Hell Bent For Election.

Animated cartoon political propaganda for the reelection of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, featuring the special song, "We've got to get out & vote".

The film is an allegorical campaign film, designed to inspire viewers to register and to vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Democratic Party candidate is depicted as a modern streamlined steam train engine, the "Win the War Special", pulling a high-speed freight train of war materiel. Republican opponent Thomas E. Dewey is shown as an old creaky steam train. The conflict in the film centers on Joe, a railroad switch operator who represents the American voting public.

Credits

Chuck Jones (1912–2002); Stephen Bosustow (1911–1981); Robert Lees (1912–2004); Zack Schwartz; Earl Robinson (1910–1991); United Productions of America; Industrial Films; Blackhawk Films; International Union, United Automobile, Aircraft, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America; Hellbent for election

Complete catalog record
HELL BENT FOR ELECTION. c1944. 1 reel, color. Appl. author: Robert Lees. © Industrial Films; 11Jul44; MP15509.

Sources

  1. 16mm Filmography (legacy record) — title, year, length, genre, catalog record
  2. Educational Film Guide 1946 — title, creator, length, format, sound, description, catalog record
  3. BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE · record ↗ — title, year, creator, length, format, color, sound, description, credits
  4. Wikidata · Q12124745 ↗ — country