New Americans

Part of RKO's "This is America" series, this is an Oscar nominated short documentary from 1944 that follows the plight of European immigrants arriving in the USA looking for hope and safety.

A short documentary that demonstrates the willingness of the United States to welcome those fleeing Nazi Europe hoping to discover a land of freedom and opportunity - and to enjoy the "inconceivable plenty" on offer! Yes, that's maybe the problem with this - it portrays an idyll that would certainly have been more attractive than Hitler's jack-boot clad SS, but it does rather paint a slightly idealistic, chorally soundtracked, portrait of their new home. Usually they have little English, money and no lodgings so they depend on the "National Refugee Service" that tries hard to house and find employment for those proud and frequently rather over-qualified new arrivals. What is clear, though, is that these migrants are game for just about anything to support themselves and their families and seem happy to trade the luxuries of places like Vienna for jobs where payment comes in the guise of chickens and vegetables. From the lowliest agrarian to the likes of Albert Einstein, the USA has welcomed - and capitalised on - these hard-working and decent people and though it does labour the point a bit, it does still provide evidence of the offer of hope for many who arrive with nothing more than the clothes they stand up in.