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Centron CorporationCitizen Makes a Decision, A (1954)

How democracy ought to work.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Centron Corporation
Sponsor: N/A
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Citizenship

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - May 11, 2005
Subject: 'Homer Keith Was Aroused'
Slightly odd docu-drama about one Homer Keith, and the decision he has to make about (I think) what should be done with the river because of the flooding that happened. Hi gut feeling was to dam the thing, but after talking to people, going to wild meetings (check out the growling speech the pro-dam person spurts out) and talking to his son, he's undecisive, saying he'll vote for the person he believes will solve the problem best, Which is odd because I thought it was a Dam yes/dam no vote.
All of these people are consulted, but curiously, women are given the brush over from Homer. Even his wife doesnt get an opinion about the vote, it almost appears that she's not going to vote anyways because, well, who's listening to her anyways?

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - June 30, 2004
Subject: How Can We Lose When We're So Sincere?
Homer, an ordinary working-class guy, tries to decide whether or not to vote for a proposed dam project after his town is devastated by a flood. He ends up doing more research about this than the kid in How to Prepare a Class Report. He even goes to the library, which is something the film is careful to point out is unusual for him––he’s no longhaired egghead after all. Despite the many mstable moments in this film (such as the line “Homer was aroused!”) and the fact that the political process is shown to be the exclusive province of white males, the earnestness of this Centron film gets to you after awhile, and you can’t help but agree with its basic premise of thinking carefully and gathering facts before taking a political stand, even if the example shown way overdoes it. Another example of Centron getting away with murder because of its sincerity.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ****. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.

Shotlist

Emphasizes the role of a citizen in a democracy and explains that, before making decisions, all citizens should get the facts, weigh the facts for all possible solutions, and decide on an answer that is for the greatest good of all.
Ken Smith tentatively notes: Martha, Helen, George, and Homer Keith, "a good place to come home to" "a citien of the United States, a working man, a man with a mind of his own" "what he thinks affects the course of democracy" "...has just come to the point of making an important decision" the "Old Sandy" River "over all the land" "aroused" "his duty as a citizen was clear" tries to dig out the "facts" "the main thing is, people have to make up their minds" "making up your mind can be hard work" "it's up to you to help solve it" "it can be hard work" Homer becomes an "informed citizen" "I'm kind of proud of myself, I guess. First time I ever went to work on anything like this. And you know, I believe it's something that would work in anything we do; in our living and in our government." "Gosh, pop, you sure make it sound important." "Well, it is important, son. The decisions a citizen makes are about the most important thing in a democracy." "You know something, pop? I'm proud of you too!"


22:14:00
Man comes home from work. No one is home. He finds note and reads it. He sits down and reads newspaper.
22:15:11
City traffic
22:15:29
Man at gas pump fills up car.
22:16:06
Man fishing catches fish
22:16:52
Thunderstorm, rain, lots of rain, puddles, people with umbrellas, floods. good flood footage.
22:18:00
Men pile sandbags. Woman serves coffee to flood workers
22:19:14
Woman serves breakfast to men in flannel shirts.
22:22:14
CU various people giving opinions.
22:22:20
Fist pounds on table.
22:22:25
CU man chewing on cigar. Good shot.
22:23:13
Man lectures at community meeting. He gives forceful speech.
22:24:30
Man stands up at meeting and lectures.
22:25:39
Men fishing
22:26:01
Men on street in front of store indicate high water marks from floods. Odd gestures.
22:26:08
Man turns on radio
22:26:22
Old lady librarian helps man with research
22:26:48
Men examine soil
22:29:25
Family picnic. Men play catch with baseball. Picnic table, basket lunch.