“Child Abuse: Cradle of Violence” was released by Motorola Teleproductions in 1976 and created by Bonanza Films for Health and Welfare Canada. Produced by Jerry Kinsley and created by J. Gary Mitchell and Richard Gebhardt, this educational film looks at the horrific crime of child abuse and the psychology of the abuser. At the time the film was made, the subject of child abuse was only beginning to be discussed in society, and the movie provided a sobering glimpse of the reality. Official description: “Intimate interviews with abusive parents in the areas of child behavior and discipline create an understanding of child abuse and the need to break the cycle. Alternatives to corporal punishment and potential stress situations are presented.” The film includes a series of interviews with former abusive parents, looking at factors contributing to abuse. Environmental pressures and the stages of emotions arising prior to abuse are explored. Former abusers; who have now learned to love and accept their children, paint a tortured tale of violence, regret and addiction. Through various interviews; parents and psychologists explain this transition in to and out of violence occurs. Peaceful nonviolent approaches of handling abuse within the home are relayed. This is a Bonanza Film Production. Following the first incident, a parent is more likely to continue to seek violent corrective methods if behavior is not curbed, quickly. Group counseling sessions feature round table confessions of beatings at home. Re-socialization following counseling is also shown.

The film swings in. A mother smiles, bobs her head and details stabbing her boy’s hands with forks (:10). She points the boy who got it the worst (:28). Later it was a paring knife. Mother and child walk with a pup (1:17). She said she never saw herself as an abusive parent. When the boy pissed his training pants (1:23) she tossed him over the bed aiming for the window. Another mother walked down the grocery store aisle wild eyed and spewing to strangers she beat her kid (1:43). She details the first time she did (2:00). Emotions of guilt often leading to further abuse settle in. Immediate support or intervention is necessary (2:23). A woman calls the growing sensation ‘black fury’ (2:44); bits of consuming violence. A former abuser charged with child neglect, child abuse and murder is interviewed (3:18) relaying the desperate highs and lows of abuse. She explains a relinquishment of resistance and strange acceptance once placed under arrest (4:44). Another abuser relays emotions of inadequacy, failure (5:13) and a recurring desire to attack her son (5:22). In the group counseling session (5:32) stories of abuse (5:30) often began with long periods of isolation and stress. A method known as ‘Change of walls’ tended to effectively curb the abusive parents mindset. At another group counseling session, former abusers engage in socialization, while others continue to struggle (8:10). A mother ties her son to a chair while struggling to transition to table feeding (9:47). Mothers explain healthy methods to encourage children to complete meals or necessary tasks (10:30). Patience grows over time (11:16). A father and son toss paper planes in a field (12:13) and discuss healthy methods of relating to children. High school students take a parenting skills class (13:27). A recovering abuser explains the benefits of allowing her son to make his own choices (14:27). The difference between discipline and child abuse is explained (14:50); when the line is crossed is noted. A woman discusses healthy corrective behavior (13:37). A father explains stress from separation with his partner (15:47). Members detail the first time they called in for support after witnessing commercials on the television (16:13). The necessity of parenting classes are discussed (18:18).

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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