We Work Again (1937) User Reviews

Value of the Great Depression's Works Progress Administration

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 25 July 2016]

I saw this short documentary on Turner Classics where it merited an introduction by host Ben Mankiewicz and University of Chicago professor Jacqueline Stewart, who's insight on the film and the way it was made was especially helpful to this viewer. Both agreed that a principal reason for making the film was for it's propaganda value during the Great Depression. The government used it to tout the success of New Deal programs in creating jobs, as this film focuses primarily on work created for African-Americans in the Thirties. Unskilled laborers were put to work improving schools and public buildings, with more experienced workers involved in new construction, park improvement projects and nursery schools. At one point, the National Youth Administration, an adjunct of the Works Progress Administration, employed twenty six thousand instructors, lab assistants and clerical workers, while household training schools prepared individuals for domestic work or homemaking skills that would be of personal benefit.

An interesting side note of the WPA's mission was in the creative arts. The Juanita Hall Choir performed an upbeat rendition of 'Ezekiel Saw the Wheel' while a Negro Theater Unit of the Federal Theater Project offered up a portion of the play Macbeth with an all black cast. Set in Haiti instead of Shakespeare's original location of Scotland, the play followed the traditional script utilizing a Haitian backdrop. Since it wasn't mentioned in the film's own narration, it was worthwhile to hear Ms. Stewart's comments regarding this version of 'Voodoo Macbeth', and to learn that this was under the direction of a then twenty year old, unknown director named Orson Welles! You just never know where some artists got their humble start.

A Very Interesting Piece of History

[Snow Leopard · 26 October 2005]

This short documentary was originally meant primarily as an upbeat feature in support of a popular government program, but today it is especially interesting as a piece of history, in a number of respects. Even by itself, it would be a worthwhile look at the practical effects of the Works Progress Administration in alleviating some of the worst effects of the 1930s' economic depression. But it is probably most known today for its inclusion of the last few minutes of Orson Welles's distinctive stage version of "Macbeth", which adds an intriguing bonus to the movie.

While the documentary takes a look at the WPA's work in many different fields, it focuses specifically on the ways that African-Americans were affected by the depression and then helped by the WPA. It thus provides a look at a significant aspect of the depression that is not often considered on its own.

It's also interesting that it devotes so much of the running time to music and the performing arts. Many of the issues involved with government support of the creative arts are still debated, and in that respect, this feature might add a useful historical perspective.

The footage of the "Macbeth" finale in itself would of course make any documentary worth preserving. This is the version that the young Welles (then known mainly through radio) set in Haiti in the (then) relatively near past, with an all African-American cast. Even given the limitations inherent in a film of a stage show, it's very interesting. And the rest of the documentary is also far from without some points of interest as well.

An important historical document as well as political propaganda

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 23 February 2010]

This is not an especially entertaining film, but it is important because of its historical value. It's a propaganda film that extols the virtues of the WPA and it's efforts at job training and work programs. As you listen to it and hear how positively the program SOUNDS like it was, you get the impression that the Depression was over--or nearly so. Unfortunately, it was not and the WPA was more a public relations coup--creating a sense of hope that didn't solve things, but at least made the people feel better about their lives. In other words, the film was a historical record of the government trying to win the public relations war--on which they did an incredible job.

As for the film and its production values, it's only fair. The narration is somber and heavy-handed and there is way too much singing. On the positive side, all the Black-Americans singing, while not especially good for the flow of the film, did provide a nice historical record.

We Work Again is worth seeing for what future stars Juanita Hall and Orson Welles did early in their careers

[tavm · 8/10 · 21 December 2009]

Just watched a short version of this documentary of the accomplishments of the Works Progress Administration on YouTube and the original longer version on Internet Archive. The former concentrated on the entertainment side as we see an African-American choir group singing spirituals conducted by one Juanita Hall. Ms. Hall would achieve lasting fame for her roles in a couple of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals: South Pacific and Flower Drum Song. She'd reprise them for the original film versions as well. Then we watch the last minutes of a Harlem production of Macbeth which takes place in Haiti instead of the original Scotland. This was the version that Orson Welles directed that got him his early fame though his name is not mentioned by the narrator. The first 8 minutes that I saw on IA concentrated on construction of new buildings to replace the torn, dilapidated ones, poor black kids enjoying going in a public swimming pool, and the women of color getting lessons on cooking. For especially the last 7 minutes, We Work Again is worth a look for some early glimpses of what future iconic stars were doing during the early part of their careers.

Interesting Bit of History

[Michael_Elliott · 5 December 2016]

We Work Again (1937)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

This short film certainly isn't anything ground-breaking but it's very much worth watching for a number of reasons. The main goal of this film was to educate black people that jobs were coming back after the Great Depression and this is an attempt to give people ideas of what they could do. There are some very interesting things here but of course the most fascinating is just being able to see a film that was produced for and aimed at black folks during the depression. After WWI they were hit hardest with a lack of jobs so it's fascinating getting to see how this was trying to educate them of their options. The other fascinating thing is getting to see clips from a production of MacBeth, which was being directed by Orson Welles. No footage of Welles is shown here, which is too bad but it's still great getting to see what he was working on.