Produced by St. Louis Ordnance Plant Protection Department, “Methods of Self Defense” is a short, color instructional film likely from sometime during WWII, when security and espionage concerns at defense plants was deemed to be of supreme importance. The film intends to demonstrate self defense methods in various scenarios that would call for them such as police holds and “come alongs,” trips and throws, disarming, use of the riot stick, searching of prisoners, and breaks from attacks. Two men, Chief of Plant Protection F. Lincoln Luke, a graduate of the FBI’s National Police Academy, and Lt. A.H. Devan, demonstrate the self defense methods throughout the course of the 10-minute film. The demonstrations take place in an empty room and are repeated and in slow-motion so that the viewer may capture every detail of the strategy.
Opening credits (0:07). List of self defense methods featured in the film (0:44). F. Lincoln Luke and Lt. A.H. Devan wearing plain white t-shirts and trousers demonstrate various self defense methods during situations of police holds and “come alongs” (1:04). F. Lincoln Luke and Lt. A.H.Devan demonstrate various methods of trips and throws (1:43). F. Lincoln Luke and Lt. A.H.Devan demonstrate various methods of disarming an assailant (2:40). F. Lincoln Luke and Lt. A.H.Devan demonstrate various uses of the riot stick (4:52). The two practice using actual riot stick prop (5:18). F. Lincoln Luke acts as a criminal and points a gun at Lt. A.H. Devan’s abdomen while he is dressed in police uniform – Lt. A.H. Devan disarms F. Lincoln Luke demonstrating methods of how to break away from attacks (6:42). F. Lincoln Luke and Lt. A.H. Devan demonstrate various methods for searching prisoners (8:23). F. Lincoln Luke and Lt. A.H. Devan shake hands at the end of the film – Lt. A.H.Devan pulls one last move (9:52). Closing credits (10:03).
Ordnance plants sprung up across the United States during World War II and were government-owned, contractor-operated warehouses for the manufacture, testing, and storage of parts and chemical agents needing in bombs and explosives. All the plants depended heavily on civilian workers for their main work force. Despite the fact that World War II ended in 1942, ordnance plants remained open and functional until the mid-1950s.
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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
