Almost half of this hour-long show seemed to be dedicated to an anti-smoking campaign. Despite being an ex-smoker (and happy about it), I still thought it overemphasized here and a bit out of place. What should have been emphasized were the segments giving the history and variety of tobacco. That's what Modern Marvels does with it's other episodes, but here it became preachy instead of educational.
And, as bad as they made cigarettes look, they made cigars look really attractive. Man, you wanted to rush out and buy one of these expensive stogies. It was almost a public relations account for cigars made in Latin America. They showed how each one is made and wrapped individually. Some of these babies are really expensive, too. We're talking $100 or more.
Anyway, before touching on the rest of the program, it was mentioned early in the episode that tobacco is (1) adaptable; (2)profitable; (3) pleasurable; (4) a tax bonanza; and (5) a killer.
Regarding the later, MM says "it's a product that if you use 'as directed,' it will kill you." This is the kind of thing that went for quite awhile on this anti-cigarette propaganda piece. Even as one who hates them, I was getting annoyed how biased this show turned out to be.
Later, they go on to almost glorify pipe smoking and the wonderful art of briarwood handmade pipes. They mention smokeless tobacco: snuff, chewing tobacco, etc., but barely touch on dangerous that it, too. Oral cancer, although not nearly as prevalent as lung cancer, is a big danger with people who "chew," and cigars and pipe tobacco isn't exactly health food, either.
Whatever, we see and hear about all these forms of smoking. The most interesting part of this show on tobacco was the history of it, both in the U.S. and in Europe. I wish the program had dealt more with that. Tobacco has a long, varied history....and an interesting one. By the way, there are several forms of it - most of which will get you high - they never discussed.