The film interweaves the personal accounts of polio survivors with the story of an ardent crusader who tirelessly fought on their behalf while scientists raced to eradicate this dreaded disease. Based in part on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Polio: An American Story by David Oshinsky, Features interviews with historians, scientists, polio survivors, and the only surviving scientist from the core research team that developed the Salk vaccine, Julius Youngner.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Linda HuntSelf - Narrator (voice) | Self - Narrator (voice) |
| LLarry BeckerSelf | Self |
| KKathryn BlackSelf | Self |
| BBetty Cook BrownSelf | Self |
| AAnne B. Crockett-StarkSelf | Self |
| JJohn M. JohnsonSelf | Self |
| SSamuel L. KatzSelf | Self |
| PPaul A. OffitSelf | Self |
| DDavid M. OshinskySelf | Self |
| EEleanor SageSelf | Self |
| PPeter L. SalkSelf | Self |
| JJohn TroanSelf | Self |
| EEugene F. WarrenSelf | Self |
| JJulius YoungnerSelf | Self |
 Judy GarlandArchive Footage (from March of Dimes) | Archive Footage (from March of Dimes) |
 Mickey RooneyArchive Footage (from March of Dimes) | Archive Footage (from March of Dimes) |