This 1970s short film titled “Image in a Bottle”, presented by Family Films, was founded by Sam Hersh in 1946 to create movies to promote Christianity through entertaining visual media. This film portrays the turbulent life of a family in which the mother is an alcoholic. Meanwhile, the viewer learns of another mother who found God and recovered from her own alcoholism. The film is written by Clifford Campion and Shirley Hartman, directed by Stephen Erkel, and Produced by Paul. R. Kidd and Sharlynn Wigle with Norman E. Walter as executive producer. It stars Anita Jesse, Dawn Jeffory, Newell Alexander, Rosemary Lovell, Shelley Jutner, Rance Howard and Tony Goldstone.

A woman pouring a glass of vodka and drinks it (00:09). “Image in a Bottle” title banner (00:22). The husband, Jason, of the woman, Pauline, is packing a suitcase in their bedroom, as she enters and begins to yell at him (00:35). Two female students are talking by their school lockers (01:29). One of the girls, Lorrie, is approached by a teacher (01:41). Lorrie and her friend, Kim, are picked up from school by Kim’s mother, Jean (02:46). They arrive at Lorrie’s house and hear yelling from inside (03:22). Inside the Connolly house, the fighting between Pauline and Jason continues, while Lorrie quietly observes (04:16). Jason assured his daughter of his love for her, while Pauline, who is visibly intoxicated, continues to yell in objection to her life (05:10). Jason leaves the house (05:51). Lorrie enters the kitchen, while Pauline makes a vodka martini drink (06:04). Pauline sits down on the living room couch, and Lorrie tries to tell her about school (07:44), but Pauline is angered (08:05). Lorrie wants to go out, but Pauline is begging her to stay home by expressing suicidal thoughts (09:34). Lorrie cries and rejects her mother’s attempt of manipulation (09:53). Pauline slaps Lorrie’s face (10:17). Lorrie runs out, and Pauline is left crying (10:28). She drinks more vodka (10:40). Lorrie arrives at Kim’s house (10:56). Sat at the dining table, they say grace and have dinner while talking peacefully (11:17). Kim, Jean, and Lorrie enter their car (12:50). They arrive at Lorrie’s house to pick up a jacket (13:08). Pauline sees the car and rushes to the bathroom (13:20). Lorrie finds her mother on the bathroom floor and screams when she sees blood and razorblades (14:12). An ambulance arrives and provides Pauline with medical attention (14:24). She is carried out of the house on a gurney, while she begs for Lorrie, more vodka, and Jason (14:37). Jason meets Lorrie, Kim, and Jean at the hospital (15:22). A doctor arrives and informs Jason of the requirement of police involvement (15:41). Lorrie and Kim walks to the hospital’s waiting room, while Jason and Jean follow the doctor down the hallway (16:21). Kim attempts to comfort Lorrie, who is crying (16:31). Jean opens the door of the waiting room to give Kim and Lorrie new information (18:11). Lorrie leaves the hospital with Jean and Kim (18:37). All three sit in the living room of Jean and Kim’s house (18:43). Jean answers the front door to Jason (18:58). Lorrie and Jason talk about Pauline (19:35). Jean expresses her concern about Pauline’s alcoholism and explains recognizable signs of the addiction (19:47). Jean reveals that she is herself an alcoholic (21:32). Jason and Lorrie deny that Pauline is an alcoholic (21:54). Jean tells the story of how she became addicted to alcohol (23:23). She hands Jason pamphlets on alcoholism (24:32). Jean and Lorrie are at the hospital to visit Pauline (25:32). Pauline deceivingly apologizes to Lorrie for failing her suicide attempt (26:18). Lorrie runs out crying followed by Jean (26:38). Jean comforts Lorrie (27:31). Lorrie reenters Pauline’s hospital room to tell Pauline goodbye and that she loves her (29:30). She exits the room (30:15). Pauline begins to cry laying in the hospital bed (30:23). The film is concluded with credentials (30:46).

This short film was edited by Stan Rabjohn, with cinematography by Bob Seaman, sound by Run Curfman, and music by Henry Mollicone. The film’s casting was by Samantha Mansour and the cast was the following: Anita Jesse as Pauline, Dawn Jeffory as Lorrie, Newell Alexander as Jason, Rosemary Lovell as Jean, Shelley Juttner as Kim, Rance Howard as the doctor, and Tony Goodstone as Lorrie’s teacher.

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