In 1937 General Motors hired the Jam Handy Organization (maker of corporate sales films) to produce a “documentary” about the U.S. auto industry in response to the decisive victory by the UAW in the Flint Sit-Down Strike. The result titled From Dawn to Sunset, attempts to establish the American worker as an individual from a purely consumerist and material view. The film presents a propaganda like view of Capitalism and American consumption in the days leading up to WWII.
Interesting stuff, I suppose, in a way. It shows a time when GM actually made cars worth buying. Also gives a bunch of nice vignettes into peoples lives, even if the scenes of people shopping and living were probably staged. The heavy propaganda parts with the narrator made me uncomfortable, but the rest of it was worth the watch.
Looks like my morning routine, hot towel straight razor shave, a comb full of brylcreem, and eggs. I would imagine that the images of so many working, getting paychecks and buying goods and services was a welcome relief in 1937. I am sure we will be seeing similar images in the coming years. GM knows they are right around the corner.
Amazing that “Mexican Coke” gets 59 comments and this only got 2. 3 if you count this comment. Of course, I saw some Mexican coke over the weekend and bought 4 bottles for my bar, I did not buy a Chevy over the weekend. haha. $
Great post. I fell in love the Jam Handy videos while watching the laserdisc release “You Can’t Get There From Here, Ephemeral Films 1946-1960” back in the 90’s. The Prelinger Archives have a ton of other great industrial films from over time. http://www.archive.org/details/movies