This 1948 black and white film, a condensed version of the National Film Board of Canada’s 30-minute “Drug Addict,” provides a documentary look at the world of narcotic addiction, using footage of real-life heroin and cocaine users to argue that rehabilitation offers society more long-term benefit than carceral justice (TRT: 10:53).
Opening titles. The logo of the NFB of Canada. “Pay-Off in Pain” and a word of context: “Through the cooperation of medical, law enforcement and government agencies, this film is presented as a public service towards a greater understanding of a world-wide problem- DRUG ADDICTION” (0:09). Light reflected on water at a dock. Drug smugglers drop a parcel to a small rowboat. Narration mentions the opium trade (0:42). A smuggler, posing as a fisherman unloads a basket and cuts into a parcel, revealing cigarette cartons and other bundles (1:30). An adult man uses a handkerchief to tie off his arm preparing for an injection. A wipe. The addict lies down to sleep while smoking (2:13). A cluster of men and women gather on an urban street (3:00). A well-to-do man in a nicely furnished home visits a stash in a cabinet (3:30). Men and women drink at a residential organized crime hangout. Parcels of white powdered heroin are weighed, mixed, and cut into packets (3:55). A drug dealer makes sales to the waiting street crowd. He visits a hiding spot in the crook of a nearby tree (4:38). A monumental pillar serves as another meeting place (5:01). A small amount of cocaine is snorted off the back of his hand by a man who chases it with a cigarette. He uses a blade to sniff another dose (5:30). Suddenly, the cocaine user panics, turning to a door with paranoia, he sees a vision of a police officer and raises his knife. The hallucination vanishes and he smokes, looking ashamed. He pockets a revolver pistol and leaves his apartment (6:30). A sign: “Commision on Narcotic Drugs.” A meeting of the United Nations. The Canadian Technical Advisory Committee on Narcotic Addiction meets (7:17). Royal Canadian Mounted Police enter a government building. Officers review mugshots. Seized drug paraphernalia is examined (8:00). A drug peddler takes to the streets in an overcoat. Undercover police close in and make an arrest. A raid on the organized crime hideout (8:39). A paddy wagon. A jail lineup of arrested suspects (9:50). End titles: “A Canada Carries On Presentation.”
This film was written and directed by Robert Anderson for Canada’s Department of National Health and Welfare. It was filmed by Jean-Marie Couture, with narration by Jack Scott. It contains footage of actual drug addicts under supervision. Upon its release, it was denied distribution in the United States.
