An Ocean Apart
A documentary series on 20th-century British-American relations.
A 1988 BBC documentary series, An Ocean Apart looks at 20th-century ties between Britain and America. Hosted by David Dimbleby, it covers the period from World War I to the 1980s, focusing on the people, ideas, and events that influenced both nations. Adam Curtis produced it.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Documentary
- Theme music
- Richard McLaughlin
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Series
- 1
- Episodes
- 7
- Producer
- Adam Curtis
- Executive producers
- George Carey
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The series took three years to make and overran its budget.
- Dimbleby convinced BBC management to air the series on BBC One rather than BBC Two.
- Dimbleby also wrote a book to accompany the series.
Episodes
The first episode covers America's reluctant entry into the First World War, the journey of American troops across the Atlantic, their welcome in Liverpool, and their subsequent disillusionment after the war. The second episode examines economic relations in the 1920s, focusing on free trade and mass production techniques that changed manufacturing in both countries and created economic rivalry. The fourth episode depicts the wartime alliance against Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, with America's dominance evident through its development of the atom bomb. In a role reversal, Britain becomes isolationist while the US emerges as a superpower; Britain's dependence on the US is highlighted after the 1956 Suez Crisis. The sixth episode covers British cooperation with the US during the Cuban Missile Crisis and its avoidance of involvement in the Vietnam War. The final episode focuses on the 1980s alliance between Britain and the US against the Soviet Union.
More in BBC Television Miniseries
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