This film “The Incredible Journey” was presented by the Sinclair Refining Corporation (:18) and dates to the late 1940s / early 1950s. It presents a spooky narrative about why accidents happen and why safety precautions became more necessary as American industry and technology advances.The narrative centers around a character called Tom Wallace, who gets into a car accident that may or may not — be fatal.

The film opens with an auction at a local farmer named Al Steven’s home (1:01). Tom Wallace arrives (1:21) and Al’s story is told. A careless accident left Al paralyzed (2:17). Contradictory to this; Tom had just won an award for fifty years on his farm without an accident (2:56). Both stories were featured in the same paper. The auctioneer begins with a sale of utensils (3:22) as Al’s wife bitterly slams her window shut (4:04). Tom and family drive home as his wife expresses concerns over Tom’s safety (5:03). A tractor blocks the road and Tom and family veer off the road and crash (6:14). Tom appears to wake up and immediately leaves his family to seek help (6:53). A passenger bus arrives and Tom jumps on (7:47). The bus driver refuses to help him (8:09). Tom questions other passengers about the buses’ destination (8:39). He finds Mrs. Michaelson (9:23) who believes accidents are an act of God and therefore out of her hands. She tells of a quarrel with her husband over and oil heater; how she wasn’t to use it and how she chose to anyway one evening and later awoke amid flames (10:24). The driver announces a rest stop (11:31). As the bus arrives, viewers can see ‘Safety’ written on the bus and the diner’s name; the Lucky Break Diner (12:06). Tom asks a diner employee for a phone and his current location (12:36). Both requests are refused. The bus driver informs Tom to get off at the transfer station (13:25). A construction worker and young man discuss the apparent flimsy character of the modern youth- “they have no spirit for adventure” (14:15). The young man tells a tale of a dangerous dive he had taken off a rail road trestle without checking the waters depth prior (14:26). Back on the bus, the construction worker details an accident at work while he and another man were working on a very tall farm (15:23). His coworker used a life line and continuously checked his ladder for stability while the man on the bus mocked him (15:53). The bus arrives at the transfer station (16:30) and Tom moves for the passenger agent’s office (16:47). The passenger agent notes a large chalkboard with a running count of fatal and nearly fatal accidents (17:31). Tom gives his name to the agent (17:54) whom directs him to the chief agent. Another man enters and tells Tom advancements in society and industry are more valuable than the lives lost due to accidents (20:32). As Tom waits to meet the chief agent, the passenger agent informs him the folks on the bus were already dead and awaiting judgement (21:25). Tom appears to be in limbo as his fate has not yet been decided. Mrs. Michaelson is called to meet with the chief agent (21:55). As she still believes accidents are out of her control, her fate is sealed (22:07) and the young diver with a gambler’s personality is called forward (22:47). Mr. Barrington; the cheap and careless industry executive, is then called (24:11). While he boasted progress in industry, he also simultaneously fought a new industry safety program. Tom’s mistake was that while he accounted for his own actions, he did not prepare for the carelessness of others (25:50). The film snaps back to the scene of the accident as the passenger agent tries to calm Tom (26:33). An ambulance arrives (26:44) and Tom is reunited with his wife and children as he is given a ‘lucky break’ (26:53). This film was a Wilding Production (27:32).

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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