Just watched this military training short film on YouTube. It seems to have been made in Hollywood judging by the professionalism of the whole thing and the casting of many recognizable actors in it like Spring Byington, Donna Reed, Frank Faylen-those last two I recognized from my favorite movie: It's a Wonderful Life, and Esther Williams of whom this may have been close to her earliest film appearance. It takes place at a classroom where the teacher is telling his students how Americans aren't very smart and could possibly inadvertently reveal some classified info to someone they don't know but are fooled by certain demeanors or uniforms or other kinds of familiar clothes in thinking of them as fellow citizens instead of potential enemies during this World War II period. I'll just say that the way the film ends, it goes a way it perhaps shouldn't. So on that note, I recommend Sucker Bait for anyone curious about these vintage military films.
2 Reviews
Not as much fun as "Booby Traps" but well worth seeing even today.
planktonrules6 April 2020
During WWII, Hollywood had a very strong patriotic streak. Studios, directors and stars all contributed their time and energies to producing films to aid the US military without thought of personal gain. This meant that often studios gave space and money to produce films for the government. My favorites are the cartoons...such as the Private Snafu short "Booby Traps". This film was about the dangers of loose talk and how soldiers and civilians alike could unintentionally help the enemy by talking without thinking. "Sucker Bait" is very similar...but not as crazy nor as much fun to watch.
The film is clever because instead of lecturing the soldiers about keeping their mouth shut, it presents itself as if it was a Nazi instructional film...showing how dumb many American soldiers are and how they betray secrets if given a chance. And, like most of the films of the like, the stars are all various Hollywood stars...mostly supporting actors and actors who would soon become starts.
The film is very well made...and comes off as less preachy and jingoistic as many other training films. An interesting insight into the psyche of the times...well worth seeing.
The film is clever because instead of lecturing the soldiers about keeping their mouth shut, it presents itself as if it was a Nazi instructional film...showing how dumb many American soldiers are and how they betray secrets if given a chance. And, like most of the films of the like, the stars are all various Hollywood stars...mostly supporting actors and actors who would soon become starts.
The film is very well made...and comes off as less preachy and jingoistic as many other training films. An interesting insight into the psyche of the times...well worth seeing.
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