Wholphin

Very soon we plan to interview Rick Prellinger, the genius behind archive.org. He just published a declaratively-titled book, “The Field Guide To Sponsored Films,” which describes “452 historically or culturally significant motion pictures commissioned by businesses, charities, advocacy groups, and state or local government units between 1897 and 1980.” Here are a few choice samples:

246. Make Mine Freedom (1948, sound, 10 min, color, 35mm)
Cartoon parable presenting the American system of government as the
best in the world. “Dr. Utopia,” a snake-oil salesman of “foreign”
appearance, convinces Americans to drink his quackish “ism” formula.
Citizens are plunged into a totalitarian nightmare in which strikes
are banned, private property is confiscated, and dissenters are
brainwashed. Fortunately “John Q. Public” takes charge and expels the
bad doctor from town. Make Mine Freedom was part of the pubic
relations offensive by business to loosen government controls after
World War II.
LINK TO FILM

64. Brink of Disaster (1972, sound, 27 min, color, 16mm)
Conservative drama bemoaning the national “breakdown of moral,
religious, and ethical principles.” In a college library attacked by
protestors, current-day student John Smith is visited by his forbear,
the John Smith of 1776, who laments that America is threatened with
destruction by “young hooligans.” The two John Smiths debate
radicalism, drugs, sexuality, freedom of speech, and pornography. As
protestors break into the library, the film concludes in a
freeze-frame title: “Will you let this be the end?”
LINK TO PART 1
LINK TO PART 2

169. Goodbye, Mr. Germ (1940, sound, 14 min, b&w, 35mm)
Antituburculosis film targeted at children that drives home its
message with live action and animation. The short portrays the
infection and cure of a two-year-old boy. Included is a visit to a
surreal laboratory, where a doctor addresses the animated tuberculosis
bacillus “Tee Bee” via a radio device hooked up to his microscope
before killing off the germ and its tribe.

If anyone out there has questions for Rick, send them along and we’ll toss them to him.