A Jerry Fairbanks and Bell System production, “Anatomy of an Accident” is a 1961 driver’s education film in technicolor focusing on defensive driving told through a scripted story centered around a family outing that came to a tragic end. The film, which stars David Wayne, Phyllis Avery, Ricky Kelman, Ilana Dowding, Irene Tedrow, Edith Evanson and Robert Karnes, chronicles the tragic death of the Avery family patriarch John Avery – a Bell System employee, after his family is caught in a traffic accident one Sunday afternoon. John’s ghost returns to the family home to find his wife Helen selling off their furniture before he replays the events of the day that lead up to the accident.
Opening credits play over footage of cars in traffic along freeway (0:11). Birds chirp, sun shining, two young girl plays hopscotch on residential sidewalk (0:50). Man in black suit walks ominously up to the girls (1:15). John Avery in suit walks toward 1960s white stucco two-story upscale suburban house with sign in lawn for yard sale (1:33). Entry interior space of home, powder blue walls and red accent furniture – scene of women in 1960s skirt suits browsing home goods (1:53). Same John stands in more furnished living room in plaid short-sleeve button up draws driving safety poster at an easel (3:23). Young kids run down stairs and horse around (4:10). Close-up of the safety poster (5:43). A man uses poster in front of driving education class for Bell System employees who drive company vehicles, chalkboard with mock traffic lines and cars in the background (7:02). Demonstration of buffer zone uses toy cars on chalkboard (8:21). Mock traffic problem set up on the board (9:23). Family piles into perhaps 1960s Ford Sedan family car model (11:22). Father checks headlights and taillights (12:30). Perspective from inside the car – drive along commercial streets stuck in traffic (13:11). White station wagon makes abrupt stop at intersection causing accident with multiple cars in front of Bob’s Market (14:21). Two older women drive in car and discuss the accident they just witnessed, woman at wheel wearing hat and leather driving gloves (15:09). Avery family pulls into 1950s style gas station, young man in white jumpsuit inspects the vehicle (15:43). The two women drive along rural road slowly, cars behind honk and try weaving between lanes (16:55). Agitated driver driving perhaps retired 1940s roofless military vehicle weaves out of lane and causes accident (17:29). Avery family continues driving on rural road behind other cars, tall trees line the road (18:22). Two older women argue about which road to take (19:49). Perhaps 1950 white Chevy Pick-up barrels down dirt road towards highway (20:19). Family collides with oncoming semi trailer truck carrying goods – dramatic image of John’s scared face in cracked dashboard (20:42). Replays in slow motion of the accident (20:50). Aerial view of accident: father’s lifeless body hangs out of driver’s-side door and son laid on top of him – Helen Avery and daughter seek safety on roadside (21:13). Man in suit picks up mangled doll with broken face from road (21:48). Close-up of damage to front of car – mangled, smoking headlights (22:10). Helen looks back at house with for sale sign in the front lawn (22:33). Son, Tommy, in hospital bed with bandages around head (23:21). Helen opens blinds of hospital room and lets light in realizes son is unresponsive (24:55). Nurse rushes in and doctor uses stethoscope and confirms Tommy has passed (25:47).
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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
