Watch American Experience: The Poisoner's Handbook

The American Experience: The Poisoner's Handbook is a documentary film that explores the development of forensic science in the early 20th century. The movie follows the story of two early pioneers in the field of forensic science, Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler, who worked together to create the first systematic methods for detecting poisons in the human body.

Narrated by Oliver Platt, the movie takes the viewers on a journey through the early 20th century New York City, where poisoning was a common method of murder. In those days, there was no effective way to detect poisons in a person's system, and murderers often went unpunished. Into this world, enter Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler who are appointed as the chief medical examiner and the toxicologist respectively by the newly elected reformist mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

The Poisoner's Handbook narrates the development of forensic science through the cases that Norris and Gettler investigate. They start their work by examining the body of a young woman who died from wood alcohol poisoning, a common thing during Prohibition when people tried to make their own alcohol. The investigation leads them to develop a way to test for wood alcohol, which becomes the basis for the new field of forensic toxicology.

The documentary is based on the book by Deborah Blum, and it follows the scientific and political challenges faced by Norris and Gettler. They battled against corrupt politicians, corporate interests and medical practitioners to make forensic science a credible discipline. The Poisoner's Handbook chronicles their dedication to truth and justice in the face of resistance.

We also see how the poisonous things around us, whether arsenic in wallpaper or lead in everyday household items, began to be identified and regulated after decades of scientific discovery. Through an engaging presentation of information, it shows the importance of science in our lives and how discoveries have led to greater regulation to ensure our safety.

The film is well researched, and the narrative style is engaging. It features commentary from historians, forensic scientists, and a reading of the original reports that Norris and Gettler published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The film takes us on a tour of the science behind toxicology and forensic science, making it accessible to viewers who might have limited prior knowledge of chemistry and biology.

As one would expect from a documentary of this kind, the visuals and graphics play an important role in the storytelling. The Poisoner's Handbook blends archival footage, interviews, and reenactments to create a sense of time and place. The movie's stunning visual presentation also serves to capture the era- the grainy footage of New York City streets, the images of sinister chemical factories, and illustrations of the human body's inner workings all add to the film's nostalgic value.

All elements of the movie come together masterfully to create an intriguing, educational, and often chilling story. The Poisoner's Handbook is a fascinating journey into the history, science, and politics of forensic science. The movie exposes the challenges faced by Norris and Gettler in their quest to make forensic science a credible discipline. It also highlights the need for strong investigative methods to solve criminal cases.

In conclusion, The Poisoner's Handbook is an excellent documentary film that tells the important story of the pioneers of forensic science. It provides an engaging and interesting insight into the history of forensic science and in doing so adds value to the field it describes. We see how the corrupt interests of businesses and politicians were exposed and how scientific methods were used to bring justice to victims of crime. This is a must-watch for anyone who loves science, history, or true crime stories.

American Experience: The Poisoner's Handbook is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes.