This 1960 B&W film by the Editors of Fortune revolves around the executives in a marketing company deciding whether or not to buy an EDP (electronic data processor), which they also refer to as a computer. Featured in the film (although not mentioned by brand name) are IBM mainframe computers including the IBM 026 key card punch (seen at 15:59).
In the film, five well-dressed executives sit in an office discussing whether purchasing an EDP will provide enough benefits to offset the cost (1:52), such as tracking and analyzing customer orders (5:26). They continue their discussion at a restaurant, where they enjoy a meal and cigarettes (6:26). A company using computers is shown. The magnetic tapes (7:40) are exchanged, programming circuits (7:43) installed, and high-speed printers (7:46) spit out information on fan-folded paper. Discussion about using computers to cut inventory costs in half moves to the gym (9:04) where the men ride stationary bicycles (9:35) and rowing machines (9:48). They discuss a company, represented by a woman typing into a perforated tape machine, which produces punch cards (10:28-11:05). They now receive massages and shave in the locker room (12:00). The discussion continues on a United Airlines flight (12:45). The customer now being discussed regarding inventory management is a chain of shoe stores. Women try on shoes as we see boxes and boxes of shoe inventory. The EDP solution was to assign each box a computer card (13:07-14:22). A stewardess checks on the men (14:44). Back in the office (14:49), one of the men gets a shoeshine while a secretary hands out food and drinks. They discuss an auto parts store (15:17) who has purchased a computer (15:56) to handle orders from auto repair shops. A Gulf pole sign (16:30) is seen as the parts are delivered. The men continue their discussion at the elevators (19:19) as an attractive woman joins them (19:34). The scene moves to a living room where the woman seductively puts her hands on a man’s shoulders as he continues to discuss buying a computer (21:24).
Back at the office, a 3D model (22:22) of a campaign launch is used to explain how a computer could determine where deviations from sales has occurred in time to adjust the approach.
One executive says computers will be the electronic nerve system of a business (25:23). He then makes eerily true predictions about computers (25:23-26:00). These include a time when oral messages will be translated onto punch cards, salesmen will use portable instruments to send orders over the phone, cash registers will feed straight into computers, and executives will view results electronically on a board on the wall.
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