We Work Again

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.