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Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America

Play trailer Poster for Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America 1998 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Polio was an unpredictable and devastating disease that once challenged the very fabric of our society. Gripped by fear, fueled by lack of information and armed with ingrained prejudice against the unfamiliar, the American middle class succumbed to a polio hysteria nearly as insidious as the epidemic itself, even as scientists struggled to uncover its true cause. This documentary examines polio's physical and emotional costs and highlights those at the forefront of finding its cure.

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Walter Goodman New York Times This history, like the companion book by Nina Gilden Seavey, Jane S. Smith and Paul Wagner, gives a survivors' eye view of the illness: pain, isolation and paralysis; braces, crutches and iron lungs; little hope of cure and fear of death. Dec 2, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews
Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America

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Movie Info

Synopsis Polio was an unpredictable and devastating disease that once challenged the very fabric of our society. Gripped by fear, fueled by lack of information and armed with ingrained prejudice against the unfamiliar, the American middle class succumbed to a polio hysteria nearly as insidious as the epidemic itself, even as scientists struggled to uncover its true cause. This documentary examines polio's physical and emotional costs and highlights those at the forefront of finding its cure.
Director
Nina Gilden Seavey
Producer
Paul Wagner, Nina Gilden Seavey
Screenwriter
Nina Gilden Seavey
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 22, 2005
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Stereo