- Title: V-A4605
- Summary: SOCIAL CLASS IN AMERICA: FOLLOWS THE LIVES OF THREE YOUNG MEN REPRESENTING THE LOWER, MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASSES. SHOWS HOW THEIR CLASS AND SOCIAL STATUS AFFECTS THEIR CHOICE OF OCCUPATION AND WAY OF LIVING. POINTS OUT THAT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE ONE'S SOCIAL STATUS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND INTRODUCES SUCH TERMS AS "VERTICAL MOBILITY" AND "HORIZONTAL MOBILITY". EXT. HOSPITAL. NEWBORN BABIES IN HOSPITAL NURSERY. SLEEPING BABY. MAN IN OFFICE DICTATES TO SECRETARY. NICE UPPER-CLASS HOME. ACCOUNTING FIRM. WHITE COLLAR WORKER. FILLING LEDGER. NICE MIDDLE CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD. MAN WORKS IN FACTORY. DUMPS BUCKET. TWO FAMILY HOUSE. PARENTS LOOK IN WINDOW AT BABIES. SMILING. STUDENTS LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL. THREE BOYS IN SUITS TALK. SIGNING YEAR BOOKS. BOY SHAKES HANDS WITH OTHER BOYS PARENTS. LIVING ROOM OF UPPER-CLASS FAMILY, TALKING. SOCIAL CLASS. MAID COMES IN. TYPICAL SUBURBAN FAMILY EATS DINNER. DISCOURAGED TO BEING AN ARTIST. FAMILY PARTY. ALL RELATIVES CELEBRATE IN LIVING ROOM. DIFFERENT ECONOMIC CLASS. BOY PUMPING GAS AT GAS STATION. BOY WITH BOW TIE. OFFICE WORK. BOOKKEEPER. BOY WALKS ON TOWN STREET, THINKING. SOUND BYTE. "WE LIVE IN DIFFERENT WORLDS". BECOMES DETERMINED. NEW YORK CITY STREET. ART DEPARTMENT. WORKING ON ADVERTISING. DOING NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE ADS. ART DEPARTMENT OFFICE DOOR. LOOKS AT WRIST WATCH. SHOWS DRAWING. BOYS FROM SMALL TOWN. TWO MEN GO GOLFING. MIXING SOCIALLY. AT TRAIN STATION, COMING HOME FOR VACATION TO HOME TOWN. MAN KISSES HIS WIFE. SHAKE HANDS AND GREET. SITS IN BACK SEAT OF CAR WITH MOTHER. A PROFESSION. CAR PULLS INTO GAS STATION. HANDS MAN CIGAR. MOTHER IN HOSPITAL WITH NEW BABY. NURSE PUTS BABY IN BED. ROLLS IT INTO NURSERY WITH OTHER BABIES. GEOGRAPHICAL MOBILITY. STANDARDS OF CLASS.
- Description:01:25:25 - URBAN HOSPITAL WITH CIRCULAR DRIVE FADES TO CROWDED NURSERY WITH NEW-BORN BABIES IN CLEAR BASSINETS, PAN OF BABIES ONE CRIES, SWADDLED BABIES ON THEIR BACKS 01:26:08 - 1950S BUSINESS MAN SITS AT DESK, CORNER OFFICE, SECRETARY TAKES NOTES, NARRATORS TALKS ABOUT FATHER OF ONE OF THE BABIES, A WEALTHY MAN 01:26:16 - MS OF WEALTHY FACTORY OWNER, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT WEALTH AND SOCIAL PRESTIGE 01:26:26 - FADE TO LARGE COUNTRY HOME WITH CIRCULAR DRIVE 01:26:38 - FADE TO BABY IN BASSINET, NARRATOR DESCRIBES THE MIDDLE CLASS BABY 01:26:51 - OFFICE MANAGER IN SUIT TALKS TO CLERKS, SECRETARIES AT WORK, ADDING MACHINES AND TYPEWRITERS ON DESKS 01:27:00 - MS OF MAN A DESK WRITING WITH FOUNTAIN PEN IN LEDGER BOOK, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT HIS LIMITATIONS. 01:27:10 - FADE TO MIDDLE CLASS HOUSE, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT MORTGAGE 01:27:20 - BABY IN BASSINET 01:27:29 - PAN OF BABIES IN HOSPITAL BASSINETS 01:27:35 - BABY IN HOSPITAL BASSINET, NURSERY, STRETCHING HIS ARMS, 01:27:45 - FADE TO FACTORY WORKER IN UNIFORM, DUMPS PAIL OF MATERIAL 01:27:54 - OLD THREE STORY APARTMENT BUILDING, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT RENTING IN RUN DOWN SECTION 01:28:03 - HOSPITAL NURSERY, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT RISING FROM ASCRIBED STATUS 01:28:09 - PARENTS LOOKING IN WINDOW OF HOSPITAL NURSERY, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT VERTICAL MOBILITY 01:28:15 - PAN OF PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS THROUGH WINDOW, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT CLASS LINES IN THE UNITED STATES 01:28:32 - PAN OF BABIES IN NURSERY 01:28:47 - STUDENTS WALK OUT OF LARGE COLUMNED BUILDING, MADISON HIGH SCHOOL, 01:28:57 - THREE GRADUATING BOYS IN 1950S SUITS WALK TOWARDS CAMERA, WITH DIPLOMAS, SKINNY TIES 01:29:05 - MS OF YOUNG MAN ATTENDING IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY 01:29:11 - MS OF YOUNG MAN, BUSINESS CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOL 01:29:18 - MS OF YOUNG MAN FROM LOWER CLASS 01:29:24 - MS OF GROUP OF THREE YOUNG MEN, 1950S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, PARENTS WALK UP TO GROUP 01:29:36 - PARENTS SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUNG MEN, CONGRATULATIONS 01:30:14 - UPPER CLASS FAMILY SIT IN FRONT OF LARGE FIREPLACE 01:30:22 - MS OF WOMAN IN ARM CHAIR 01:30:24 - MS OF FATHER AND SON IN FRONT OF FIREPLACE, SERIOUS TALK 01:30:29 - MS OF YOUNG MAN IN SUIT NODDING, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL AND DEMOCRATIC BACKGROUND, MS OF FATHER HAVING SERIOUS TALK 01:30:45 - MAID WALKS THROUGH DOORWAY INTO ROOM 01:30:49 - MS OF WOMAN, MOTHER, UPPERCLASS 01:30:51 - MAID SMILES AND NODS, FAMILY GETS UP AND LEAVES ROOM 01:30:57 - 1950S MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY AT DINNER, MS OF FAMILY TALKING, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT FATHER DISCOURAGING SON FROM BECOMING AN ARTIST, SECURITY LIES IN BUSINESS AND WHITE COLLAR JOBS, COMMERCIAL COURSES IN HIGH SCHOOL 01:31:44 - GRADUATION PARTY IN LOWER CLASS, SMALL LIVING ROOM, FATHER ANNOUNCES SON HAS ALREADY FOUND A JOB, SHAKES HIS HAND, PROUD FATHER 01:32:24 - 1950S GAS STATION ATTENDANT FILLING UP TANK, WHITE TEE SHIRT 01:32:31 - LATE 1950S CAR, TWO TONE, PULLS UP TO AMOCO GAS STATION, WHITE WALLS, ATTENDANT WALKS UP TO CAR 01:32:40 - ATTENDANT GREETS HIS FRIEND FROM HIGH SCHOOL DRIVING EXPENSIVE CAR, CLASS DISTINCTION 01:32:46 - CU OF YOU NG MAN WITH BOW TIE AND HORN RIMMED GLASSES SITTING IN EXPENSIVE CAR, SMILING AND TALKING, UPPER CLASS 01:32:52 - CU OF LOWER CLASS MAN, GAS STATION ATTENDANT 01:32:58 - 1950S GAS STATION, AMOCO PUMPS, NO LEAD, LATE 1950S CAR, ATTENDANT WALKS TO PUMP 01:33:03 - UPPER CLASS YOUNG MAN INTRODUCED AT OFFICE, FIRST DAY OF WORK 01:33:10 - MS OF SEATED OFFICE CLERK, FILING CABINETS, STANDS UP AND SHAKES HAND OF SOMEONE OFF CAMERA 01:33:14 - MEN SHAKING HANDS IN OFFICE, INTRODUCTION 01:33:32 - YOUNG MAN WALKS AROUND CORNER OF SMALL CITY OR TOWN, STORE WINDOWS, SIDEWALKS, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS, CAMERA TRACKS HIM 01:33:51 - CU OF MAN WALKING ON SIDEWALKS OF TOWN, NARRATOR VOICES HIS THOUGHTS, EX GIRL FRIEND'S WORDS ABOUT THEM BEING IN DIFFERENT WORLDS, MAN PICKS UP PACE, ENCOURAGED BY HIS PLAN TO MOVE TO ANOTHER CITY 01:34:31 - CROWDED SIDEWALKS OF CITY, 1950S 01:34:36 - MAN WITH PORTFOLIO, AD MAN, ARTIST, WALKS TOWARDS CAMERA, CITY 01:34:49 - THREE MEN AT ARTIST DESK LOOKING OVER WORK, ADVERTISING AGENCY, COMMERCIAL ARTIST 01:34:59 - YOUNG MAN WORKING LATE AT COMMERCIAL ART 01:35:08 - ARTIST WORKS ON PRINT AD, 1950S REFRIGERATOR? 01:35:13 - YOUNG MAN AT WORK, LATE AT NIGHT UNDER LAMP 01:35:18 - SIGNS ON DOOR TO ART DEPARTMENT, DIRECTOR 01:35:22 - COMMERCIAL ARTIST SHOWING WORK TO CLIENT OR COLLEAGUE 01:35:30 - MEN AT WORK, OFFICE, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT VERTICAL ACHIEVEMENT, MEETING OVER, MAN LOOKS AT WATCH AND GETS UP AND LEAVES ART DEPARTMENT OFFICE 01:35:52 - MEN WALK OUT OF DOOR WITH GOLF CLUBS, WEARING PLAID TAMS, ENGLISH TUDOR CLUB HOUSE 01:36:04 - MEN PLAYING GOLF, 1950S 01:36:21 - COMMUTERS LEAVING TRAIN STATION 01:36:26 - MAN WITH SUITCASE WALKS THROUGH TRAIN STATION PARKING LOT, MEETS WOMAN SITTING IN CONVERTIBLE, LATE 1950S CARS, 01:36:37 - MS OF MAN IN SUIT TALKING TO WOMAN IN CONVERTIBLE, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT HE GIRL HE WANTED TO MARRY, ANALYZES SOCIAL CLASS CHANGES 01:36:43 - MS OF WOMAN IN CONVERTIBLE 01:36:45 - MAN AND WOMAN IN CONVERTIBLE TALK, HER HUSBAND WALKS UP AND KISSES HER, UPPER CLASS COUPLE, NARRATOR SAYS CLASS DISTINCTIONS STILL EXIST, POV CAR INT 01:36:57 - LATE 1950 CAR PULLS UP TO STATION, CU OF MAN GETTING OUT OF CAR, SIDE VENT WINDOW, FATHER WAVES 01:37:05 - MAN WITH SUITCASE TURNS AND WAVES, CONVERTIBLE CAR, TRAIN STATION, GETTING PICKED UP 01:37:08 - WOMAN, MOM WAVES FROM BACK SEAT OF 1950S CAR, 01:37:10 - MEN SHAKE HANDS AT TRAIN STATION, LEAVING, TIPS HAT TO WOMAN AND PICKS UP SUITCASE 01:37:16 - YOUNG MAN IN BACK SEAT WITH HIS MOTHER, POV CAR INT 01:37:23 - CU OF MOTHER TALKING IN BACK OF CAR, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT YOUNG MAN BEING UPSET ABOUT MEETING HIS OLD GIRLFRIEND 01:37:30 - MAN IN BACK SEAT OF CAR, LOOKING OUT WINDOW, THINKING, COMING HOME 01:37:37 - MOTHER AND GROWN SON IN BACK SEAT OF CAR, NARRATOR SAYS "NICE KID FROM WRONG SIDE OF RAILROAD TRACKS" 01:37:45 - POV BACK SEAT OF MAN, FATHER, DRIVING CAR 01:37:54 - MID 1950S CAR MOVING DOWN ROAD, PULLS INTO GAS STATION, AMOCO, ATTENDANT WALKS OUT TO CAR, OLD FRIEND FROM HIGH SCHOOL 01:38:08 - MAN IN BACK SEAT OF 1950S CAR SHAKES HANDS WITH GAS STATION ATTENDANT 01:38:18 - GAS STATION ATTENDANT 01:38:20 - MAN IN CAR SQUINTS AGAINST THE SUN, SUIT AND HAT, 1950S, HAND WITH THREE FINGERS UP IS RAISED IN FOREGROUND, NARRATOR SAYS GAS STATION ATTENDANT HAS 3 CHILDREN 01:38:24 - MS OF ATTENDANT GIVING MAN A CIGAR, NEW BABY, CONGRATULATIONS 01:38:28 - CU OFF NEW BABY LABEL ON BASSINET, HAND TYPED AND HAND WRITTEN, 1950S GRAPHIC OF STORK WITH DOCTOR'S BAG 01:38:32 - NEW MOTHER WITH NEW BORN IN HOSPITAL BED 01:38:36 - NURSE IN WHITE UNIFORM AND HAT WALKS INTO HOSPITAL ROOM AND TAKES NEW BORN BABY FROM MOTHER AND PUTS HIM IN THE BASSINET, GLADIOLUS IN VASE, 01:38:51 - NURSE WHEELS BABY IN BASSINET TO NURSERY IN HOSPITAL, 1950S, FIXES BLANKET, LOOKS AT ALL THE BABIES, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY 01:39:04 - CU OF HOSPITAL BASSINET WITH BABY SLEEPING, NARRATOR TALKS ABOUT CLASS BOUNDARIES 01:39:10 - PAN OF BABIES IN HOSPITAL NURSERY 01:39:24 - END TAPE
- Collection: Historic Films
- Producer:Historic Films
- Transmission Date:01/01/1957
- Rights:On request
- Decade: 1950s
- File Name: V-A4605