Death in the West
- Episode aired Sep 9, 1976
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
12
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Photos
Daniel Horn
- Self
- (as Dr. Daniel Horn)
Helmut Wakeham
- Self
- (as Dr. Helmut Wakeham)
Storyline
Did you know
- SoundtracksIntermezzo from The Karelia Suite
(Theme tune)
Written by Jean Sibelius
Performed by The Radiosymfoniorkestret
Featured review
Brilliant documentary was long suppressed by tobacco companies
Even though "Death in the West" was first aired 44 years ago, it has only recently become available again. British reporter Peter Taylor interviewed tobacco company executives and several western U.S. ranch hands who were long-time smokers and who were seriously ill with lung cancer and emphysema. The cowboys' doctors were also interviewed. The film's effects are devastating: the tobacco executives come off as flippant and dismissive while talking about all the money cigarettes generate, while the old, sick cowboys describe how they always thought cigarettes were safe. Several vintage Marlboro TV commercials are included, and watching those just increases the film's impact.
After one showing in 1976, Philip Morris filed suit against the filmmakers, stating that they were misled and never knew cigarettes would be portrayed in an unfavorable light. An out-of-court settlement locked the film away for years and "Death in the West" has only recently been available for viewing, after many decades of suppression.
If you're a young person thinking about starting smoking, you really should watch this film before you make a decision. Besides potentially saving your life, you can see how casually tobacco companies often treat the health effects of cigarettes. Those health effects are now far better known and documented than in 1976, so "Death in the West" should be required viewing for all teenagers and young adults.
After one showing in 1976, Philip Morris filed suit against the filmmakers, stating that they were misled and never knew cigarettes would be portrayed in an unfavorable light. An out-of-court settlement locked the film away for years and "Death in the West" has only recently been available for viewing, after many decades of suppression.
If you're a young person thinking about starting smoking, you really should watch this film before you make a decision. Besides potentially saving your life, you can see how casually tobacco companies often treat the health effects of cigarettes. Those health effects are now far better known and documented than in 1976, so "Death in the West" should be required viewing for all teenagers and young adults.
helpful•00
- mrb1980
- Mar 31, 2020
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