This 1968 black and white film produced by Peckham Production, Inc. for Union Carbide Chemical Corporation shines a light on the disease of alcoholism, dramatizing the case of “Bob,” a plant worker whose performance is slipping, to illustrate the dangers of alcohol use in a professional context, while offering pointers to managers who suspect their employees are alcoholics (TRT: 12:35).
A slow pan across a photograph of an urban alley reveals an unhoused or homeless person laying among trash cans. Bottles of alcohol in closeup and a montage of derelicts. A man props himself up on a lamppost (0:09). A wide angle fisheye lens distorts men in an office hallway. Office employees at work review documents. Women work at typewriters (1:19). An elderly man at work in a factory. An office building corridor (1:53). A weary employee. Opening titles: “Need for Decision” (2:07). A man, “Bob,” rubs his eyes while driving a station wagon. He parks in a large industrial lot and passes a security gate checkpoint, showing his I.D. (2:34). Bob’s supervisor reprimands him: “You’re running too slow” (3:32). Montage: Broken glass, a sink full of dishes, overgrown grass, bottles in a trash can with rumor mill voiceovers (3:58). The employee visits a bar. A sign: “Sparkling… flavorful… distinctive!” A shot is poured. A bowling game resets. Rack focus on blurry tap handles. Pouring beer. Another shot. Billiard balls (4:40). Bob awakens in bed, then snoozes. Employees punch time cards while he sleeps (5:31). The boss pulls Bob’s file. Bob strolls through the plant’s break room while others talk. He chews Wrigley’s gum in a locker room (6:12). The supervisor places a call. The employee turns in a wide angle shot and comes into the boss’s office (7:08). Both men smoke as Bob’s performance is negatively evaluated. Bob has been late, plus there have been safety concerns in his department (7:57). Bob’s personal appearance is brought up as a subject of concern. Bob makes excuses about being sick (9:50). Bob is generously offered help by his employer. He accepts (10:29). The supervisor places a phone call to a doctor about the suspected alcoholic (11:38). Breaking billiard balls and end titles: “Produced by Peckham Productions for Union Carbide” (12:13).
According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use is responsible for more than 95,000 deaths in the United States each year. Alcoholism is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
