In Our Hands, Part 1: How We Got What We Have

Presents the vital role of political freedom in the economic progress which comes from the accumulation of privately owned tools of production. Demonstrates the need for tools by showing a young couple with their infant child in a wilderness with nothing but natural resources and their hands.SPONSORS: Inland Steel Co.; Borg-Warner Corp. PRODUCTION CO.: Wilding Picture Productions. DIRECTOR:Jack Tilles. WRITER: James Prindle. CAMERA: J.J. LaFleur. EDITOR: Glen McGowan. RESOURCES: Copyright1Dec50 LP573; “In Our Hands: Workers Talk Economics,” Mod Ind 22 (July 15, 1951): 40–45; “PublicRelations—Bold New Concept Pays Off,” Iron Age 168 (Aug. 23, 1951): 85; Selling, 83–84; MentalHygiene, 164. HOLDINGS: LC/Prelinger.I’ll Tell the World46Four-part series crafted by large business interests to promote free enterprise and small government.Part 1: How We Got What We Have transports a young couple back to the Stone Age,where they lack sophisticated tools and come to blows with another couple over resources.Part 2: What We Have shows the public benefit of industry by illustrating the bounties enjoyedby a typical housewife. In Part 3: How to Lose What We Have citizens vote for the big government“Master Plan,” which ushers in forced collectivization, the mandatory relocation offamilies, and the closure of churches. Part 4: How to Keep What We Have urges Americansto oppose an expanded government role, a step that the film argues would lead to a plannedeconomy. More dramatic than most free-enterprise booster films, In Our Hands recognizeslittle distinction between government planning and dictatorship. NOTE: The sponsors tookthe films on a rail tour to five cities, showing it to workers aboard a special car equipped witha meeting room and a theater. The sponsor also distributed an economic education coursefor workers under the same title. Modern Industry reported that screening the film with thisdiscussion program “loosens even inarticulate tongues.” The series received a FreedomsFoundation award in 1950. Also released in 16mm. Viewable online at Internet Archive,www.archive.org/details/InOurHan1950.