American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots (2002): cast, story & where to watch
2002 · Film
Released in 2002, American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots is a history and documentary film directed by Joseph Tovares, running about 53 minutes.
What it’s about. On August 1, 1942, a 22-year-old Mexican American man was stabbed to death at a party. To white Los Angelenos, the murder was just more proof that Mexican American crime was spiraling out of control. The police fanned out across LA, netting 600 young Mexican American suspects. Almost all those taken into custody were wearing the distinctive uniform of their generation: Zoot Suits. The tragic murder and the injustice of the trial that followed, coupled with sensational news coverage of both, fanned the flames of the racial hostility that was already running rife in the city. Within months of the verdict, Los Angeles was in the grip of some of the worst violence in its history.
Who’s in it. American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots stars Héctor Elizondo as Narrator.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on History Vault and PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots page.
If you liked it. Fans of American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge and Green Book.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots (2002)?
- In US, American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots is available to stream on History Vault and PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Who stars in American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots?
- American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots stars Héctor Elizondo.
- When was American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots released?
- American Experience: Zoot Suit Riots was released in 2002, with a runtime of about 53 minutes.