301. The Lifetime of the Soviet Man (28:11)

Date:
1956
Main contributors:
See Other Contributors
Summary:
Presents a highly condensed version of Russian history since the eve of World War I through the eyes of the "average Ivan" who has lived through this period. Discusses the initial period of capitalism, the collective farm movement, the great purges of the 1930's, the first Five Year Plans, the lack of consumer goods, the bitterness of World War II, and the Cold War. Illustrates each of these phases of Russian history with Russian periodicals and pictures. (Center for Mass Communication) Film.

302. The living cell (29:47)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses and illustrates the size, shape, composition, and organization of a living cell, and, with the use of a model and a simplified drawing, shows the different parts. Points out a few of the differences between a plant and an animal cell. (KUHT) Film.

303. The medical witness (35:04)

Date:
1956
Summary:
This film, in vivid, dramatic scenes, shows the examples of two physicians, the right way and the wrong way, to offer medical testimony on which the plaintiff's suit depends.

304. The missing elements (29:20)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses the discovery of three elements predicted by Mendeleev. Demonstrates and explains the use of the spectroscope and of other methods in isolating elements. Revises Mendeleev's Periodic Table by adding the three new elements and rare gases. (KQED) Film.

305. The nature of humor (29:40)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Dr. Feinberg delves into the basic nature of humor as it is known in everyday life. “Fake” laughter, often used on radio and television, is demonstrated and its importance and value explained.

306. The nature of satire (28:53)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Dr. Feinberg addresses satire; why satire is used, how it combines humor and criticism, its relationship to the nature of reality, and how it causes laughter. Dr. Feinberg points out that cosmic irony, social irony, and individual irony are the basis for satire, and discusses and illustrates each of these three forms.

307. The nature of the satirist (29:34)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Dr. Feinberg addresses just what makes the satirist tick, what kind of a person it is who twists elements of a person or of a thing to make the whole appear funny.

308. The Necessity of Government (26:21)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses opposing views concerning the necessity of government, and illustrates why some form of government is essential for the common good of the group. Explains the two general types of government--leader centered and majority rule. Points out the danger of the two extremes of government--anarchy with unlimited individual rights or a powerful government with no individual rights. (Mortimer Adler-San Francisco Productions) Kinescope.

309. The New Baby Comes Home (28:51)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Shows and discusses baby clothing and pictures the actions of two babies less than six weeks old. General styles of various items of baby clothing are displayed, their advantages are pointed out, and minimum quantities needed are suggested. (WQED) Kinescope.

310. The new old Greece (29:31)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Considers the recently deciphered tablets from Pylos and Knossus that have furnished evidence calling for a thorough revision of Greek history before Homer. Discusses this "brand new" world of Ancient Greece and the possibility that Homer could actually write. (NYU) Kinescope.

311. The nominating process re-examined (28:40)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses trends in the nominating process and the changes in sectional voting patterns. Briefly mentions the influence of third parties and splinter candidates. Summarizes criticisms of the political convention and the primary system, concluding that the process, whatever its weakness, has proved workable. Considers the influence of television on American elections. (Dynamic Films) Film.

312. The office of the President (29:09)

Date:
1956
Summary:
This program considers the role of the president and the significant changes in that role during the past half century. Interviews and discussion also consider the presidential role as administrator of public policy and political leader; the methods used for nomination of candidates for the presidency, and the development of the convention system.

313. The old man and the sea (29:48)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Appraises the artistic quality of the book and examines its purposes and the ideas that it contains. Concludes that this rather short, simple story is Hemingway's technically most competent book. (Syracuse University) Kinescope.

314. The organization and operation of the National Convention (29:42)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Here, working politicians consider selection and preparation of the convention site, the role of the National Committee in the organization and operation of the convention, the functions of standing committees of the convention, and settlement of disputes in seating of contested delegates.

316. The past in Persia (29:22)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses the empire of the Persians under Darius and its destruction by Alexander the Great. Gives a glimpse of this culture through a display of a number of gold objects. (NYU) Kinescope.

317. The pen and the word (29:38)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses early Egyptian writing of 4000 B.C. Explains the deciphering of this writing from the Rosetta stone. (NYU) Kinescope.

318. The Pestilence of Factions (29:10)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses the competing interests or "factions" which existed as separate groups before political parties were organized. Explains that today these groups make themselves felt through competition with the parties for power and influence or by trying to gain dominance within a party. (KETC) Kinescope.

320. The planet Earth (29:30)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Explains how the earth, its inhabitants, and its atmosphere are composed of 101 elements alone or in numerous combinations. Discusses the distribution of elements in the earth, in water, and in the atmosphere, and indicates the significance of these proportions. (KQED) Film.

321. The Red and the Black (29:43)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses The Red and the Black by Stendhal. Outlines conditions in France that served as background for this novel and compares it with others that depict revolt against small-town ways. Considers the development of plot and characters and touches on the form and the treatment of ideas in the book. (Syracuse University) Kinescope.

322. The religious theme : Rouault and Manessier (29:37)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Faith in human goodness generally implies a faith in a higher deity, and such is the case in the work of Rouault and Manessier. Washburn compares and contrasts a number of works of the two painters.

324. The Rondo (29:30)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses the rondo and explains its construction. Illustrates with compositions played partially or in their entirety. Features the Paganini Quartet, including a brief history of the quartet's Stratavari instruments, all of which belonged to Paganini. Musical selections include Rondino (Kroisler), Turkish Rondo (Mozart), and the finale from both a sonata and a quartet by Beethoven. (USC) Film.

325. The Scherzo (29:20)

Date:
1956
Summary:
In this program, Temianka explains the meaning and origin of the word, “scherzo,” which refers to a sprightly, humorous instrumental composition or movement commonly used in quick triple measure. Illustrative compositions are selected for Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Dvorak and Schumann.

326. The scientist examines life (29:38)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Dr. Roney examines the scientific method. He discusses such questions as: How does a scientist decide when an observation is “true”? What are the differences between inductive and deductive procedures? What is a raw “fact”? He also demonstrates the use of a micro-projector, and shows more views of amoeba.

327. The Sixth Annual Little 500 - 1956 (22:01)

Date:
1956
Main contributors:
Indiana University Audio-Visual Center
Summary:
Highlight reel of activities surrounding the 1956 Little 500 bicycle race. Activities include qualifiers, the Mini 500 women's tricycle race, and the Little 500 pre-race activities and bicycle race. This film does not have sound.

328. The Smoke-Filled Room and Mr. Throttlebottom (29:17)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses the national party convention as a nominating device. Considers control of the convention, the convention as a "sane" method for choosing candidates, and the nomination of the vice-presidential candidates. (KETC) Kinescope.

329. The Sonata (29:48)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses the origin and development of the sonata form and explains its construction. Includes musical illustrations by Schumann, Haydn, Schubert, and Franck.

330. The Song-Form (29:19)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Defines and discusses "song-form" in music. Illustrative works include B Major Sonatina (Schubert), Norwegian Dance (Grieg), Sonata in D Major (Brahms), and Trio (Beethoven). (USC) Film.

331. The Sound of a Stradivarius (28:52)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses and demonstrates the Stradivarius violin, the viola, and the cello. Explains the distinguishing features of the Stradivarius instruments being used and presents musical selections featuring each of the instruments in turn. Music includes: Beethoven, Serenade from Trio, Paganini, Caprice; Dohnanyi, Serenade from Trio; and Bach, Bourree from C Major Suite. (Arts and Audiences, Inc.) Film.

332. The Speed of Sound (14:38)

Date:
1956
Main contributors:
See Other Contributors
Summary:
Explains that a major problem of jet propulsion is increasing the speed of the expanding gas in the jet engine. Shows how the speed is increased by the addition of heat, more gas,and heavier molecules. Points out that there is no limit tot he speed that gas will move through the end of propulsion chambers if a material can be obtained that will stand the increased temperature. (New Mexico College of A.& M.A.) Film.

333. The spinal column : structure and function in man (11:18)

Date:
1956
Main contributors:
Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Karl E. Mason, Robert Longini
Summary:
Describes in detail the structure, function, and movement of the spinal column in man. Uses X-ray photography and animated drawings to indicate the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions and shows how the individual vertebrae are joined together to form a strong but flexible backbone. Points out the relationship between the spine, other bones, and muscles of the body and stresses good posture. | Details the movement, structure, and function of the spinal column through X-ray, stop-motion, and close-up photography, as well as by means of animated drawings. Emphasizes the importance of good posture and illustrates typical posture faults.

334. The spirit of romanticism (26:07)

Date:
1956
Main contributors:
John Barnes, Alfred Hicks, Carlotta Barrow
Summary:
Introduces the age of Romanticism by dramatizing major personalities and events that contributed to the spirit of this period in the history and culture of Western civilization. | Introduces the age of Romanticism by dramatizing major personalities and events that contributed to the spirit of this period in the history and culture of Western civilization.

335. The story of printing : the letterpress (28:47)

Date:
1956
Summary:
The Finder shows us how basic printing is in our lives by bringing before the camera a variety of things which are printed—stamps, billboards, toys, milk bottles, tin cans and plastic curtains. He goes on to investigate letterpress, the oldest printing method invented by Gutenberg 500 years ago. It is still one of the widely used printing methods.

336. The string choir (second edition) (11:38)

Date:
1956
Main contributors:
Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Ralph E. Rush, Milan Herzog, Erpi Classroom Films Inc., Peter W. Dykema, M.L., Teachers College, Columbia University, Howard Barlow
Summary:
Describes the appearance, functions, and timbre of each stringed instrument of the symphony orchestra. Illustrates bowing, pizzicato, and finger techniques used in playing instruments of the string choir. Explains characteristic tonal qualities of the violin, viola, cello, and bass viol, with excerpts from Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, and Rossini's William Tell Overture. An instructional sound film.

337. The Toddler (28:56)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Describes the child in his second and third years. Stresses importance of play, vocabulary development, the nap and bed-time ritual, and the development of possessiveness and self-assertion. Shows some of the activities of children in this age group. (WQED) Kinescope.

338. The universe (29:55)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Dr. Otto Struve, director of the Leuscher Observatory in Berkeley and the first man to prove that stars rotate on their axes, is Dr. Seaborg’s guest on this program. Hydrogen is rare and helium is positively scarce on earth but these two elements alone make up 99 percent of the universe as a whole. Dr. Seaborg and his guest attempt to explain this phenomenon and other topics such as the creation of the universe, the emptiness of “empty space,” and the ways in which astronomers unravel the secrets of the cosmos. The viewers also is taken on a journey of exploration in outer space with our host and Dr. Struve as they explore the sun, the Milky Way, and distant galaxies, all illustrated with remarkable astro-photos.

339. The unlucky traveler (29:43)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Professor Kraemer reads from an illustrated account by an Egyptian envoy, written in 1200 BC, who traveled to Syria at a time when law and order within the Egyptian empire were in a state of corruption. The account stresses the indignities suffered by a traveler.

341. The wheat farmer (second edition) (13:35)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Shows the raising and harvesting of a crop of wheat by a family in Kansas. Pictures plowing, harrowing, and planting in the late summer along with a variety of activities in which the wheat farmer engages. Dramatizes the struggle to get the crop in before an impending hail storm and reveals the risks involved in wheat farming.

342. The Wilderness Society "Free Booklet 'The American Wilderness'" (01:02)

Date:
19uu
Main contributors:
The Wilderness Society
Summary:
A public service announcement from the Wilderness Society in which a scene of forest wildlife is overlaid with audio of developers clearing trees. An offscreen male narrator reminds the viewer that "man does not live by development alone," while onscreen text provides information on how to order a free booklet on "the American wilderness." Submitted for the Clio Awards.

344. The woodcock (07:06)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Analyzes the characteristics, habits, and range of this elusive night-feeding game bird.

345. Theme and Variations (29:51)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses and demonstrates theme and variations and traces the development of this musical form. Illustrations include variations of the Vintner's Daughter, and the "Trout-Quintet," played in its entirety by the Paganini Quartet, with piano. (USC) Film.

346. This land of ours : Indiana (09:29)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Presents the historical, geographical, industrial, and scenic highlights of the state, including the cities of Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and South Bend. Also shows Indiana, Purdue, and Notre Dame universities, and manufacturing, industrial, and agricultural centers.

347. U.S. Department of the Interior "Write Clean Water" (01:00)

Date:
19uu
Main contributors:
U.S. Department of the Interior
Summary:
A public service announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior in which audio of children singing about going to the beach overlays a scene of a deserted beach covered with trash, dead fish, and rats. An offscreen male narrator warns that "beaches should be for people," not rats. Submitted for the Clio Awards.

348. University of Toronto "Pollution Probe" (01:00)

Date:
19uu
Main contributors:
University of Toronto
Summary:
A public service announcement from the University of Toronto featuring a silent scroll of text discussing the problem of noise pollution and urging the viewer to contact the university's Pollution Probe to learn more. White screens accompanied by a noisy siren bookend the text scroll. Submitted for the Clio Awards.

349. V-62 Independence (1:04:10)

Date:
19uu
Main contributors:
U.S. Park Service Department of the Interior
Summary:
Source material used for the Agency for Instructional Technology series Geography in U.S. history : illuminating the geographic dimensions of our nation's development.

350. Well's Childhood, the Theater, Academic Freedom, and Alfred Kinsey (47:44)

Date:
19uu
Main contributors:
Wells, Herman B
Summary:
The Herman B Wells papers includes materials pertaining to Wells' family and personal finances, his activities in the banking profession, his work in Germany for the United States government after World War II, and to his research and teaching and professional activities as a member of the faculty of Indiana University.

351. Wellmet House (29:30)

Date:
19uu
Summary:
Explains that Wellmet House attempts to rehabilitate the mentally ill not by gaining conforming behavior but by helping them relate to other people in natural and unstructured ways. Points out that half of the residents are mentally ill and the other half are college students from nearby universities who staff Wellmet House. Emphasizes the need for each patient to find individual expression. Shows patients and staff at dinner, parties, the local pub, and a house meeting.

352. What Is Art? (29:18)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Defines art by discussing its distinguishing qualities. Differentiates between art and artifact. Shows a variety of art objects and paintings and contrasts art and artifact by playing two musical selections. (Hofstra College and WOR-TV) Kinescope.

353. What makes a "good" candidate? (28:26)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses the characteristics of a "good" candidate in terms of age, religion, and home state. Points out that men from populous states stand the best chance of receiving the nomination. Also discusses favorite sons, dark horse candidates, and the nomination of candidates previously defeated.

354. What the Future Holds (29:43)

Date:
1956
Summary:
This final program on the series is a “crystal ball” attempt to look into the future and answer the question, “Where is American art going?” A panel of well-known American figures in American art assists Dr. Preston in an attempt to select those elements in today’s painting which may well be termed characteristic of this era by later generations and to trace out the lines of development which will determine the future.

355. What we laugh at (29:37)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Going more deeply into the how and why of laughter, Dr. Feinberg discusses international jokes and tells how they originated. A clown routine, so common in international jokes, is demonstrated and analyzed.

356. Where do prejudices come from? (2:02:10)

Date:
1956
Summary:
In this concluding program on prejudices, the delegates stress some of the similarities between nations represented in the Forum group. These include Switzerland-Germany, common language and literature; Switzerland-Israel, multilingual country and neutrality; Switzerland-Finland, winter sports, neutrality; Germany-Israel, anti-Semitism in Germany, anti-German feeling in Israel; and Israel-Egypt, struggle to develop the desert, find water, be independent of foreign influence, and solve problems of refugees.

358. Why We Laugh (29:37)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Outlines and discusses various theories of humor, and presents examples of laughter created to illustrate each theory. Shows, through the use of a polygraph, that physiological changes occur in various parts of the body when a person laughs. (WOI-TV) Kinescope.

359. Witness (29:36)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discuss the book, Witness, by Whittaker Chambers. Examines the content of this autobiographical work and the reasons why it was written. Appraises the significance of the book as a source for historians and as literature.

360. Work (29:32)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Shows how to choose a job by first knowing one's self as revealed by performance in intelligence, aptitude, and personality tests, by learning the characteristics of different jobs, and by fitting these two together. Illustrates these steps by following a series of counseling sessions between a counselor and a counselee. (KOMU-TV) Kinescope.

361. World Enough and Time (29:49)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Discusses World Enough and Time by Robert Penn Warren. Outlines the plot, briefly sketches the characters, and appraises the literary form of this novel. Identifies and examines ides embodied in this work and indicates the author's serious concern with them. (Syracuse University) Kinescope.

362. World War II prologue, U.S.A. (28:29)

Date:
1956
Summary:
Reviews, through documentary scenes taken from the National Archives, the historic events which led to the entry of the United States into World War II. Records the failure of the League of Nations to take strong action against the aggressive acts of Japan, Italy, and Germany. Highlights the war of nerves, the successive Axis aggression, U.S. Neutrality Acts, the various agreements and pacts, and the declaration of war by England, France, and the United States. Documentary of events leading to United States entry to World War II. Different stages through which American public opinion passed as events in Europe took place are described.

363. Writers of today. Frank O'Connor (28:39)

Date:
195u
Main contributors:
See Other Contributors
Summary:
Walter Kerr, drama critic for the New York Herald Tribune, interviews noted Irish author Frank O'Connor. Mr. O'Connor contrasts the novel and the short story in relation to characterization, plot, and the time element. He discusses styles of the short story and appraises past and present psychological and subject matter trends in prose fiction.