This 1951 Jam Handy Film features the invisible man “Mr. X” as he learns about the new 1951 Chevrolet car models. The opening titles are printed in beautiful cursive over a car silhouette. The camera tracks in on a new car seen through a window. Two Chevrolet personnel are shown in a dealership office, shadows fall in a venetian blind pattern (0:34). They discuss the many types of people they’ve sold cars to, each with a ‘special reason’ for buying Chevrolet. “I wonder what kind of person would combine all the reasons”… Cue footsteps and dramatic organ music as the impressions of invisible feet appear in the office carpet (1:14). A reverb-touched voice asks, “would one of you gentlemen like to talk to me about a new car?” The lead salesman played by Jeffrey Lynn looks straight into the camera in reaction. “My name is X,” states the voice. Lynn walks into the salesroom containing a new Chevrolet (1:52). Mr. X announces that he’s already in the back seat, which is shown springing a little under his invisible weight (2:02). Lynn shows off the safety door lock and backs off from the car, gesturing grandly and discussing its timeless style. The box-girder frame is shown superimposed over the car (2:57). Mr. X indicates that he can see through the car body to its “uni-steel construction,” the welded interior parts are briefly shown in glowing animation (3:15). Close up on the car’s front end as salesman Lynn kneels down to describe the “road-hugging quality that helps give that big car ride.” Lynn opens the hood and discusses the “famous Chevrolet valve-and-head engine” (3:49). An engine cross-section is shown with valves in action (4:10). Lynn talks up Chevrolet’s thorough coats of paint, moving to the rear to pop the trunk. Luggage magically appears inside, courtesy of Mr. X (5:41). A view of the steering assembly fades in through the hood (6:15), illustrations of the shock absorbers are also superimposed. Images of the wheels fade in as Lynn talks up the “self-energizing brakes,” the guts of the brake-drum system are shown (7:02). “Now there’s a lot more inside,” Lynn suggests— in another example of cornball Invisible Man inspired humor Mr. X has already climbed inside, signaling by rolling down the window. The door swings open and the driver’s seat adjusts itself (7:35). Lynn sits in the passenger seat, intimately addressing the viewer regarding “Chevrolet’s exclusive Power Glide automatic transmission” (8:29). The gas and brake pedals move by themselves. “With Power Glide you move smoothly ahead on an oil-cushioned flow of power.” A screen-wipe transitions to the invisible Mr. X test-driving the car with Lynn in the passenger seat (9:05). The view shifts to Mr. X’s POV as the car glides along 1950s highway (9:11). Back at the office, the salesmen discuss Mr. X. Suddenly, Mr. X chimes in, thanking the startled salesmen. A final shot of the car in the showroom fades in. Mr. X declares, “You’re ahead all the way, with Chevrolet.” End titles.

We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com