BEING ONE FILM in a series of training aids designed primarily for police departments throughout the country, the production manages to both maintain a very natural look & feel. At the very same time, it appears to have a highly professional and even theatrical quality about it.
WE BELIEVE THAT this was among several of this series that was employed by the Chicago Police Department's Training Division when we were undergoing training in the Autumn of 1967. We also well recall another in the series that dealt more exclusively with the police having to care for those who failed at suicide. Just as today's title employed real police personnel from the New Orleans P.D., this second film had "actors" culled from the CPD, Police Academy staff. At least three of them were still active during our screening.
AS FAR AS its status as movie art, it really does not rate too badly. While its intent is instruction as well as making a political case for improved emergency mental health facilities throughout the whole nation; it still manages to move along at a proper pace, tell a definite (if generalized) story, "entertains" and keep one's interest and attention.
WE MUST COMMEND the non-professional members of the cast, who remain anonymous even today, some 56 years later. Their efforts in being well directed by writer/producer/director George C. Stoney are well enhanced by the voice-over narration of actor James Daly; who served in the same capacity for the series run.
IN CLOSING WE must make just one personal, critical observation. Whereas this mental health series was intended to instruct the cops in the field, we think that it may have been a situation of a 2 way street. It would appear those in the fields of medicine, mental health and their corresponding advocacy organizations learned as much from the street experience of the first responders as do the cops from the films.
IT THEN IS a simple case of being a 2 Way Street!
WE BELIEVE THAT this was among several of this series that was employed by the Chicago Police Department's Training Division when we were undergoing training in the Autumn of 1967. We also well recall another in the series that dealt more exclusively with the police having to care for those who failed at suicide. Just as today's title employed real police personnel from the New Orleans P.D., this second film had "actors" culled from the CPD, Police Academy staff. At least three of them were still active during our screening.
AS FAR AS its status as movie art, it really does not rate too badly. While its intent is instruction as well as making a political case for improved emergency mental health facilities throughout the whole nation; it still manages to move along at a proper pace, tell a definite (if generalized) story, "entertains" and keep one's interest and attention.
WE MUST COMMEND the non-professional members of the cast, who remain anonymous even today, some 56 years later. Their efforts in being well directed by writer/producer/director George C. Stoney are well enhanced by the voice-over narration of actor James Daly; who served in the same capacity for the series run.
IN CLOSING WE must make just one personal, critical observation. Whereas this mental health series was intended to instruct the cops in the field, we think that it may have been a situation of a 2 way street. It would appear those in the fields of medicine, mental health and their corresponding advocacy organizations learned as much from the street experience of the first responders as do the cops from the films.
IT THEN IS a simple case of being a 2 Way Street!