With more than 1,000 patents to his name Thomas Alva Edison was perhaps the most creative inventor in the history of mankind. Yet, as so often happens with 'textbook names' we know very little about him.

Edison was the incarnation of the All-American Dream - the country boy who made good. In 70 years' active working life of often 15-20 hours a day he made invention a commercial proposition, changed the course of science, and made a decisive contribution to how we live today.

"Written and directed with distinction" (The Guardian)