blood Is Spilled Carnegie hires Henry Frick to help him achieve his goal of besting Rockefellar. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 30, 2012 A New Rival Emerges Carnegie and Rockefeller continue to battle; JP Morgan establishes a bank in New York City. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 30, 2012 Owning It All The Edison Electric Company is created and begins wiring homes in New York. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 11, 2012 Taking the White House Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie and Morgan plan to buy the White House. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 11, 2012 The New Machine Henry Ford devises a plan for a gas-powered car; McKinley is assassinated. Details

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The Innovators: The Men Who Built America — Season 1

The Innovators: The Men Who Built America The Innovators: The Men Who Built America The Innovators: The Men Who Built America View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Russ McCarroll, Paul Cabana, Stephen David
Network
History
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Documentary, History, Special Interest
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 16, 2012