It Could Be You

Year Published: 1949

Format: 16mm

Description: Made by Jam Handy, "It Could Be You" dates to 1949. This film was made during a time of unusual crisis -- when a shift from wartime to peacetime production led to a unique shortage of new cars despite heavy demand. As the film explains during WW2, the USA's auto industry was geared towards manufacturing war materials, leading to a complete halt of production of new makes and models. The film opens with a man receiving a phone call about a delivery of his brand-new vehicle (1:05). The narrator explains that Chevy is making more new cars than any other manufacturer (1:13). Two men are watching the film in a theater and one asks "When do I get my new Chevrolet?" (1:45). His peer replies that he must watch the rest of the film (1:54). The pair continues to watch (2:08) and it carries on with how in the early 1940’s when someone wanted a new car they could have one within a day or two (2:16). Many American’s had become accustomed to the ease and availability of being able to get replacement vehicles until WWII hit (2:44). Automobile plants were cleared out for the manufacture of war materials (2:47) which meant that production of new cars completely stopped. Within the US, citizens were encouraged to carpool and conserve gas for the war effort (3:02) and people turned from buying new products to having their old worn out products fixed which included their vehicles. A magazine follows showing post war cars (3:12) that many citizens anxiously waited for. Banners and building signs read "Japanese surrender" as V-J Day arrived on August 15th, 1945 (3:19). For automobile manufacturers such as Chevrolet, this meant the starting gate for production of new cars for residential and commercial use (3:24). The inside of a Chevrolet automobile factory is shown (3:28). Prior to the war they had constructed new facilities which made possible the production of more new models than previously (3:35). As the war progressed however, Chevrolet was still unable to meet the growing demand and had to continue to expand (4:06). Chevrolet executives and engineers are seen going over blueprints as they would have to build more new factories and hire thousands of new employees that would also have to all be trained (4:16). New materials that were developed in the war called for new machinery and for new trainings for employees (4:32). Thousands of small parts were redesigned so that they could be put to use the new war materials that had been developed (4:39). Unfortunately, they hit a roadblock when they encountered a severe shortage of vital parts (5:10). Supply of master brake cylinders completely dried up and the production lines halted (5:18). About 15,000 parts go into one new vehicle and each is necessary for the whole and this shortage sent Chevrolet workers hunting for parts (5:55). Not only were automobile manufacturers experiencing difficulty in getting the parts they needed but so too were manufacturers of lawn mowers, refrigerators, washing machines, etc. (6:57). The man from Chevrolet’s purchasing department is seen heading into a hardware store on the hunt and at an airport a plane is filmed just prior to take off chock full of carburetors (7:21) to be sent to hold Chevrolet over until the main shipment arrived. In 1949, there were still not enough materials to turn out the number of new cars that Chevrolet was now equipped to produce (7:35). The man watching the film asks again where his new car is just before he is swarmed by an angry crowd all asking the same question (7:50). The years of not making any new cars had caught up with the dealerships (8:34) and even the used car industry was choked as everyone had to hold onto what they had (8:56). The demand for new cars was increased more so as people who could not once afford cars in the past were now able to (9:17). Just before the war’s end, General Motors and Chevrolet created plans for the distribution of new cars among communities (9:41). They looked at the percentage of cars that had been sold in the community area in 1941 and allotted that area the same amount (9:50). This plan began with essential members of the community such as doctors and a "Department of Public Health" vehicle is shown (10:03). The film concludes as it informs viewers that Chevrolet Dealers were working as hard as they could to turn the phrase from "It Could Be You" to "It Will Be You" and get new cars out to everyone who wanted them (10:27). This film is a Jam Handy Picture (10:42).

Complete Record:

Transcription

hello hello what's that yeah yeah yeah you keep it right there I'll be right over Wow boy oh boy never thought I'd live to see the day and it's mine all mine yep you've been waiting a long time but it's yours now here are your keys and what I here are your keys oh boy what music to the ears what beautiful words what wonderful words you know that could be you yes sir that could be you riding off in that brand new Chevrolet more new Chevrolet's are being delivered than any other make of car wait a minute wait a minute all everything it could be you it could be me look what I want to know is when do I get my chevrolet now a lot of people i know have gotten their cars and they haven't had to wait as long as i have either and some of them have gotten them from you too bill now what am I forgotten man or something for two cents i take my order and i know i know there's a great deal and what you say you have waited a long time a lot of people have gotten new cars sooner than you have but have you heard the whole story well then why not see the rest of the film oh I know just looking at a film isn't going to get you a new Chevrolet any sooner but well ok ok let's look at if I'm waiting for more new Chevrolet's are being delivered than any other make of car of course isn't exactly the way it was in 1941 yet when we ordered a new car we got just a matter of a day or two maybe less yep that's all you had to do just hop in and drive them away remember as a matter of fact that could be you in that 19 41 Chevy eight years ago hey that is me in those days our cars were as much a part of our daily lives as they are now but we didn't realize then just how vital of until a certain make of car called a Volkswagen came out so we stop making cars we certainly didn't mind then never mind the cars it was given tanks getting gone we took everything that came along to share the ride gas rationing we've drove him down to the court and then some we fought off the breakdowns we read and dreamed about the new post-war cars then it came short of good to let up a bit yes sir sure felt good but for Chevrolet VJ day was the signal to get going on the production of cars and cuts for civilian use and Chevrolet was not caught napping even before the war chevrolet had completed new facilities making possible the production of more cars than had ever before been contemplated by a single manufacturer then as the war progressed Chevrolet realized that even this would not be enough it was recognized that even greater expansion would be necessary men threw away the clock and forgot about such niceties as working in the daytime and sleeping at night it was drive drive drive at the drafting team in the office at home late at night the new factories had to be designed built equipped and that wasn't all thousands of new employees had to be hired and trained thousands of new employees had to be trained or refrain in new skill and in the use of new tools and new materials new materials developed during the war called for new machines and new machining techniques have to be worked out thousands of small part were completely redesigned to make use of the best possibilities in the new war developed materials Chevrolet gin all these things and Chevrolet was ready ready to make twice as many cars and trucks as in the best previous production year oh very well and good but the works been over a long time now what's holding up the parade but that's not the whole story no amount of advanced planning entirely overcome the severe shortages of vital parts that master brake cylinder the limes stopped ever stopped to think just how it would be to put a car together without a master brake cylinder or any other vital part about 15,000 parts go into a single new Chevrolet multiply each of these parts by the thousands of new cars coming off the lines each day and you have just part of a headache we need those during that while I'm at the foot and mega fast get me Jerry Tom next make it fast purchasing always wants everything fast and it's gotten every one of those 15,000 flights down to the smallest bull has got to be on hand at the right place at the right time or the line stop but the lines must not stop okay we'll take the two throws we need those bolts Oh when can we have them gotta have those carburetors no later than Tuesday find out if he wants us to come out for what every man you have on the job we're depending on having it here tonight what about that steel bar stock see we need all just get keep the lines moving get out and get after parts materials wherever and whenever they could be found remember that day in the local hardware that chap seemed eager to lay his hands on every bullet in the store should have followed him around our friend went to every store in town and he wasn't the only one on the job either it wasn't easy manufacturers of refrigerators locomotive washing machine lawn mowers all were in the same boat they all had to have those parts and materials do a dozen two dozen of grows at a time rounded up from every possible source kept the line going remember that time at the airport that's what I said fly that Lord to flint and pronto what's in those boxes anyway go nope carburetors sweetheart just carburetors just carburetors just enough to keep the line going at flint till the main shipment arrived today there are still not enough materials to make all the cars chevrolet is equipped to turn out plus all the needed products thousands of other manufacturers are making even so chevrolet is building more cars than any other automobile manufacturer and in view of all the facts that is a production miracle where's yours well where's my mine and waiting for over a year I must have a car what do you mean carry the bottles around on my back see what I mean today there are at least four people who want new cars for everyone new car prospect in 1941 so even in spite of geared up production there just aren't enough new Chevrolet's to go around yet that is in other words those years of not making cars have caught up with all of this things started to happen to that familiar parade along the highway many cars suddenly dropped out of that picture of American life cars that we depended on cars that we needed now in normal times this man would have replaced his worn-out model with the good dependable used car but that good dependable 41 isn't there because its original owner can't buy a new Chevrolet to replace it for years of no new car production snarled the entire chain of used-car distribution and here's another thing the demand of an entirely new market had to be met to people who never owned a car before were now able to afford one more people than ever before can afford a new car new families are being formed as you can't take your best girl out on a bike chevrolet's are wanted in every community in America and long before the war's end General Motors and Chevrolet laid their plans for the distribution of new cars on the community basis the fairest and most equitable plan was to deliver to each community a fixed percentage of new cars according to the number of new cars delivered to that same community in 1941 vital community needs came first it was and is to your best interests that these community needs are met first and then as rapidly as cars can be produced more and more people of the community are becoming Chevrolet owners yes sir it could be you riding off in that brand new Chevrolet it could be you Chevrolet and your dealers are doing everything possible so that for you and your neighbors at the earliest moment it will be used

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