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Invisible Diplomats (1965)

This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Production Company: Fairbanks (Jerry) Productions
Sponsor: American Telephone and Telegraph Co.
Audio/Visual: sound, color

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - February 16, 2005
Subject: Attention Projectionists!
Great little time relic of switchboard operators bemoaning that their bosses don't respond promptly when taking calls, and ask secretaries to make calls for them then leave the desk! Audrey Meadows and Ruta Lee (!!) are "roommates" in the largest apartment I've seen anyone making secretary's wages ever get. One has a boss that has poor telephone manners, the other has been trained on the Bell Phone Manners Course. Guess which one gets the account from Pierre Perrente from Caracas?
This one is another gem from the Jerry Fairbanks studio which, by a long shot, are now my favorite industrial film producer. Recognizable stars. a somewhat Drag Queen costuming/hair and make up vision, and a GREAT twist ending all make for this HIGHLY RECCOMENDED viewing!

(Great beginning Leader as well)

Reviewer: Marysz - - August 29, 2004
Subject: One more dysfunctional office
“Men!” switchboard operator Kelly Smith complains to her roommate Connie, “they have all the fun in business!” Not only do they get to have all the fun, they can even be a dimwit like Kelly’s boss, Bill Bullard. Bullard can’t even get it together to pick up his ringing telephone; as a result, the company looses a half-million dollar contract.

Why would a company stick a competent worker like Kelly in a at the switchboard and make a pea-brain like Bullard an executive? That’s the real question posed by this film, but naturally it isn’t dealt with. Instead we hear a lot of platitudes about how telephone switch-board operators are “invisible diplomats” who can smooth over their bosses’ clueless behavior. And sure enough, Kelly’s roommate Connie just happens to work the switchboard at the company that landed the big contract Kelly’s boss lost. Her polite behavior to a Venezuelan customer clinched the deal. But will Connie get a bonus for her quick thinking? No. Workers like Connie are considered expendable and the effort they put into their jobs isn’t valued.

And what about Kelly? Will she and the other switchboard operator find themselves taking the fall for Bullard’s incompetence? Bosses like Bullard are always looking to pin the blame on someone else—and who better to blame than a vulnerable female employee like Kelly? Kelly may find herself out of a job. Maybe there will be an opening at Connie’s company. It looks like Connie’s going to marry boyfriend Brad. To Connie, quitting her dead-end job after she marries might seem like a good idea. But is she ready to sit at home in the suburbs all day dreaming of new kitchen cabinets? Fortunately for her and Kelly, it’s 1965 and the women’s movement is just a few years in the future. With any luck, the Bullards of this world will get the boot and smart workers like Kelly and Connie can move into management.

Reviewer: dynayellow - - July 20, 2004
Subject: Pick up the damn phone!
A short from Bell Labs about proper business phone ettiquette, aimed at business executives. Namely, PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE!

Audrey Meadows is a harried switchboard operator venting her spleen to her roommate. Seems that Audrey's corporation has lots of good execs, but that darn Mr. Bullard (Hal Peary, the original Great Gildersleeve) just won't learn. He lets his phone ring and ring (even when he's in the office) to impress people with how busy he is, he gives incomplete information about who he wants to call, and doesn't wait on the line while placing a call. It all blows up in his face when he missing a call for a $500k order. Ha ha! Eat it, jerk!

Strangely appropriate to today's executive as well. Cameo appearance by Bonnie Franklin (the mom from "One Day At a Time") as another secretary who's quest to get some letters metered is frustrated by... you guessed it, Mr. Bullard.

Not especially funny, but fun to try and figure out where you've seen all these people before. Of course, I've ruined that for you.

A Jerry Fairbanks production.

Reviewer: dynayellow - - July 20, 2004
Subject: Pick up the damn phone!
A short from Bell Labs about proper business phone ettiquette, aimed at business executives. Namely, PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE!

Audrey Meadows is a harried switchboard operator venting her spleen to her roommate. Seems that Audrey's corporation has lots of good execs, but that darn Mr. Bullard (Hal Peary, the original Great Gildersleeve) just won't learn. He lets his phone ring and ring (even when he's in the office) to impress people with how busy he is, he gives incomplete information about who he wants to call, and doesn't wait on the line while placing a call. It all blows up in his face when he missing a call for a $500k order. Ha ha! Eat it, jerk!

Strangely appropriate to today's executive as well. Cameo appearance by Bonnie Franklin (the mom from "One Day At a Time") as another secretary who's quest to get some letters metered is frustrated by... you guessed it, Mr. Bullard.

Not especially funny, but fun to try and figure out where you've seen all these people before. Of course, I've ruined that for you.

A Jerry Fairbanks production.