When Work Is Done
When Work Is Done is a short film from ca. 1943 released on 16mm. It is held in the Prelinger Archives collection.
How the town of Sylacauga, Alabama extended a welcome to war plant workers.
Community building between towns and workers from out of town in 1940s. Footage of segregation in recreational activities for workers and worker�s families.
00:42:36:14 Great shot pan down downtown street in classic 1940s small American town packed with cars.
00:42:55:05 Low-angle hull of ship with sign �Hull 108 They Fight and Die They Expect You To Try Deliver June 18th.�
00:41:59:20 VS construction workers in hard hats building ship.
00:43:05:15 African American workers hammering large sheet of metal.
00:43:11:13 VS women welding; woman with Doris written on protective welding mask lifts up mask and wipes face; pan over women welding in shipyard; woman carried out of shipyard on stretcher.
00:43:31:28 Enormous crowd of hundreds of workers entering shipyard, camera pans to large sign �You can�t spell Victory with an Absent T, 2022 were out Monday.�
00:43:46:27 Long line of workers waiting to enter small post office shack.
00:44:01:14 CU young couple try to enter diner, women through window shakes her head no.
00:44:06:16 VS people swimming public pool; CU low-angle of lifeguard blowing whistle and waving arms, little kids admitted into pool through gate.
00:44:58:12 Couples dancing in 1940s juke joint; 1940s pool hall.
00:45:11:28 Pan down long line into building, man hands over his round I.D. pin with his photograph on it, CU covered with round I.D. pins for Jones Construction Co.
00:45:27:12 Sylacauga train station; stream of black smoke pours out of train exhaust at station; VS town of Sylacauga.
00:45:41:08 CU sign for Alabama Ordnance Works Administration Building; low-angle sign �No Smoking- No Matches No Lighters Permitted In This Plant�
00:46:08:12 Children chase after car down street in typical 1940s suburban neighborhood.
00:46:34:17 Farmer in overalls crouched down putting plastic letters on sign for church advertising Sunday school; quote on sign reads �Remember the stranger within they gates�; CU quote on sign.
00:46:39:09 Church congregation stands up; VS inside church.
00:46:49:22 Friendly police of gives two young men in car directions on a map.
00:46:57:19 VS children cleaning town pool.
00:47:10:29 VS children swimming in community pool. Two women do handstand dives into pool; little girl goes backward down slide into pool.
00:47:18:24 Couples playing doubles tennis.
00:47:34:05 Large outdoor dance on street; big band plays on stage while couples dance.
00:47:49:13 Two rural men insert Federal Recreation Building sign into ground; man installs sign indicating one block to building; man hammers sign onto pole indicating 4 blocks to Federal Recreation Building; man hammers 3 block marker sign into pole; seven block marker.
00:48:10:01 People dancing, playing ping pong, and shuffle board in Federal Recreation Building; CU man smoking pipe plays checkers with young man as younger boy watches; cute little girls hits keyboard of piano while sitting on man�s lap; man and woman read events schedule.
00:48:27:00 Woman leads adult dance class, group steps forward and backward; VS women�s aerobics class, two rows of women lying on their backs lifting their legs up; cute little girl pulls down woman�s legs.
00:48:43:24 VS women in nutrition class; woman leading class pulls out surreal poster with illustration of Hitler with horns getting punched in the face with text above �Eat to beat the devil.�
00:49:06:15 Teenagers play musical chairs.
00:49:12:13 Black youth band performs for all Black audience; audio track narration �The negro boys and girls band, they hit it on the beat and take it on down.� VS three girls playing clarinet, two boys play tuba, boy plays trumpet.
00:49:25:06 Ballet dancer does solo dance on stage bare except for an American flag; VS audience applauds.
00:49:33:24 young magician on stage makes a small American flag appear; audience applauds.
00:49:40:26 Man plays piano for two girl duet, one seated on top of piano; VS audience; man performs solo violin piece; audience applauds.
00:50:06:09 Country folk barn dance; low-angle country band on stage; VS square dancing; man sings into microphone holding a cat in his arms and wearing a party hat; more square dancing.
00:50:54:12 Workers at the shipyard; VS CU faces of male and female workers.| When Work Is Done | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | U.S. Office of War Information, Bureau of Motion Pictures |
Production companies | U.S. Office of War Information, Bureau of Motion Pictures |
| Distributed by | U.S. Office of War Information, Bureau of Motion Pictures |
Release date | ca. 1943 |
Running time | 8:55 |
| Language | English |
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