During WWII a great deal of effort was made to educate military personnel and the civilian public about the problem of syphilis, as a part of the war mobilization effort. This incredible restricted film entitled PICK UP — which was flagged at the head and tail to prevent it being shown to civilian audiences — shows the plight of an American serviceman Corporal John Green who rescues a lady in distress, and then spends the night with the girl. It turns out she has syphillis. He fails to visit an aid station or have a pill after having “a time” with the girl. “Clean as a whistle” he tells his buddy — who replies “even a whistle can get dirty.”
Green ends up getting treatment by a physician, and makes a recovery, but he pays a price: he loses his change to go home and see his parents and sweetheart before being shipped overseas, and has to put up with remarks from his fellow soldiers and officers.
The film’s over-the-top scenes, try to scare the viewer to avoid sexual contact that could lead to infection, and to consult a legitimate physician for diagnosis and treatment of existing problems. Aimed at a male viewership, the focus is on the individual’s responsibility to avoid bars, dance floors, loose women and dark parts of the city where temptations lurk and, failing that, to get reliable medical tests and treatment. The film emphasizes the dangers of believing in the false promises of “quack” practitioners. Shots include views of laboratory testing, a brief animated film showing how the disease can spread over the city, and a montage of quack remedies for venereal disease.
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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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
