Big Idea

Wilding Pictures scripted and produced this corporate image film for Swift and Company, headquartered in Chicago. The film begins with a radio host challenging communists, fascists and everyone who doesn’t believe there is absolute free choice in America, to meet with him and make him prove it. Shortly thereafter, an American newspaperman presents the radio host to a communist newspaperwoman who aims to call his bluff. The three choose the food industry as the basis for their challenge. This leads them to investigate the headquarters, farms, factories, and laboratories of Swift and Company. The film features real Swift and Company employees, including the company chorus line. The three question all types of employees in order to fully determine the validity and extent of free choice in America.

Credits

Wilding Picture Productions (production company); Edward M. Grabill (director); Raymond M. Esh (sound); John Cook (editor); Benny Kyte (music); Jim Bannon (actor); Veronika Pataky (actor); Milburn Stone (actor); James Prindle (participant); John Niklasch (participant)

Complete catalog record

Cfa collection: Northwestern University Collection
Sponsor: Swift and Company
Subjects: Food industry; Capitalism; Economic and social conditions; Factories; Farming; Laborers; Soviet Union
Places: North America > United States > New York > New York; North America > United States > Illinois > Chicago
Language: English
Cfa elements: Distribution Print, 1,950 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/19143

Sources

Chicago Film Archives · record ↗ — title, year, creator, length, format, color, sound, genre, description, credits, catalog record

Record added 2026-11-08 21:25:21

Big Idea

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