MEXICO: FROM BOOM TO BUST, 1940-1982 (TV)
Summary
This documentary details the political history of Mexico
between the years 1940 and 1982, using narration,
interviews, newsreel footage, and film of political
figures. It begins with a description of Mexico's
economic growth following World War II and continuing
into the 1960s, termed the "Mexican Miracle." The
Mexican presidential-election system is described
briefly, with emphasis on what the filmmakers see as
its undemocratic nature. Footage of the 1958 railroad
workers strike is shown, and Fidel Velazquez, secretary
general of the worker's union at that time, is
interviewed. The growth of activist movements and
demonstrations is discussed, and two student leaders
from the demonstrations of 1968, Eduardo Valle and
Marcelino Perello, talk about the protests and what they
meant for the students. Luis Echeverria's election as
president in 1970 is presented next, and the program
describes his commitment to the improvement of the
plight of Mexico's agricultural workers. His efforts
and contributions to Mexico are outlined, and so are his
extravagant spending tactics, which, viewers learn, left
the Mexican economy in shambles. Echeverria's
successor, Jose Lopez Portillo, is shown taking office
just before huge reserves of oil were discovered in
Mexico, changing the country's economic situation.
Despite this economic boon, the narration explains,
after borrowing a lot of money to develop the oil finds
and placing fourth in the world ranking of oil-exporting
countries, Mexico ended up in a financial mess when the
price of oil dropped in 1981. The country's treasury
secretary at the time, Jesus Silva Herzog, relates the
direness of Mexico's situation and the details of its
people's financial problems following this drop in oil
prices. Finally, Portillo is shown giving a speech
lamenting his failure to aid those to whom he promised
help but concluding triumphantly, "ÁViva Mexico!"
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 2000.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WGBH Boston, MA
- DATE: November 30, 1987
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:50
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:16521
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Mexico - History; Mexico - Politics and government
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1988
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Neal B. Freeman … Executive Producer, for Blackwell
- Austin Hoyt … Executive Producer, Producer, Writer
- Jose Luis Ruiz … Co-Producer
- Eleanor Hall … Researcher
- Sheldon Mirowitz … Theme Music by
- Ardys Flavelle … Theme Music by
- Gene Galusha … Narrator
- Luis Echeverria
- Jesus Silva Herzog
- Marcelino Perello
- Jose Lopez Portillo
- Eduardo Valle
- Fidel Velazquez