THE DEVIL AND JOHN Q
Sign in to track this film in your collection or want list.
Year Published: 1952
Description: “The Devil and John Q” is an animated short-film from 1952 that discusses the harmful impact inflation would have on the American economy. The film follows caricature John Q as he tries to stop the devil, who poses as a business tycoon, from trying to raise prices in America and start another world war. This film and others in the series were products of the Cold War. Deeply concerned with the rise of Communism after the end of WWII, Harding University (then known as Harding College) worked with film studio John Sutherland Productions to produce a series of short animated films "to create a deeper understanding of what has made America the finest place in the world to live!" The films in the series feature animation by renowned cartoonists and artists Arnold Gillespie, Emery Hawkins, Bill Higgins, and Russ von Neida. John Sutherland is remembered for having voiced the adult Bambi in the 1942 Disney cartoon. A gifted animator and filmmaker, he produced 45 films from 1945–1973. His films for Harding College extolled the socioeconomic concept of capitalism and delivered a political message on the benefits of both corporate and individual liberty, and the drawbacks of government intervention. Opening credits (0:10). Devils stand hand in hand amid flames at the Gates of Hell (0:39). Henchman mumbles and trudges out of door in the depths of hell (1:06). Henchman trips and falls down steps (1:15). Devil yells at henchman from hot tub with cigar hanging from mouth (1:30). Devil sits in office and devises master plan for how to destroy the US, holds up book titled reads Inflation: Or How to Destroy the U.S.A (2:22). American “Hillbilly” farmer and John Q (business man) smoke pipes beside a cast-iron wood stove (2:33). Devil joins conversation and dresses in disguise as farmer, has temper tantrum (2:41). John Q and other American businessmen in suits discuss inflation over fancy dinner (3:01). Devil dresses in disguise as waiter and inserts himself in conversation - sparks fire with thumbs and lights man’s cigar (3:16). John Q stands at “payroll checks cashed” window with worker counting paycheck cash (3:40). Devil appears as another worker picking up payroll and joins conversation (3:53). Political cartoons: inflation threatening the United States (4:10). John Q turns on TV for address on inflation - Devil on TV dressed as American senator (4:32). John Q rushes through traffic to TV station to disrupt the live broadcast (4:57). John Q steps on stage of TV set and disrupts the “devil” (5:17). John Q begins presentation about history of inflation in the United States: shows various goods and home interiors in 1940 and compares them to goods and homes in 1950 (5:23). Stream of goods roll out of American factory into store while simultaneously walking dollar bills walk out of factory into the store (6:40). War economy: stream of goods becomes weapons and other armament (6:46). Dollar bills scramble and fight each other for a refrigerator (7:05). Animations detailing how inflation can be stopped (7:11). Dollar bills frantically run into carnival-scape representing non-essential spending (7:56). Scene return to John Q speaking to crowd from TV studio (8:28). Abraham Lincoln statue in Lincoln Memorial (8:42). The soundtrack for this cartoon was made by Les Baxter. The cartoon stars Frank Nelson as the Devil, John Hiestand as narrator, Harry Morgan as Abe Lincoln, and Herb Vigran as John Q. U.S. NAVY GRAMPAW PETTIBONE CARTOON "DIVE BOMBER CRASHES" WWII PILOT SAFETY TRAINING FILM XD31504d by PeriscopeFilm
Complete Record: “The Devil and John Q” is an animated short-film from 1952 that discusses the harmful impact inflation would have on the American economy. The film follows caricature John Q as he tries to stop the devil, who poses as a business tycoon, from trying to raise prices in America and start another world war. This film and others in the series were products of the Cold War. Deeply concerned with the rise of Communism after the end of WWII, Harding University (then known as Harding College) worked with film studio John Sutherland Productions to produce a series of short animated films "to create a deeper understanding of what has made America the finest place in the world to live!" The films in the series feature animation by renowned cartoonists and artists Arnold Gillespie, Emery Hawkins, Bill Higgins, and Russ von Neida. John Sutherland is remembered for having voiced the adult Bambi in the 1942 Disney cartoon. A gifted animator and filmmaker, he produced 45 films from 1945–1973. His films for Harding College extolled the socioeconomic concept of capitalism and delivered a political message on the benefits of both corporate and individual liberty, and the drawbacks of government intervention. Opening credits (0:10). Devils stand hand in hand amid flames at the Gates of Hell (0:39). Henchman mumbles and trudges out of door in the depths of hell (1:06). Henchman trips and falls down steps (1:15). Devil yells at henchman from hot tub with cigar hanging from mouth (1:30). Devil sits in office and devises master plan for how to destroy the US, holds up book titled reads Inflation: Or How to Destroy the U.S.A (2:22). American “Hillbilly” farmer and John Q (business man) smoke pipes beside a cast-iron wood stove (2:33). Devil joins conversation and dresses in disguise as farmer, has temper tantrum (2:41). John Q and other American businessmen in suits discuss inflation over fancy dinner (3:01). Devil dresses in disguise as waiter and inserts himself in conversation - sparks fire with thumbs and lights man’s cigar (3:16). John Q stands at “payroll checks cashed” window with worker counting paycheck cash (3:40). Devil appears as another worker picking up payroll and joins conversation (3:53). Political cartoons: inflation threatening the United States (4:10). John Q turns on TV for address on inflation - Devil on TV dressed as American senator (4:32). John Q rushes through traffic to TV station to disrupt the live broadcast (4:57). John Q steps on stage of TV set and disrupts the “devil” (5:17). John Q begins presentation about history of inflation in the United States: shows various goods and home interiors in 1940 and compares them to goods and homes in 1950 (5:23). Stream of goods roll out of American factory into store while simultaneously walking dollar bills walk out of factory into the store (6:40). War economy: stream of goods becomes weapons and other armament (6:46). Dollar bills scramble and fight each other for a refrigerator (7:05). Animations detailing how inflation can be stopped (7:11). Dollar bills frantically run into carnival-scape representing non-essential spending (7:56). Scene return to John Q speaking to crowd from TV studio (8:28). Abraham Lincoln statue in Lincoln Memorial (8:42). The soundtrack for this cartoon was made by Les Baxter. The cartoon stars Frank Nelson as the Devil, John Hiestand as narrator, Harry Morgan as Abe Lincoln, and Herb Vigran as John Q. U.S. NAVY GRAMPAW PETTIBONE CARTOON "DIVE BOMBER CRASHES" WWII PILOT SAFETY TRAINING FILM XD31504d by PeriscopeFilm
Transcription
foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] took me wrong boy plenty you and that gang of Reds were supposed to knock out the United States by this time but the boss who are building up our strength yeah but you're moving too slow oh what do we do you and your communist Pals keep trouble brewing in Asia and Europe I'll go to work on the USA from the inside you're gonna plan an atom bomb boys oh boy oh boy this seeds I've planted in the United States are far more deadly than Adam Bars [Music] [Applause] yep John Q inflation don't worry maidens so long the government keeps Farm prices high and subsidies High inflation is everybody's problem you're not with us Farmers by cracky we're making place the money we used to what's the good of having twice as many dollars if you have to pay three times as much for what you buy so you reactionary City Slickers just want to see us Farmers go broke that burns me up foreign business should raise prices to keep profit ratios in line if business gouges labor with unnecessary high prices that only feeds the fires of inflation now John Q if we businessmen stick together we can keep profits high and keep labor right under our thumb well if high prices make it impossible for the people to buy the goods that industry produces everybody suffers why you crackpot live bro let me tell you something [Music] well John Q seems like the old paycheck buys less every day yeah I have to dig into my savings most every week to keep up with inflation inflation can't hurt us Union boys if wages don't keep ahead of pricing really if wages go up so do prices get him and I labor if I ever heard one listen birthday reminds me of the no can't be unions demands Farm prices Skyrocket business demands higher profits prices soar defense cost zooms inflation threatens Nation Senator Brimstone will speak to the American people tonight [Music] the in circulation which means more taxes which means your government has more money to share with more and more people every year foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] I've got plenty to say unless you're scared to let me talk scared of you ridiculous inflation can wreck us now let me in 1940 the price of food was an easy reach of the dollar by 1950 it took three times as many dollars to bring home the bacon the same number of dollars it took to buy a complete outfit in 1940 in 1950 would buy only the Bare Essentials automobile that cost one thousand dollars in 1940 cost about twenty five hundred dollars in 1950. forty five hundred dollars would buy a two-bedroom house in nineteen forty the same money in 1950 wouldn't put a roof over your head a worker who retired on a pension insurance or Savings in 1940 found by 1950 his money would buy only one half as much food and shelter if inflation continues the money a fellow has to live on will be practically worthless here's what inflation does to our cost of Defense in 1942 our dollars bought a lot of protection a 1952 the same number of dollars would buy less than half the tools of War inflation can bankrupt us before we can arm ourselves in peace time our industrial machine produces a stream of goods which can be purchased by the dollars we earn with our labor in a war economy the production of Civilian Goods must be cut our raw materials labor and capital must be used to turn out the tools of War our labor still earns dollars but when the dollars go to the stores to buy things they find war production has reduced the supply of goods available for civilian consumption now more dollars are competing for Less Goods this means higher prices inflation can be stopped if we remove the excess number of dollars that bid up the prices higher taxes can absorb some of the Surplus Purchasing Power Credit restrictions can require larger down payments to reduce the demand for scarce articles Surplus dollars can be enticed to purchase war bonds to help finance the war effort dollars that resist temptation can find shelter in a savings bank at least temporarily if the government needs more money it can tempt the bank to exchange the people's savings for government bonds financing the war as nearly as possible on a pay-as-we-go basis can reduce the forces of inflation to protect the Dollar's purchasing power for today and the future if the government wants to help in the fighting it can stop all non-essential spending [Music] foreign [Music] spending must stop each of us must bear of his country above his own selfish interest if we are going to stop inflation it may make our sacrifices easier to bear if we can imagine ourselves listening to The Immortal words of Abraham Lincoln at what point shall we expect the approach of danger I answer if it ever approaches it must spring up amongst us it cannot come from abroad if destruction be our life we must ourselves be its author and finisher as a nation of free live through all time or die by Suicide now senator from Hell Dorado can prove that inflation will not destroy us let him speak why are you welcome [Music] [Music] [Applause]
1 user has this film:
Periscope Film
No related films.
Original permalink · Record added: 2025-01-23 17:19:51