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Title Lifestyles U.S.A. Vol. 10 [videorecording].

Imprint Seattle, WA : Something Weird Video, c2004.

Copies

Location Call No. OPAC Message Status
 Axe DVDs 1st Floor  973 L6263  v.10    ---  Available
Description 1 videodisc : sd., col. and b&w ; 4 3/4 in.
System Details DVD.
Note Title from disc label.
Summary Presents various government and business film shorts produced in the 1940s through 1960s. Of special note are: Talking of Tomorrow, a cartoon peek into the future as a mad scientist calls his nephew at Bell Telephone and gets the lowdown on flying cars, picture phones, heli-cycles, wrist-watch radios, and calls to outer space via an optical laser. Age of Specialization which shows a farmer at a general store in 1900 telling two old coots about the "social revolution" in industry that's about to occur which leads to a number of great stock-shot montages of the 20th century.
Contents It's everybody's business -- Prospecting -- Trouble in paradise -- Talking of tomorrow -- Treat her with care -- Help wanted: Secretary -- Age of specialization -- O'Mara's chain reaction -- The American family.
Note It's Everybody's Business (color) as great stylized animation describes the perils of building up a business only to be clobbered by the competition. Comes complete with "money trains," the effects of war (seen as a blood red tidal wave), and a berserk tax vacuum. Odd that something as important and cruel to this country as dollars and cents is made palatable by goofy cartoon characters.
Prospecting (b&w) is a creepy cartoon for salesmen that offers tips on how to find new customers...which, in essence, recommends eavesdropping, snooping around, and butting in on people's privacy.
Trouble in Paradise (color) mixes the grim facts about inflation, rising costs, the national debt and the shrinking dollar with Saturday-morning-style cartoon animation so as to not frighten impressionable adults.
Talking of Tomorrow (color) is a Jetsons-style cartoon peek into the future as a mad scientist calls his nephew at Bell Telephone and gets the lowdown on flying cars, picture phones, heli-cycles, wrist-watch radios, and calls to outer space via an "optical laser." By the way, exactly when is The Future supposed to start?
Treat Her with Care (b&w) is Sixties sexism set to music which strongly suggests that women customers be treated as if they were an alien life form: "Who ever figured out women?" And isn't that ALAN MOWBRAY cleaning a window?!
Help Wanted: Secretary (color) is a similarly sexist view of secretaries as a sobbing boss is driven to a psychiatrist because of bad ones he's hired. The first, "a real looker," was given the job because she's good looking; unfortunately she has the brains of a toaster. Number Two is so inexperienced, she's even dumber, And the third is a terrifying, ball-busting old pro who out-bosses the boss. Obviously, office politics were so much simpler back then...
Age of Specialization (b&w) shows a farmer at a general store in 1900 telling two old coots about the "social revolution" in industry that's about to occur which leads to a number of great stock-shot montages of the 20th century: "The whole country's gonna be just like a beehive!" Instead of being inspired, the two coots mock him.
O'Mara's Chain Reaction (b&w) stars Hollywood veteran VICTOR McLAGLEN (The Quiet Man) as a short-tempered Irish cop in An Average American Town who unexpectedly gives a motorist a break one morning and unintentionally creates a chain reaction of people treating each other right. Oh please. Made by Chevrolet for its salespeople, this one strains so hard for a Capra-esque feel-good flavor that one prays a bomb will quickly drop and blow these damn fools off the face of the earth.
The American Family (b&w) is a somber family portrait of Small Town U.S.A. Mom and Granny want to buy a new sewing machine but Dad can't afford it, so when daughter Mary spends a wad on a dress, Dad screams and Mary runs away. An interesting fusion of sitcom values with a scary noir-ish world.
Subject United States -- Civilization -- 1945-
United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.
Popular culture -- United States -- 20th century.
Capitalists and financiers -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons.
Industries -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons.
Inflation (Finance ) -- United States.
Technological innovations -- Forecasting -- United States.
Wit and humor in business.
Family -- United States.
Added Author Something Weird Video (Firm)
Added Title Lifestyles USA. Vol. 10
Music No. 3630 Something Weird Video

 
    
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