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Handy (Jam) OrganizationClose Harmony (1942)

Discussion on the need for unity between labor and management as the U.S. mobilizes for World War II.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: General Motors Corporation
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: World War II: Homefront; World War II: Industrial production; Race relations

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - January 5, 2004
Subject: Just Shut Up and Cut My Hair, Already!
General Motors made this wartime film to explain to the general public why it was taking so long for factories to retool for war production. A guy in a barbershop explains to everybody in the shop that retooling involves not only installing new machinery, but getting new materials, drawing up new manufacturing plans, and retraining workers. In case this gets boring, theres an African-American porter present to provide comic relief in the form of racist stereotypes. This film has the breezy Jam Handy style applied to wartime content, which means its fairly campy, though the main characters lecture gets tedious after awhile. It does have quite a bit of historical interest in that it gives you an idea of some of the rumors going around about war production in the early days of the war.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ***.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - April 2, 2003
Subject: The short is about one thing, but really about another (and oh, another as well)
In this very curious short, the film's MAIN focus is on the problems industry face during times of war. While the arguement is certainly interesting, what's even MORE interesting is this VERY stereotypical black character they had going in the barber shop where this film takes place. The character speaks in this voice that it's hard to figure whether he's acting or what. He portrays a porter in the barbershop, and he's made to look like some kind of uneducated fool. Also, a fasicinating snapshot of barbershops during the 1940's is shown, with the said porter dusting your hat etc, and a manicurist (!!) ready to do your nails. I wonder what would happen if you wandered into a barbershop today and asked for a manicure, what they would say. Simply a fascinating film and is highly reccomended.

Shotlist

No synopsis in Educational Film Guide.