The Secret of American Production

1955 · Prelinger Archives · 12 minutes · 87 shots · Black and white

Every shot, with timecodes

• 

  Title graphic: outline of the USA with text 'The American Adventure' over building footage

  0:00.0–0:04.0 (4.0 s) · shot 4230

• 

  Title graphic: US map outline with 'The American Adventure' over school building footage

  0:04.0–0:10.5 (6.5 s) · shot 4231

• 

  Man speaking behind desk with nameplate 'Dr. George S. Benson' and bookshelf background

  0:10.5–0:28.6 (18.1 s) · shot 4232

• 

  Man speaking behind desk with nameplate 'Dr. George S. Benson' and bookshelf background

  0:28.6–0:33.8 (5.1 s) · shot 4233

• 

  Black transition frame between sections of the educational film

  0:33.8–0:36.3 (2.5 s) · shot 4234

• 

  Students entering classroom with text overlay 'secret of American PRODUCTION'

  0:36.3–0:41.3 (5.0 s) · shot 4235

• 

  Students moving to take seats in a classroom setting with text overlay

  0:41.3–0:44.3 (3.0 s) · shot 4236

• 

  Audience of students seated and looking forward in a lecture hall

  0:44.3–0:47.0 (2.8 s) · shot 4237

• 

  Man standing at podium giving a speech in a studio setting

  0:47.0–0:51.8 (4.8 s) · shot 4238

• 

  Man standing behind podium with stacked display behind him

  0:51.8–1:17.7 (26.0 s) · shot 4239

• 

  Man speaking close-up at podium in a studio setting

  1:17.7–1:29.9 (12.2 s) · shot 4240

• 

  Man speaking behind podium with stacked display behind him

  1:29.9–1:32.0 (2.1 s) · shot 4241

• 

  Man standing behind podium in a studio with display on the right

  1:32.0–1:34.5 (2.5 s) · shot 4242

• 

  Man standing at podium with text overlay 'OF UCTION' and blackboard

  1:34.5–1:45.5 (11.0 s) · shot 4243

• 

  Man turning to point at blackboard with text 'THE SECRET OF AMERICAN PRODUCTION'

  1:45.5–1:55.8 (10.3 s) · shot 4244

• 

  Audience of students seated in a classroom looking attentive

  1:55.8–2:00.7 (4.9 s) · shot 4245

• 

  Man standing in front of blackboard with text about American production

  2:00.7–2:07.9 (7.2 s) · shot 4246

• 

  Man speaking in close-up in front of a blackboard with text

  2:07.9–2:34.1 (26.2 s) · shot 4247

• 

  Man speaking in front of blackboard with text 'SECRET OF PRODUCTION'

  2:34.1–2:36.3 (2.1 s) · shot 4248

• 

  Man standing behind podium in front of a blackboard with text

  2:36.3–2:39.8 (3.5 s) · shot 4249

• 

  Man standing behind podium speaking in a studio setting

  2:39.8–2:58.8 (19.0 s) · shot 4250

• 

  Man speaking behind podium with blackboard and text in background

  2:58.8–3:14.3 (15.5 s) · shot 4251

• 

  Man attaching sign 'Russian Worker's Production' to a black board

  3:14.3–3:19.0 (4.8 s) · shot 4252

• 

  Man placing graphic card below 'Russian Worker's Production' sign

  3:19.0–3:30.1 (11.1 s) · shot 4253

• 

  Man in suit speaks standing in front of a chart, 1950s instructional film

  3:30.1–3:33.3 (3.1 s) · shot 4254

• 

  Man adds a label to a calendar chart on a board, 1950s

  3:33.3–3:48.4 (15.2 s) · shot 4255

• 

  Group of people looking attentively, 1950s educational film

  3:48.4–3:50.9 (2.5 s) · shot 4256

• 

  Man in suit standing before a calendar chart, 1950s

  3:50.9–3:53.0 (2.1 s) · shot 4257

• 

  Man in suit holds up a sign, 1950s instructional film

  3:53.0–3:55.0 (2.0 s) · shot 4258

• 

  Man attaches a label reading Freedom to Work on a board

  3:55.0–3:58.3 (3.3 s) · shot 4259

• 

  Man places label reading Freedom to Dream on a board

  3:58.3–4:01.3 (3.0 s) · shot 4260

• 

  Man finishes placing labels on a production board, 1950s

  4:01.3–4:05.0 (3.8 s) · shot 4261

• 

  Man adjusting a calendar on a chart board, 1950s

  4:05.0–4:09.5 (4.5 s) · shot 4262

• 

  Man stepping away from a chart board, 1950s educational film

  4:09.5–4:12.3 (2.8 s) · shot 4263

• 

  Man standing and speaking near a chart board, 1950s film

  4:12.3–4:27.3 (15.0 s) · shot 4264

• 

  Illustrated man sitting at a desk with lightning outside, 1950s

  4:27.3–4:36.0 (8.8 s) · shot 4265

• 

  Illustrated man at a desk during a lightning storm, 1950s

  4:36.0–4:38.5 (2.5 s) · shot 4266

• 

  Illustrated man sitting at a desk, 1950s animation

  4:38.5–4:41.5 (3.0 s) · shot 4267

• 

  Glowing lightbulb on a desk, 1950s animation

  4:41.5–4:45.0 (3.5 s) · shot 4268

• 

  City skyline at night with lit buildings, 1950s animation

  4:45.0–4:49.3 (4.3 s) · shot 4269

• 

  Man standing at a podium with production chart, 1950s film

  4:49.3–5:13.6 (24.4 s) · shot 4270

• 

  Man standing at a podium in front of a chart, 1950s

  5:13.6–5:16.0 (2.4 s) · shot 4271

• 

  Man holding a strip label in front of a chart, 1950s

  5:16.0–5:18.0 (2.0 s) · shot 4272

• 

  Man places a Freedom to Compete label on a chart board

  5:18.0–5:21.3 (3.3 s) · shot 4273

• 

  Man standing before a completed production chart, 1950s film

  5:21.3–5:28.5 (7.3 s) · shot 4274

• 

  Vintage antique car standing on a stage, 1950s archival footage

  5:28.5–5:32.0 (3.5 s) · shot 4275

• 

  Vintage car surrounded by floating brand names, 1950s film

  5:32.0–5:35.0 (3.0 s) · shot 4276

• 

  Vintage car surrounded by floating brand names, 1950s film

  5:35.0–5:43.8 (8.8 s) · shot 4277

• 

  overhead tracking shot of vintage cars driving on a city street

  5:43.8–5:46.5 (2.8 s) · shot 4278

• 

  aerial tracking view of mid-century automobiles driving on a multi-lane highway

  5:46.5–5:49.0 (2.5 s) · shot 4279

• 

  overhead tracking shot of classic cars traveling along a city avenue

  5:49.0–5:51.0 (2.0 s) · shot 4280

• 

  studio spotlight illuminating a classic convertible car from above

  5:51.0–6:00.5 (9.5 s) · shot 4281

• 

  medium close-up of a man in suit speaking behind a podium

  6:00.5–6:14.0 (13.5 s) · shot 4282

• 

  man in suit turning to add text blocks to a board on set

  6:14.0–6:18.3 (4.3 s) · shot 4283

• 

  medium close-up of a man in suit speaking in front of text board

  6:18.3–6:34.5 (16.3 s) · shot 4284

• 

  pan from a man in a suit speaking to an office workplace scene

  6:34.5–6:36.8 (2.3 s) · shot 4285

• 

  wide view of workers at desks in a large office with magazine text overlay

  6:36.8–6:44.8 (8.0 s) · shot 4286

• 

  medium shot of office workers typing at desks with superimposed window and text graphics

  6:44.8–6:51.5 (6.8 s) · shot 4287

• 

  wide view of office workers at desks with overlaid text headings like petroleum week

  6:51.5–6:56.0 (4.5 s) · shot 4288

• 

  high-angle view of office workspace with superimposed public works text graphic

  6:56.0–7:01.8 (5.8 s) · shot 4289

• 

  wide office scene with multiple employees at desks and superimposed industry magazine titles

  7:01.8–7:10.7 (8.9 s) · shot 4290

• 

  medium close-up of a man in a suit talking at a podium

  7:10.7–7:13.0 (2.3 s) · shot 4291

• 

  man in a suit gesturing toward text blocks on a set board

  7:13.0–7:15.5 (2.5 s) · shot 4292

• 

  man in suit placing a text strip onto a board on set

  7:15.5–7:18.8 (3.3 s) · shot 4293

• 

  man in suit speaking next to a board listing american production keys

  7:18.8–7:44.4 (25.6 s) · shot 4294

• 

  man holding up a cartoon card transitioning into an animated sequence of a worker walking

  7:44.4–8:10.6 (26.2 s) · shot 4295 · animation

• 

  animated cartoon of a worker interacting with a paymaster station building

  8:10.6–8:30.3 (19.8 s) · shot 4296 · animation

• 

  animated cartoon of a usa train station building with signal arms moving

  8:30.3–8:34.0 (3.7 s) · shot 4297 · animation

• 

  animated cartoon of a usa building with a dollar amount appearing above it

  8:34.0–8:39.5 (5.5 s) · shot 4298 · animation

• 

  medium close-up of a man in a suit speaking behind a podium

  8:39.5–8:54.8 (15.3 s) · shot 4299

• 

  man in suit adding a text strip and horse icon to a board on set

  8:54.8–8:58.8 (4.0 s) · shot 4300

• 

  man gesturing toward a board featuring an icon and text on set

  8:58.8–9:23.5 (24.8 s) · shot 4301

• 

  A speaker at a chalkboard places a graphic labeled with a horse illustration.

  9:23.5–9:57.2 (33.7 s) · shot 4302

• 

  A man in a suit speaks in front of a dark chalkboard background.

  9:57.2–10:11.3 (14.0 s) · shot 4303

• 

  A speaker places cards on a display board listing freedoms like work and compete.

  10:11.3–10:13.3 (2.0 s) · shot 4304

• 

  Hands position a sign reading ten thousand dollars per job on a display board.

  10:13.3–10:15.5 (2.3 s) · shot 4305

• 

  A sign reading ten thousand dollars per job is adjusted on a display board.

  10:15.5–10:18.8 (3.3 s) · shot 4306

• 

  A speaker stands before a chalkboard listing freedoms and production secrets.

  10:18.8–10:31.6 (12.8 s) · shot 4307

• 

  A chalkboard displays a list of five freedoms including work, dream, and invest.

  10:31.6–10:47.2 (15.7 s) · shot 4308

• 

  A speaker at a lectern gestures toward a chalkboard with listed freedoms.

  10:47.2–10:50.8 (3.5 s) · shot 4309

• 

  A speaker stands at a lectern delivering a presentation before a chalkboard.

  10:50.8–11:09.3 (18.6 s) · shot 4310

• 

  A man in a suit speaks closely to the camera against a plain background.

  11:09.3–11:27.8 (18.4 s) · shot 4311

• 

  A very dark, nearly black screen shows the silhouette of a speaker.

  11:27.8–11:30.8 (3.0 s) · shot 4312

• 

  Text credits overlay a shot of people walking toward a brick building.

  11:30.8–11:44.5 (13.8 s) · shot 4313

• 

  Text credits appear over a shot of people walking toward a multi-story building.

  11:44.5–11:53.3 (8.8 s) · shot 4314

• 

  Production credits overlay a shot of people walking toward a building exterior.

  11:53.3–11:59.0 (5.8 s) · shot 4315

• 

  A very dark shot shows the exterior of a building at dusk or night.

  11:59.0–12:01.2 (2.2 s) · shot 4316