arthurblock

This is a follow-up to another Centron/Caterpillar collaboration, "Shake Hands with Danger". At one point, we even see someone reading a brochure with that title. The message is much the same: Read and follow the maintenance and operating instructions of heavy equipment. Here, there is an additional point, encouraging workers to notice and respond to visual or audible signs that something may be wrong.

This time the emphasis is on mistakes that lead to damaged equipment. Only a couple illustrated incidents are at all comparable to the parade of actual or narrowly averted death and dismemberment portrayed in the earlier film. As a result of the lessened stakes, the film holds reduced interest for a viewer outside the intended audience. Also, there's no equivalent to the memorable country music jingle (about Three-Finger Joe) in "Shake Hands".

While the basic message of the film is no doubt still relevant, the fact that it is illustrated with technology from a third of a century ago probably renders it ineffective as a training aid. If it holds any interest today, it is presumably for devotees of ephemeral films.

Although in no way the fault of the filmmakers, it may be worth noting that the only place I know where this is available, Internet Archive, has a copy in poor condition.

This is pretty much a one-note story. There's no real plot, just many examples of main character George complaining and denigrating everything around him. The other members of his family are the same way, but Betty, the girl next-door, is cheerful and popular. In the closest thing to a story arc, she is finally pushed too far and snaps at George, but quickly apologizes. As is normal in the "Discussion Problems in Group Living" series, nothing is resolved at the end, but George's conscience asks the viewers what they think. There doesn't seem to be much to say beyond the obvious "George should stop acting like that." Given that it's impossible to see what even Olivier could do with material like this, I don't think it's fair to pick on the actors. They speak their lines intelligibly. In sum, I'd say this is one of the lesser entries in the series.