The Statue of Liberty (film) The Statue of Liberty (film) The Statue of Liberty is a 1985 American documentary film on the history of the Statue of Liberty ("Liberty Enlightening the World"). It was produced and directed by Ken Burns. The film first aired on October 28, 1985. It was narrated by historian David McCullough. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film included readings by Jeremy Irons and Arthur Miller, among others. Also features Paul Simon's "American Tune" at the beginning and end of the film. McCullough, then-New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, former congresswoman Barbara Jordan, director Miloš Forman,
Statue of Liberty After the United States entered World War I in 1917, images of the statue were heavily used in both recruitment posters and the Liberty Bond drives that urged American citizens to support the war financially. This impressed upon the public the war's stated purpose—to secure liberty—and served as a reminder that embattled France had given the United States the statue. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge used his authority under the Antiquities Act to declare the statue a National Monument. The only successful suicide in the statue's history occurred five years later, when a man climbed out of one of the