Any good "Educational" Films out there?

Cafe Society
1

Wandering around Half Priced Books today, I gathered up a few select items (about five more than I planned on getting), I was making one last little check, when I saw the DVD for Reefer Madness. Being a big friend of schlock, I of course grabbed it right away, and BOY HOWDY!! Am I one happy camper.

The DVD also comes with Cocaine Fiends which I have yet to watch, but in the meantime, I’m wondering…does anyone have any other recommendations for some other equally lovely and “insightful” old films like Reefer Madness out there? I’m taking this DVD to be the start of a very extensive collection.

2

I have no recommendations, but I do suggest a movie night.

3

Atomic Cafe.

4

I second Atomic Cafe, though IIRC it’s a parody of “scare” films, not an actual scare film.

There were a couple of really funny ones about Communists made in the 50’s, at the moment I can’t come up with titles. I’ll try and think on it today.

5

If you’re looking for actually good rather than “campy”, the entire Schoolhouse Rock series was just released on DVD.

6

I’ve never seen it but a friend of mine who was in the Navy said he watched a training film about the fire on the USS Forrestal called Trial by Fire. He says it the best movie he has ever seen.

If your are looking for camp look for VD films.

7

Just to clarrify, I am indeed looking for camp.

For an example of the kind of shit I’m looking for, there’s a bit in Reefer Madness where the professor and a police officer are discussing Marihuana cases. They talk about one instance where a 16 year old boy “so hopped up on the narcotic…murdered his entire family with an axe.”

You know, movies filled with that type of important and factual information :slight_smile:

8

Go for the Bell Science Series. (RIP, Bell Labs!)

http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/09.23.99/bellscience-9938.html

Campy? Yes. Well-written and directed? Yes. (By Frank Capra and Jack Warner!) The one called “About Time” stands out as the best educational film I’ve ever seen. Saw it when I was 7. Have seen it a dozen times since.

9

Try The Educational Archives series. They are up to 4 volumes so far: Sex & Drugs, Social Engineering 101 (I can vouch for the both of these) Driver’s Ed and Get a Job.

These are mostly short films, designed for captive audiences (classroom, job training) vs a longer film intended for general audiences (i.e. Reefer Madness)

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (RIP) also used similar films as a part of their show. They have their own collections MST Shorts Tape Vols 1 2 & 3 available for sale.