# BIOGRAPHY OF FIDEL CASTRO & STORY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION 49554

This episode of Biography, which first aired in 1963, provides viewers with a history of Cuba’s Fidel Castro. The film features historical Cuban footage dating back to 1933, including a number of shots of Fulgencio Batista and Fidel Castro, as well as still images of a young Fidel. The film opens with scenes from Havana in 1961 when Castro addresses a massive crowd, declaring Cuba a socialist republic. Mike Wallace ( 01:35 ) begins the story in Havana during the 1920s ( 01:52 ), which featured mob violence and a strong U.S. presence in the harbor: U.S. warships anchor in Havana’s bay ( 02:35 ) and U.S. sailors go ashore to enjoy the life of Cuba’s capital city. Production of sugar cane ( 03:05 ) is the nation’s biggest industry, and in 1926, Fidel is born on a sugar cane plantation. At that time, Gerardo Machado ( 03:26 ) rules Cuba. In 1933, a general strike in Havana ( 03:40 ) for higher wages turns into a demonstration against Machado’s dictatorship. Havana is looted, and a group of soldiers stage a revolt ( 04:40 ) as Machado flees the country. The soldiers are led by Fulgencio Batista ( 04:46 ), who installs Dr. Ramon Martin ( 05:27 ) as president. Batista is the real power in Cuba, installing and removing presidents at will, and he sends his political enemies to the Isle of Pines ( 06:05 ). The Cuban government polices its citizens, constantly trying to arrest any threat to Batista’s rule ( 06:22 ). Batista accumulates considerable wealth ( 06:30 ) then decides to be…

- Kind: Film
- Genres: Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/49554BiographyOfFidelCastro)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/49554BiographyOfFidelCastro?play=1)