To the People of the United States

This short subject about syphilis is introduced by two, count, two Surgeons General. Then we get to listen to Jean Hersholt in an army uniform talking about the prevalence of the disease -- 46 out of a thousand young men at the draft boards -- its costs, and how to combat it.

Given the societal costs, not only financial, but familial, the government decided it was necessary to ignore the traditional taboos in discussing the disease. They assembled quite a cast of easily recognized performers, including. Noah Beery Jr., Thomas Gomez, Anne Gwynne, Samuel S. Hinds, and even a pre-fame Robert Mitchum as an uncredited extra.