Great archival footage tells the story in three parts: an increasingly drunken America and the crusade to ban the sale of alcohol; the successful passing of nationwide prohibition and the millions who ignored it; and the increasing crimewave fueled by the money from illegal alcohol sales that leads to a repeal movement that uses many of the same arguments the prohibitionists used themselves. Burns and writer Geoffrey Ward are to be praised for making a film about prohibition without a single mention of Elliot Ness, although Al Capone is a central character. There are lots of well chosen quotes read by famous actors whose voices you probably won't recognize. And lots of talking head historians and writers, of whom Pete Hamill and Daniel Okrent are the best. Overall, not as entertaining as some of his other works, but not as long either! ( )