I was just watching, "Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood" by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh, it's about the birth of cinema. It documents the earliest days of the movie industry, spotlighting the enormous contribution made by Europeans, and includes rare footage from early films and interviews with some cinematic pioneers.

There's some amazing stories in this series, one that made me think was about a German studio that was still in business as the market crash was destroying lives all around it. They needed extras for some films they making, so one day they announce people could make say, $10 a day... 500 people show up. The boss goes, "Oh, then tomorrow we only pay, $5 a day!"

The next day 2000 people show up.

The next day he will pay only $1 a day.

5000 people show up for work. They were starving from the depression as the pockets of the studio was filling up.

Then there was the story of how the Nazis tried to erase the works of Jewish intellectuals and filmmakers by burning their creations. Almost overnight cinematic techniques and works of art were lost forever.

One great Jewish filmmaker went to the head of UFA studios and asked to be removed from his contract because he might need to leave Germany for his safety. The head said, "Don't worry! We are behind you, we will stand and support all our Jewish Directors!"

Guess how long the Boss kept his word?

About as long as it took you to read that question.

We can learn a lot from History. We learn that we never learn and are doomed to repeat ourselves.