This short social guidance and driver’s education film from the 1970s emphasizes the dangers of alcohol, most especially its impacts on driving and decision-making. It includes many interviews with individuals in public (e.g., on the street, at school) and rich, descriptive narration of key moral ideas.
Youth in hot pants are hanging out, walking around a crowded carnival (0:06). They play games, eat, surreptitiously drink alcohol (disguised by brown bag) (0:20). A Ferris wheel lit up at night (0:47), pan down to boys fake-fighting, and two people kiss. Boy and girl in bumper cars hit each other, she laughs (1:05). One of the young men in group is helped by friends to walk through parking lot, as he can’t walk a straight line alone (1:10). He gets in driver’s seat of turquoise VW van, slams door. Others get in back of van (1:17). Street view from inside moving van. Title appears: “Produced with the help of The Transportation and Safety Unit, College of Education, Florida State University” (1:36). Headlights of passing VW from side of road (1:51). One man is passed out in back of van. The driver laughs. Guy and girl are asleep in backseat (1:56). VW van drives on. Teenage girl in white blouse is interviewed about students drinking at school (“…it’s terrible!…”) (2:17). Interview with red-haired teenage guy with subtle mullet (same subject) (2:25). Three teenage girls standing together (blonde, brunette, black afro). Zoom out on the group of teenagers looking concerned. In foreground, cop enters stationary car that has crashed into a pole, and paramedics carry away corpse (2:48). Closeup: long-haired teenage boy looks horrified (3:04). “Silva’s Ambulance Service” drives away while teenagers look on. Interview with a woman with black mullet, then interview with a bearded man with shaggy hair (3:23). Diagram of a human abdomen is shown with narration: the compound alcohol “speaks” in first-person (“well, as anyone who knows anything about anatomy or the human body knows, all that common sense is so much nonsense, because the facts are that unlike most foods, I require no digestion and begin to have an effect almost the moment I am swallowed, though food in the stomach can slow me down somewhat”) (3:39). Older white woman street interviewee declares “a driver shouldn’t take a single drop” (4:04). White guy with 1970s moustache is interviewed on street, says while laughing “I drive better when I’m drunk” (4:14). Black man wearing straw hat is interviewed on street: “A couple drinks is okay, but I know my limit” (4:22). A surgical room (4:33). Surgeon picks up scalpel and other surgeons / nurses / assistants support. Briefly, diagram of a brain shown (4:55). Headlights of car / planes appear chaotically in different dark shots (5:05). VW beetle drives away at night (5:35). Police car pulls up to parked VW beetle (5:45). Policemen get out, go to car, open VW driver’s seat, pull out a drunk young woman unable to stand on her own. They bring her to sit in the back of the police car. One officer gets in the police car and the other in the beetle; they follow each other while driving away. Dark shot of a plane taking off (6:22). Coffee pot against black background (6:29). Plate of food / peanuts against black background (5:34). Keys against black background (6:48). Taillights of car driving away in dark (7:00). Signs lit up in dark shot driving along road (view from inside of car), various cars passing (7:10). Credits (7:25) over image of overturned car with sirens / police / firemen present: Associate Producer: Hugh K. Terrell; Written, Produced, and Directed By [UNREADABLE WITH TIMESTAMP]; Cinematography By Peter P. Drown; Film Editing By Glen [UNREADABLE WITH TIMESTAMP]; Our special thanks to Joel B. Kirkpatrick, M.D., Roy Mills, Faculty Associate and the University Of Texas Health Science Center for the use of the film For Film [UNREADABLE WITH TIMESTAMP]. More words on screen (7:55): “The van crash and airport sequence were re-enactments of actual events.” Then, “Produced By Visucom Productions.” Screen goes to black. END.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
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
