The Current War
The film portrays the competition between Thomas Alva Edison and George Westinghouse over what electric power delivery system that was to be used in the United States. In the late 1800s, the light bulb had recently been invented and discoveries about electric power made it possible to illuminate towns and cities in a brand new way. Edison and Westinghouse wanted to build an electricity grid across America, but disagreed about whether direct current or alternating current would be the best solution to ensure a system that could power both lights and machines.
![Photo: Thomas Alva Edison sitting next to a phonograph placed on a table with an embroidered table cloth. He is wearing a suit and leather shoes.](https://api.ndla.no/image-api/raw/7SqUIEBL.jpg?width=1024&cropStartX=93.59871285860655&cropEndX=6.303630891393432&cropStartY=58.1291886677498&cropEndY=16.212048131600326)
Thomas Alva Edison, in the film played by Benedict Cumberbatch, had a brilliant mind, but he was also self-centred and stubborn. Edison was the first to develop an electric light bulb that lasted more than two hours. He believed that direct current was the best option to power light bulbs and machines by using electricity.
![Photo: Portrait of George Westinghouse. We see a man with white hair, sideburns and a large moustache. He is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a bow tie.](https://api.ndla.no/image-api/raw/P1oAb5ze.jpg?width=1024&cropStartX=100&cropEndX=0.4931294326241135&cropStartY=85.7796308290155&cropEndY=7.541288860103592)
George Westinghouse, played by Michael Shannon, was an engineer who rose to prominence by inventing the railway air brake. He believed that alternating current was the best option for the American electric grid, since it could be transported over longer distances and would require fewer power plants.
![Photo: Nikola Tesla seated in front of a large coil. He is wearing a suit and black leather shoes.](https://api.ndla.no/image-api/raw/rabZ9t7K.jpg?width=1024&cropStartX=100&cropEndX=1.4880571209016393&cropStartY=100&cropEndY=16.581454509177973)
Nikola Tesla, played by Nicholas Hoult, was an inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist who first worked with Edison and later with Westinghouse. He was a pioneer in solving the challenges of using alternating current.
Before you watch the film
Do you know what is meant by electric current? If you do, explain it to a partner. If not, find out more before you watch the film.
Use a physics textbook, make an internet search, or follow the link below to watch a film about electric current.
Link to film on YouTube: 'What is Current'. The film is made by The Engineering Mindset
The Current War:
About the film:
Released: 2017
Country of origin: USA
Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Screenplay by: Michael Mitnick
Music: Volker Bertelmann, Dustin O'Halloran
Cinematography: Chung Chung-hoon
Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Holland, Katherine Waterstone