This color film ‘Family Affair’ was produced in 1952 to promote the Bell Telephone Company. It also represents one of the earliest screen appearances of actor Steve McQueen.

Title card shows FAMILY AFFAIR followed by an animated house that has been near downtown in a city for 50-55 years (various ‘lifes’ of the house: sad, happy, loud, quiet are shown) (:07-:42). The narrator explains that when people move in, things change – the walls change colors, furniture changes, this is all animated

(:43-1:18). The animation dissolves into regular footage which was lived in by Bert Reilly, his wife, and 3 children. Introduced is Kay Reilly and her youngest daughter, Pat, who still lives at home. The telephone rings and seems to be on importance. The father calls as he has lost his glasses. He is also nervous as they are expecting their first grandchild. The youngest daughter is heading out. (1:19-3:35) The phone is ringing at another house, the home of the daughter, Sally, who is expecting a child, as her mom is calling her. Tim, the son-in-law answers and then wanders the house. Sally wishes she had a phone in every room in the house. She goes to call her sister, Ann. Bonnie, Ann’s roommate answers the phone. Bonnie works nights and Ann is jobless (3:36-6:43) The phone rings. Ann and Bonnie miss it, Bonnie is tired. Freddy calls Ann, Freddy is in the Navy and is played by STEVE MCQUEEN. Freddy wants to come and visit Ann and ask her hand in marriage. The narrator explains how a phone can be convenient. (6:44-9:32) The family calls one another and then the youngest daughter, Pat, gets a call and it disturbs her father’s silence. The father doesn’t like her ‘having all her conversations with one boy’ as this seems to be her daughters problem: with a boy. Later in the evening as mom, dad, and Pat sit in the living room, the phone rings and rings and they all ponder who it could be. Finally the father asks Pat to answer it. Pat answers it and gives it to her father, the caller mistakens the father for someone else. They then all complain about having one phone and how far away it is. They all want to pay for adding new phones (9:33-14:22). Ann is sick in bed, Bonnie gives her pills. Bonnie leaves, Ann lays in bed hearing the phone ring. But she doesn’t make it in time(14:23-16:17). Sally gets up, needs to call the doctor, Tim fumbles around trying to use the phone. Tim calls his father-in-law. Afterwards, he falls asleep and Ann calls her mother. Ann talks to Bonnie, haven’t heard from Freddy. Ann has a job interview. Freddy’s plane comes in, he lands and calls Ann. He lost her number and cannot reach her through the operator since the phone number is attached to Bonnie’s last name and he doesn’t know it (16:18-21:29). Ann calls Bonnie, tells her her sister had a boy and where is Freddy? Hangs up. Bonnie answers the door and meets Freddy, will take him to where Ann is – at the hospital (21:30-22:47)

Time jump 3 months ahead – the baby boy is 3 months old. Sally answers the phone. Ann gets a call from Freddy. Ann has a temp job. Mom gets a call on her downstairs phone. Everyone has more phones now as times change. Pat has her own phone. All is well (22:48-26:39) Animation returns for the exterior of the house followed by the end credits (26:40-27:14) A Bell System Presentation/The End (27:15-27:20).

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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com