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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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? |
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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?! |
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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... |
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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. |
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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. |
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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-
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United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.
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Popular culture -- United States -- 20th century.
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Capitalists and financiers -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons.
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Industries -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons.
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Inflation (Finance ) -- United States.
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Technological innovations -- Forecasting -- United States.
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Wit and humor in business.
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Family -- United States.
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Added Author |
Something Weird Video (Firm)
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Added Title |
Lifestyles USA. Vol. 10 |
Music No. |
3630 Something Weird Video |
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