This film from 1970 was presented by the Committee for Economic Development. “Anatomy of an Inflation” uses animation and live action to explain what causes inflation and how it affects the economy, with insight into taxation policies and the Federal Reserve. The film focuses on post WWII economy up to the late 60s. The animated sequences were created by artist, illustrator and composer Bruce Cayard, who was well known for making animation for “Captain Kangaroo”, “Sesame Street” and “The Electric Company”. His work has a distinct, sketch style.

1960s graphics of blue flames, promoting “The Peoples Natural Gas Company” which sponsored release of the film. Cartoon animation as the film starts with a crazy “production machine” built high into the sky by fictional people called the Lumians who live in Lumia (1:17). The machine spits out products. The Lumians line up to get money from the Paymaster shop. Pipes disperse products in their shopping carts at the “Milk and Honey” store (2:02). The production machine speeds up and smokes. They line up again for money and the Milk and Honey store but in fast motion. The Lumians frown as products spill out from the pipes. The Lumians protest the higher prices with signs that say things such as “More Things” and “Living Wage” (3:12). The cycle continues of price and wage increases. A Lumian holds coins in his hands as they shrink. A fancy car drives up a hill to a castle (3:57). The word “Inflation” bubbles up while a metal block that says “Economic Policy” tries to smash it. Footage switches to live action. Distorted fun house mirror footage of people at a carnival with amusement rides and neon signs (4:18). A man fills out a slip at a counter. A loan application is stamped “Declined.” A senior is rung up for groceries with cash in his hand (5:20). Shipping containers are unloaded off of ships. They are imports from other countries. Protesters on a picket line hold signs that read “Employee of Northwest Airlines on Strike For Better Wages” (5:42). Labor strike. Conflict erupts as people try to cross the picket line. Civilians and cops shove each other. A man closes a heavy bank vault door. Men line up outside of an employment center. Picture of presidents Harry S. Truman, Herbert Hoover and Woodrow Wilson. President Truman shakes hands with the council of economic advisors (6:47). Footage turns back to animation. The Lumians are at the Milk and Honey store again. They file in and out of a government building collecting taxes. Coins bursts from the top of the building representing a surplus (7:42). The production machine slows down. The cycle continues of spending, taxing and production. A storm cloud threatens the government building, balloon says “Tax Increase” chases it away. The Lumians shoot the balloon down (9:30). Footage switches to live action. Money is being printed. Close ups of people filling out bank slips and using credit cards. A man puts a leather bag of cash on the bank counter, the employee counts it. People go about their business in the bank. Federal reserve employees crunch numbers (11:07). Printers and machines run continually. Coins are sorted. Firemen slide down the pole and get in the fire truck. Interview with Walter Heller, the chairman of Kennedy’s Council of Economic Advisors (13:36). Large crowd gathered in front of podium listening to a speech about the economy. Men in suits commute to work on a train. A man enters the “Ways and Means Committee Hearing Room” and switches all the stations on (15:28). The Ways and Means Committee is the oldest committee of Congress. Construction men build a building with tractors. Shot of the Internal revenue Service building. Americans go shopping. Interview with Arthur Okun, chairman of Council of Economic Advisors from 1968-1969 (17:23). Soldiers shoot guns and drop bombs in Vietnam. A helicopter flies over palm trees (18:22). Children play on the sidewalk. A boy plays with a toy M4 tank. Close up of stock market ticker tape. Cars are built and sold. People protest. Federal Reserve crunches numbers and watch indicators. A man builds a house. Citizens are interviewed about a tax increase. Montage of American commerce and construction (21:22). Shot of the OED Committee. Montage of protests, a rocket, people and construction. Titles: Written and directed by Philip S. Goodman, narrated by Edwin Newman. Animation by Bruce Cayard.

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