In Our Hands, Part 1: How We Got What We Have

Genre: Educational

Creator: Wilding

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description:

Presents the vital role of political freedom in the economic progress which comes from the accumulation of privately owned tools of production. Demonstrates the need for tools by showing a young couple with their infant child in a wilderness with nothing but natural resources and their hands.SPONSORS: Inland Steel Co.; Borg-Warner Corp. PRODUCTION CO.: Wilding Picture Productions. DIRECTOR:Jack Tilles. WRITER: James Prindle. CAMERA: J.J. LaFleur. EDITOR: Glen McGowan. RESOURCES: Copyright1Dec50 LP573; “In Our Hands: Workers Talk Economics,” Mod Ind 22 (July 15, 1951): 40–45; “PublicRelations—Bold New Concept Pays Off,” Iron Age 168 (Aug. 23, 1951): 85; Selling, 83–84; MentalHygiene, 164. HOLDINGS: LC/Prelinger.I’ll Tell the World46Four-part series crafted by large business interests to promote free enterprise and small government.Part 1: How We Got What We Have transports a young couple back to the Stone Age,where they lack sophisticated tools and come to blows with another couple over resources.Part 2: What We Have shows the public benefit of industry by illustrating the bounties enjoyedby a typical housewife. In Part 3: How to Lose What We Have citizens vote for the big government“Master Plan,” which ushers in forced collectivization, the mandatory relocation offamilies, and the closure of churches. Part 4: How to Keep What We Have urges Americansto oppose an expanded government role, a step that the film argues would lead to a plannedeconomy. More dramatic than most free-enterprise booster films, In Our Hands recognizeslittle distinction between government planning and dictatorship. NOTE: The sponsors tookthe films on a rail tour to five cities, showing it to workers aboard a special car equipped witha meeting room and a theater. The sponsor also distributed an economic education coursefor workers under the same title. Modern Industry reported that screening the film with thisdiscussion program “loosens even inarticulate tongues.” The series received a FreedomsFoundation award in 1950. Also released in 16mm. Viewable online at Internet Archive,www.archive.org/details/InOurHan1950.

Complete Record: Presents the vital role of political freedom in the economic progress which comes from the accumulation of privately owned tools of production. Demonstrates the need for tools by showing a young couple with their infant child in a wilderness with nothing but natural resources and their hands.SPONSORS: Inland Steel Co.; Borg-Warner Corp. PRODUCTION CO.: Wilding Picture Productions. DIRECTOR:Jack Tilles. WRITER: James Prindle. CAMERA: J.J. LaFleur. EDITOR: Glen McGowan. RESOURCES: Copyright1Dec50 LP573; “In Our Hands: Workers Talk Economics,” Mod Ind 22 (July 15, 1951): 40–45; “PublicRelations—Bold New Concept Pays Off,” Iron Age 168 (Aug. 23, 1951): 85; Selling, 83–84; MentalHygiene, 164. HOLDINGS: LC/Prelinger.I’ll Tell the World46Four-part series crafted by large business interests to promote free enterprise and small government.Part 1: How We Got What We Have transports a young couple back to the Stone Age,where they lack sophisticated tools and come to blows with another couple over resources.Part 2: What We Have shows the public benefit of industry by illustrating the bounties enjoyedby a typical housewife. In Part 3: How to Lose What We Have citizens vote for the big government“Master Plan,” which ushers in forced collectivization, the mandatory relocation offamilies, and the closure of churches. Part 4: How to Keep What We Have urges Americansto oppose an expanded government role, a step that the film argues would lead to a plannedeconomy. More dramatic than most free-enterprise booster films, In Our Hands recognizeslittle distinction between government planning and dictatorship. NOTE: The sponsors tookthe films on a rail tour to five cities, showing it to workers aboard a special car equipped witha meeting room and a theater. The sponsor also distributed an economic education coursefor workers under the same title. Modern Industry reported that screening the film with thisdiscussion program “loosens even inarticulate tongues.” The series received a FreedomsFoundation award in 1950. Also released in 16mm. Viewable online at Internet Archive,www.archive.org/details/InOurHan1950.